London Elects A Muslim Mayor And What It Means

The Labour Party’s Sadiq Khan has been voted in as London Mayor following a campaign that caused many large ripples on the political pond after the Conservative candidate, Zac Goldsmith, accused Khan of sharing political platforms with Islamic radicals and extremists. The voting population of London responded to such gibberish by voting Khan in as London Mayor with 57% of the vote – a complete annihilation of his opposition candidates.

Now it is, of course, true to say that ‘Islam’ is somewhat ‘problematic’ in the west, not just because of Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists but also because there is a deep rooted suspicion amongst many westerners that Islam is struggling to adapt to western culture and seems to muddle along expecting the west to adapt to Islam rather than the other way around and, of course, we quite rightly won’t.

Adapting to another country when you move there is your responsibility alone and Islam in the west must learn to adapt – even if that includes ‘compromising’ their faith – if that is what is required for acceptance.

However. I believe that the election of Sadiq Khan is a very positive move by London’s electorate.

Muslims live in Britain and, if we are to ask them, and expect them, to integrate it is essential that they feel that integration will make them British.

Of course, Khan’s faith should be secondary to the position to which he has been elected. Will he be a good Mayor or an average Mayor or even a lousy Mayor? Nobody has any idea as yet but, ultimately, it is on his performance as The Mayor Of London that he should and must be judged.

Nevertheless, as he is the first Muslim to be elected in the west to such a ‘lofty’ position it is hardly surprising that the media are somewhat focusing on his background and faith.

I can’t help but wonder what Donald Trump makes of this – albeit I don’t really care.

The accusations levelled at Khan relating to his sharing a platform with Islamic radicals was actually well founded in that he did. However, at no time was he aware of this and, indeed, the aforementioned ‘radicals’ made ‘nicey nicey’ with him leading him to be unaware of their actual agenda.

Of course you could say that he is, in that case, naive and therefore, perhaps, not the ideal candidate for Mayor Of London. The truth is though that many of the same ‘radical Islamists’ also shared platforms with Conservatives who, likewise, had no idea who they were.

Sadiq Khan is quite clearly a very decent chap and, whilst I may disagree with his politics at times, I, for one, am delighted that London’s electorate have – as he so rightly puts it – chosen hope over fear.

Did I vote for him? No. Why? Because he is ‘of the left’ in his politics and I am not of any side politically. I voted for Zac Goldsmith actually and, frankly and honestly, I made an error. I wish I had voted for Sadiq Khan.

I mistakenly thought Goldsmith was, like Boris Johnson before him, something of a ‘political maverick’ and that was my decisive reason for voting for him.

I was wrong. His campaign organisers ran an absolutely disgraceful campaign attempting to ‘throw mud’ at Khan that was very very wrong and very very divisive.

Interestingly, should America elect The Donald to their highest office, The Mayor Of London would be barred from entering the USA as he is Muslim. The fact that he is clearly a very decent and upstanding man is neither here nor there. He is Muslim therefore, under The Donald, would be barred entry to the USA.

So much for our ‘special relationship’ then methinks.

London is entering interesting times. Khan is Mayor and will be judged on his performance as Mayor but, I know for a fact, will always be judged on his performance for being a Muslim Mayor.

Personally I hope he blasts it! Then, perhaps, Muslims may see that they can amount to ‘something’ in Britain but they have to be, as Khan says he is, British first and Muslim second.

As it should be.

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