Sadiq Khan Takes on Brexit and Terror

July 25, 2017 7:41 AM

It is Khan’s lot to have emerged as a national figure just as London is more vulnerable, and more at odds with the rest of Britain, than at any other point in its recent history. The New Yorker profiles London's Mayor. (SLNewYorker)
posted by Ziggy500 (7 comments total)

He is the first mayor to walk in the city’s gay-pride march.

Seems unlikely. Here is Ken Livingstone in a photo labelled as being from the 2004 Pride parade (i.e. right in the middle of his period as Mayor of London).
posted by biffa at 8:13 AM on July 25, 2017 [3 favorites]

With all the shit that seems to be hitting London at the moment, he is the best person. Calm, measured and responsive. Can you imagine it if Boris was still there ?
posted by Webbster at 9:08 AM on July 25, 2017 [5 favorites]

So, if somebody called you the P-word, that means there is a fight. That’s it. We’re having a fight. You couldn’t allow that to be tolerated.

Despite the occasional activity of right-wing concern trolls, I've never had real doubts about Sadiq Khan's support for things like queer rights, and the quote above sums up why - he really gets it in a visceral way that most politicians don't.

Concerning getting under Trump's skin - I don't think the article really conveys how dismissive Khan was - his line has consistently been "I'm too busy running a city to bother with this nonsense", and I doubt there are many things that get under Trump's skin like being dismissed and ignored in public like that.
posted by doop at 1:55 PM on July 25, 2017 [5 favorites]

It may not be simply his lot that he attained power during turbulent times; it is consistent with the glass cliff, albeit a variant where a member of religious/ethnic minority groups gets power only when the chance of failure is highest.
posted by palindromic at 6:10 PM on July 25, 2017

palindromic: I'm not so sure in this particular case - neither Brexit nor the terror attacks were really expected when he was elected, and Goldsmith ran a surprisingly crap campaign.
posted by doop at 11:21 PM on July 25, 2017 [3 favorites]

This is a very interesting portrait of the man. I believe Sadiq Khan is a very talented and somewhat conscience-driven politician--and I voted for him and am delighted to have him as my Mayor--but I'm also unsurprised to learn of his involvement with some pretty illiberal legislation during the New Labour years. I don't think he's only in politics for the power, like some politicians I could name, but he comes across as pretty keen on the power and willing to make the occasional dodgy compromise to keep it. In a sane year, he would come across as one of the averagely decent and competent people in government. In contrast with May and Trump, of course, he comes across as a shining beacon of hope.
posted by Aravis76 at 9:08 AM on July 26, 2017 [3 favorites]

I really can't understand why people get so vexed by politicians acting like (gasp!) politicians. The criticism seems particularly pointed when these politicians come from backgrounds not typically represented in the political elite. I am glad it was not sufficient to let a hate-baiting opponent prevail in the London mayoral race.
posted by *s at 12:13 PM on July 26, 2017