The symbolism and shared purpose were unmistakable: the likely next prime minister of the UK standing shoulder to shoulder with the likely next mayor of London, for the launch of Labour’s mayoral election campaign. Despite polling leads, the party is bringing out the big guns and taking nothing for granted.
There was a policy announcement too — Sadiq Khan pledged to double his target of new council homes for the capital to 40,000 by 2030, branding it the “greatest council homebuilding drive in a generation”.
From sky-high rents to house prices that never quite seem to fall, housing must be a key issue in this race. The Conservatives sense an opportunity too. Communities Secretary Michael Gove has directed Khan to conduct a partial review of the London Plan, and asked the Greater London Authority to report back findings in September.
But what of Rishi Sunak? After a difficult weekend of speculation and plotting, attention will turn to whether the Prime Minister intends to share a platform with Susan Hall as part of her mayoral election campaign. The story of the last contest was one of senior Conservatives barely turning out for Shaun Bailey, who went on to out-perform expectations come polling day. Will the party fight for the capital this time?
The Putin threat
From London’s free and fair election to one that was nothing of the sort. Vladimir Putin has secured a fifth term as president of Russia, securing nearly 88 per cent of the vote, according the first “official” results.
The vote was held against the backdrop of what has widely been described as the most severe crackdown on political opposition and free speech in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Indeed, no one who opposes Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine was permitted to stand. The vote took place just weeks after Alexei Navalny, the nation’s best known opposition leader, died in prison.
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has rightly condemned these elections as neither free nor fair. Growing authoritarianism and revisionism in Moscow serves to highlight the necessity of Britain showing the resolve and making investments to ensure that we, alongside our Nato allies, can deter what is a growing threat from the east.
Kenny bows out
Dame Laura Kenny, the most successful female British Olympian of all time, has announced her retirement from cycling. It marks the end of a glittering career, in which she won a remarkable five Olympic gold medals and seven World Championship titles. Thanks for the memories, Dame Laura.
