Sadiq Khan has been voted in as Mayor of London for an historic third term. Here are the major things he's promised Londoners between 2024 and 2029... or in some cases, 2030. Come back in four-five years to see what's been ticked off...
Keeping TfL fares frozen
What: Khan's claim that he's 'frozen' fares always seems a mite disingenuous, seeing as the freeze only applies to single PAYG fares (so not travel cards) and doesn't pertain to National Rail services within London, either. Plus, the commitment has only been made until March 2025. Still, it's better than not freezing any fares. And who knows, maybe there'll be an extension of that off-peak Fridays trial too.
When's it happening? Already is, although whether or not it's extended beyond March 2025, isn't clear.
Londonist excitement factor: ★★★☆☆
Dishing out free school meals to kids
What: While Khan's rival Susan Hall was adamant there is "no such thing as a free lunch", the incumbent's credo is the somewhat more sympathetic: "no child should go to school hungry". Under Khan, London's primary school children will receive free school meals in both the 2023-24 and the 2024-25 academic year. The Mayor says this will save families up to £1,000 per child across two years — making him very much the Marcus Rashford of politics. Or something like that.
When's it happening? Already is!
Londonist excitement factor: ★★★★☆
40,000 more council homes — and 6,000 'rent control homes'
What: Few things are as high up on the agenda for younger Londoners than the issue of affordable homes. Between 2018 and 2024, work was started on 23,000 homes, and now the Mayor will try to double that number — with the help (he hopes) of a Labour government. London Renters Union described the 40k target as a "BIG step forward". Khan has also said he'll build 6,000 'rent control homes' — that is, homes that key workers and middle-income Londoners can actually afford — although this number is really a drop in the ocean.
When's it happening? Khan says he'll hit 40,000 council homes by 2030. It's an odd deadline to give, because unless he won a fourth term, he'd no longer be Mayor by then. But we're nitpicking.
Londonist excitement factor: ★★★★★
End rough sleeping
What: On the whole, rough sleeping in London is on an upward trajectory, with over 10,000 rough sleepers counted on the capital's streets in 2022/23. But even though this has happened on his watch, just before the May 2024 election, Khan boldly vowed to "condemn the scandal of rough sleeping to history", thanks in part to a £10m investment in 'Ending Homelessness Hubs'. Again, a Labour government is going to be instrumental for this one.
When's it happening? Another 2030 target. If Khan can pull it off, we'll be impressed.
Londonist excitement factor: ★★★★★
1,300 extra police officers
What: It seems ridiculous, but the Mayor of London has actually had to GIVE BACK £91 million to the government — that's money he wasn't able to spend on recruiting police officers in the capital. As the BBC reported in March 2024, Sadiq Khan's mayoral challengers voiced skepticism about plans to put an extra 1,300 neighbourhood police officers on London's streets. Nonetheless, that's what he's pledged. With the caveat that — yup — he'll need a Labour government to do it.
When's it happening? Not entirely clear, but we'd assume he'd plan to do this within the next four years.
Londonist excitement factor: ★★★☆☆
Create 150,000 good jobs with a 'London Growth Plan'
What: "150,000 high-quality, well-paid jobs" is what Khan has promised to create, by attracting small and medium-sized businesses into London. The focus will be on AI, cyber, health, life sciences, and the creative industries.
When's it happening? By 2028.
Londonist excitement factor: ★★★☆☆
The Bakerloop line
What: It's unlikely we'll see the completion of the Bakerloo line extension from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham during any Khan Mayoralty. (We'll be lucky if it's ready by 2040.) However, on 2 April 2024 (and we had to double check this hadn't been posted on the 1st), the Mayor announced that if he was re-elected, he'd bring in a 'Bakerloop' express bus route, which would mirror the tube extension until that was up and running. Sounds like a plan, although, the Standard reckons the Bakerloop could kill off the Bakerloo extension altogether...
When's it happening? Details are thin on the ground, although surely it's an easy enough one to tick off. First year or two, surely.
Londonist excitement factor: ★★★☆☆
Superloop 2
What: Following on from the general success of the Superloop (which, let's be honest was a trump in marketing, seeing as many of the bus routes already existed in some form or another), Sadiq Khan has promised that, if re-elected (and again, spoiler alert: he has been) he'd introduce a sequel, Superloop 2 — bringing 10 more orbital routes to London. That includes the Bakerloop line (see above).
When's it happening? That's not clear. Like the Bakerloop announcement, this one felt like a headline-grabber, rather than a fully fleshed-out plan. But now it's got to happen. We can't have our politicians breaking promises.
Londonist excitement factor: ★★★★☆
Expand the night tube
What: A rare promise from both Khan and Hall on the campaign trail, this one; both said they'd bring in weekend night tube services on the Hammersmith & City, District & Circle, and Metropolitan lines.
When's it happening? Hammersmith & City — as soon as possible (maybe even 2024?); District and Circle and Met: "when feasible".
Londonist excitement factor: ★★★★☆
Net zero carbon by 2030
What: Having well and truly beaten anti-ULEZer Susan Hall (at times, being against ULEZ felt like her only policy), Khan will see this as a mandate to turn London into a carbon neutral city by way of continuing to crack down on polluting forms of transport, having all buses zero emissions, and making London's buildings more energy efficient by way of heat pumps and heat networks.
When's it happening? 2030 target if you've got faith in the plan.
Londonist excitement factor: ★★★★★
Make the Thames swimmable
What: Sticking with the environment, British water companies aren't exactly flavour of the month right now. Actually, Khan has outwardly branded the Thames' pollution problems a "national embarrassment". As part of a 10-year-plan (which would go beyond even a fourth term as Mayor if there ever was one), Khan has said the new Super Sewer, £30 million towards nature projects, and upgrades at Beckton and Mogden sewage works would help clean up not just the Thames but other London rivers too.
When's it happening? 2034, according to that 10-year-plan, though it's highly unlikely the whole of the Thames would be swimmable by then.
Londonist excitement factor: ★★★★☆
