How Sadiq Khan came out on top during London mayor election

It's easy to say now, but Sadiq Khan was always going to retain London's mayoralty. The low turnout figures yesterday sparked speculation of a shock Susan Hall victory, leaving Labour genuinely worried about the prospect of a very close result, there turned out to be quite the gap in the end.

Ms Hall's campaign was focused on two things, the ULEZ expansion and crime. It seems Londoners were not convinced by her promises to reform the Metropolitan Police Service with an emphasis on borough-based, neighbourhood policing.

There was also a pledge of more police officers. But Sadiq Khan focused on 'tackling the causes of crime', also promising more police for good measure.

READ MORE: How every London borough voted in mayor elections after Sadiq Khan's win

It seems as though Susan Hall's team overestimated opposition to Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion (Image: Krisztian Elek/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The Tory candidate told Outer Londoners that voting for her was their last chance to scrap the ULEZ expansion, brought in in August. But, it looks like she and her team overestimated residents' distaste for the scheme.

It is certainly there - just look at the number of enforcement cameras vandalised and the many protests - but recent polling by Redfield and Wilton Strategies suggested in April that 50 per cent of Londoners now say that they support the existence of the ULEZ in London.

Only 31 per cent, it was found, oppose it. This represents a level of support of +19 per cent. Mr Khan has told me many a time that the 'silent majority' of residents are on his side. I imagine he would say that today's result proved him right.

Ms Hall also again and again insisted that Mr Khan was planning to introduce a pay-per-mile system across roads. It seems that Mr Khan's promise that he'd 'never' do so worked.

Not all sunshine and daisies for the red team

Sadiq Khan delivered is victory speech this afternoon (Image: Adam Toms/MyLondon)

But, it was not all sunshine and daisies for the red team, as Ms Hall achieved expected wins in Outer London, such as in Bexley and Bromley, where there is a lot of Tory support, plus Ealing and Hillingdon, where Tory Steve Tuckwell beat Labour in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election last year, amongst others.

This was despite turnout being relatively high in areas that Ms Hall's team had their eyes on. The release of these figures on Friday sparked rumours of a narrow Conservative victory in the city.

There was an opportunity for the Tories to come out on top - especially considering knife crime figures, revealing a rise of 20 per cent in London over the past year, released this week. A member of the audience at City Hall even shouted 'crime' as the mayor was listing his priorities for four more years.

But it seems that the Conservatives' attempt to win the mayoralty never really got off the ground.

Follow our live updates of the elections here.

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EastEnders fans get 'second hand embarrassment 'as Whitney Dean makes huge public gesture

EastEnders fans were left cringing during Thursday's episode of the BBC One soap after Whitney Dean proposed to cheating boyfriend Zack Hudson. The expectant mum popped the question in front of everybody in The Queen Vic after being inspired by Honey Mitchells' recent proposal to Billy Mitchell.

But as fans of the BBC One show will know, Zack recently cheated on Whit with her best pal Lauren Branning. Whit is still oblivious to his mega betrayal, however, Bianca Jackson has threatened to tell her step-daughter if Zack doesn't find missing Britney.

During tonight's trip to Walford, Whitney was elated after social services confirmed she could legally foster Britney after dedicating herself to looking after the troubled schoolgirl. As Whit, Zack, Bianca and Britney went to The Queen Vic to celebrate, they were shocked to see Years and Years' Olly Alexander who made a guest appearance ahead of Eurovision 2024.

READ MORE: EastEnders quiz tells you which member of the Beale family you are

Whitney proposed to Zack in The Queen Vic during Thursday's EastEnders episode (Image: BBC)

Making a public declaration of love, Whit told Zack: "I always imagined love to be, you know like Disney kind of love? But I got my prince - it took me a couple of frogs but I got there in the end, it's never too late is it?"

While Zack was puzzled as Bianca and Britney watched on, Whitney then got on one knee and proposed to the hunk. As the entire pub congratulated the happy couple, Lauren walked in and was left less than impressed before storming back out. Meanwhile, EastEnders fans were left embarrassed.

Taking to X, one fan wrote: "A heavily pregnant Whitney proposing to her scoundrel of a boyfriend??? The writers took it too far with this one #EastEnders."

A second stated: "I did not expect to see Whitney proposing to Zack #EastEnders. A third chimed in with: "They can't be serious having Whitney propose to Zack, there's NO WAY #EastEnders."

"I'm getting second-hand embarrassment with the Whitney speech and proposal. Bianca is giving the same look I was giving my tv", exclaimed one fan. Another simply added: "Omg Whitney agh #eastenders."

EastEnders airs Monday - Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One.

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EastEnders fans already 'love' Stevie Mitchell as he exposes huge Nadine lie with his walking stick

EastEnders aired a massive twist during Wednesday episode (May 1) as Nadine's secret was finally revealed thanks to newcomer Stevie Mitchell.

As tensions brewed between Stevie and the rest of the Mitchell clan he found common ground with Lexi Pearce. While in the laundrette, Lexi told Stevie she didn't trust Nadine who claimed she was having Jay Brown's baby.

Lexi had tried to express her concerns about Nadine but was unheard by her stepdad, which caused a rift between them. But Stevie wasted no time protecting his great-great granddaughter and made it his mission to work Nadine out.

READ MORE: EastEnders quiz tells you which member of the Beale family you are

Stevie became suspicious of Nadine in EastEnders (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

During a conversation with Nadine and Jay, Stevie acted the wise old man and suggested that as the pair weren't an item it was best they did a DNA test on the unborn baby. Finally seeing sense, Jay agreed while Nadine acted shifty and made a quick exit from the flat.

Later in Beale's Eels, Stevie struck up another conversation with Nadine as he stumbled upon her in a tense money exchange with her boss. Nadine was keen to keep the dodgy interaction quiet and offered Stevie money for his silence.

While Stevie initially took the money, he was certainly uneasy. As the Mitchells gathered in The Vic, the family soon turned on him with Nadine suggesting that he left the boozer.

Stevie decided to let rip on Nadine, and told her she 'can't kid a kidder' and poked at her 'pregnant' belly with his walking stick - much to the pub's horror. Jay walked over and eventually ripped out her fake belly, with the truth finally uncovered.

EastEnders fans wasted no time in taking to X to praise Stevie as he went from zero to hero in a matter of moments.

One person wrote: "Hooray for great-great-grandfather Stevie Mitchell! It takes one to know one! Never in the field of soap dramas has there been such a rapid transformation from villain to hero. Congratulations to brill actor Alan Ford as well."

A second stated: "Weren't expecting Nadine's fake pregnancy to be exposed by Stevie poking her with his walking stick #EastEnders". A third chimed in with: "Stevie poking the fake bump with his walking stick #EastEnders", followed by a string of laughing faces.

"Stevie Mitchell, an absolute great addition to the EastEnders cast. What an ending! #Eastenders What an actor", added another.

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Met Office and BBC can't agree on whether London will get more rainy weather or a dry spell

This week’s weather forecast is likely to leave people confused as the experts at BBC Weather and The Met Office share contrasting predictions. The BBC predicts it will rain every day between Wednesday, May 1, and Monday, May 6.

In contrast, the UK’s national forecaster, The Met Office, predicts it will be largely cloudy throughout the same timeframe. However, what the two forecasts agree on is that temperatures may hit the 18C mark, which is significantly warmer than the chill we’ve felt in recent days.

However, temperatures are likely to not exceed 20C until June, The Met Office claims in its most recent statistics from 1991 to 2020. The maximum average temperature of May is 18.37C, with 21.57C for the month after.

READ MORE: Anti-allergy pillows that 'reduce hayfever' and 'give good night's sleep'

The Met Office predicts grey weather (Image: MyLondon)

BBC Weather forecast for London

• Wednesday, May 1 - High 19C, Low 11C. Light rain and a gentle breeze.

• Thursday, May 2 - High 17C, Low 11C. Light rain and a gentle breeze.

• Friday, May 3 - High 16C, Low 9C. Light rain and a moderate breeze.

• Saturday, May 4 - High 17C, Low 10C. Light rain showers and a gentle breeze.

• Sunday, May 5 - High 18C, Low 12C. Light rain showers and a gentle breeze.

• Monday, May 6 - High 18C, Low 11C. Light rain and a gentle breeze.

Met Office’s forecast

• Wednesday, May1 - High 19C, Low 11C. Mist changing to cloudy by late morning.

• Thursday, May 2 - High 18C, Low 11C. Overcast.

• Friday, May 3 - High 16C, Low 8C. Overcast.

• Saturday, May 4 - High 17C, Low 10C. Sunny changing to cloudy by lunchtime.

• Sunday, May 5 - High 18C, Low 12C. Cloudy changing to light showers in the afternoon.

• Monday, May 6 - High 19C, Low 11C. Cloudy changing to clear by nighttime.

Got a story? Please get in touch at rafi.benady@reachplc.com

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Rylan forced to deny he tried to rob woman in Maidstone after police release e-fit

Rylan Clark has denied he is wanted by the police after an e-fit was published to X (Twitter) on Monday, April 29.

Kent Police are investigating a report of attempted robbery in Maidstone and have released a computer-generated image of a man they would like to identify. The image shows a young man with styled brown hair and a dark beard, similar to Rylan's trademark look.

The victim told the police that between 1.30pm and 2.10pm on Friday, April 5, 2024, four men approached her outside Romney Place, in Maidstone, and demanded she hand over her watch. After the woman refused, the men then chased her down the road before assaulting her.

READ MORE: EastEnders quiz tells you which member of the Beale family you are

The victim suffered bruising to her face and the watch was not taken. Following enquiries into the attempted robbery the victim has now been able to complete an e-fit of a man officers would like to identify.

Re-tweeting the e-fit of the wanted man, Rylan, 35, jokingly wrote: "Wasn’t me." He did not provide an alibi.

The TV star's followers wasted no time in commenting on the post, with one person writing: "You're better looking than him Rylan."

A second simply added: "Rylan", followed by a string of laughing faces. A third exclaimed: "Looks like if they'd made you on N64 Goldeneye."

Kent Police are requesting that anyone with information on the attempted robbery which can help the investigation should call the west Kent appeals line on 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/55393/24.

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