London mayoral election debate - April 2021

The Sylvan London mayoral election debate considered the following motion:

This house supports Sadiq Khan’s re-election as mayor of London.

The debate took place on Monday, 12th April. Elaine McLean proposed the debate and Donald Leon Soon opposed it.

The proposition supporting the view that the Sadiq Khan should be re-elected

The proposer supported Sadiq Khan as the best option for London among a relatively weak set of candidates. Khan has delivered some of his campaign promises but not others. Transport improvements such as children’s fares, bus information boards and the night Tube have helped. However, he hasn’t met his promise on housing. Knife crime is a cycle that needs to be addressed. Khan cannot appeal to the central government which is controlled by the Conservatives. Shaun Baily, the Conservative candidate, keeps repeating ‘lies’ including that Khan closed police stations, when Boris did even more.

The opposition against the motion

The opposer clearly stated what makes a good mayor of London – someone who changes London for the better. This means making it easier to get around and keeping crime down. Khan has raised the congestion charge and crime has risen significantly, with knife crime up 60% and robberies 86%. He broke half of his 2016 election promises, including extensions to the Underground. Khan has closed 38 police stations, and few police are walking the streets. Shaun Bailey grew up in London and he suffered and fought to get to where he is – and knows what London needs. He will hire 8,000 police officers and help 4,000 youth centres. He will boost outer London and build affordable homes costing £100,000 each. Bailey will try where Khan has waffled and waffled.

Floor speeches from the audience of the London mayoral election debate

Floor speakers picked up on points from the openers and raised a number of new issues. Khan and Bailey had roughly similar backgrounds as poor minority Londoners. Crime rates in London, while increasing, have risen by less than in the rest of the country. Transport changes such as new Tube lines take time. Some focused on Khan’s ability to use political ‘spin’ to further his popularity. London voters are tribal and go for either Labour or the Conservatives.

A number of speakers complained about traffic-reduction measures, including low-traffic areas. However, Khan’s policies have driven down air pollution, particularly NO2 emissions from busses. The Ultra Low Emission Zone will have a large impact on particulate pollution and does depend on this election.

Several floor speakers weighed in on how people should vote. For instance, use the first preference vote to support smaller parties – and the second for the main party candidate. Others advocated for more radical change, supporting for the Green party and their transport policies. Or the option to skip the vote altogether, since the parties are all the same!

The opposer’s rebuttal in the London mayoral election debate

In rebuttal, the opposer made a strong argument that there is no such thing as a perfect politician! Politicians inevitably end up lying. Shaun Bailey is the best candidate with good intentions, and will do better than Khan. He has the potential to be better than Khan.

The proposer’s closing speech

In closing, the proposer argued that voters do not want to be told lies. Politicians should do what they say. Khan is the best of the options and deserves a second term. Some of his transport actions were forced due to loss of funding because of Covid and lack of central government support. It’s the devil you know versus the devil you don’t.

Result: in a razor-thin final vote, the London mayoral election debate motion carried

The Sylvans concluded through the London mayoral election debate that Sadiq Khan deserves to be re-elected as mayor of London.

See information on other Sylvan debates here.

Sylvan Debating Club

London mayoral election debate – April 2021