In the lead-up to the London mayoral election, key figures and candidates are actively presenting their strategies and plans for the city’s future. Conservative candidate Susan Hall has promised to restore free travel on public transport for older citizens during peak times, a privilege taken away due to financial strains on Transport for London, attributed to the pandemic. The proposal, which intends to alleviate the burden on older Londoners needing early travel for appointments, is projected to cost £30 million. Hall plans to fund this initiative through budget efficiencies within City Hall and Transport for London, specifically targeting high-earning staff salaries.

Current Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched the ‘Let’s Do Fridays’ initiative in partnership with OpenTable, aiming to rejuvenate the city’s economy by encouraging Londoners to dine out with discounts at 35 restaurants on Fridays. This scheme seeks to address the 20% drop in Friday restaurant bookings and promote the use of TfL services. The offers include significant discounts and are part of Khan’s broader strategy to support local businesses and boost the city’s post-pandemic recovery.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer displayed a cautious stance towards Mayor Sadiq Khan’s policies during the latter’s re-election campaign launch. While Starmer showed public support, he refrained from endorsing specific initiatives such as the rent freeze and ULEZ expansion. This hesitation hints at internal disagreements within the Labour Party concerning policy priorities and strategies for London. Khan, for his part, remains focused on his commitment to doubling council homes targets to 40,000, despite criticism from opponents like Susan Hall, who accuses him of including existing homes to meet his figures.

These developments come at a time when London faces crucial decisions on its leadership and direction, with candidates offering distinct visions for addressing the city’s challenges and opportunities.