Sadiq Khan opens up four-point lead over Tory Shaun Bailey in race to become London mayor

Sadiq Khan opens up four-point lead over Tory Shaun Bailey in race to become London mayor with Labour candidate ahead in ALL remaining boroughs

  • The two frontrunners were neck-and-neck last night after early voting 
  • But this afternoon Mr Khan opened up a four-point lead over Mr Bailey 
  • Mr Khan is ahead in all seven boroughs that are yet to complete their counts 

Sadiq Khan‘s hopes of remaining London mayor were boosted today as he opened up a lead over his Tory rival Shaun Bailey.

The two frontrunners were neck-and-neck last night after early voting in the capital, after polls which saw the Labour incumbent winning by some distance.

But this afternoon he opened up a four-point lead over Mr Bailey, 40 per cent to 36 per cent.

And in a further blow for Mr Bailey, Mr Khan is ahead in all seven boroughs that are yet to complete their counts.

Labour sources today were not counting their chickens, given how close the race was last night, and amid a national picture in England which has seen the Tories make large gains.

‘It’s still very early in the day but it’s looking positive at this stage,’ they told MailOnline. 

Incumbent Labour mayor Sadiq Khan this afternoon opened up a four-point lead over Mr Bailey, 40 per cent to 36 per cent.

And in a further blow for Mr Bailey, Mr Khan is ahead in all seven boroughs that are yet to complete their counts.

And in a further blow for Mr Bailey, Mr Khan is ahead in all seven boroughs that are yet to complete their counts.

The two frontrunners (Shaun Bailey pictured with his wife Ellie) were neck-and-neck last night after early voting in the capital, after polls which saw the Labour incumbent winning by some distance.

The two frontrunners (Shaun Bailey pictured with his wife Ellie) were neck-and-neck last night after early voting in the capital, after polls which saw the Labour incumbent winning by some distance.

‘But we remain extremely cautious because there has been a national swing to the Tories.’

Authorities will announce later this afternoon whether the winner will be announced tonight or whether the last few boroughs will continue counting on Sunday morning. 

Mr Khan, a Remainer, had been expected to romp home in the capital, which voted heavily against Brexit.

Polls last month suggested that he would gain more than 50 per cent of the vote – enough to knock out Conservative opponent Shaun Bailey in the first round under the supplementary voting system used in the election.

If the result is closer it will put pressure on Mr Khan in a city where the Tories were believed to be weak.