Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, has warned young Londoners about the potential consequences of not voting in the upcoming mayoral election.
He compared a Conservative victory to waking up to the surprises of
Donald Trump's presidency or the Brexit vote in 2016.
Khan's lead in the polls has narrowed, and he expressed concerns about low turnout among younger voters, who may not be aware that photo ID is required to vote.
According to Labour sources, fewer than half of 18- to 24-year-olds are aware of this requirement, compared to 98% of over-65s.
Sadiq Khan, the incumbent Mayor of London, has had a significant lead in the polls against his nearest rival, Shaun Hall, but a recent Savanta poll suggests the gap has narrowed to around 13 points.
In 2021, Khan won the mayoral election with a 4.7% margin over his Conservative rival, Shaun Bailey, despite polls indicating a 20-point lead for Khan earlier in the year.
The Savanta poll also reveals a significant age divide, with 54% of 18- to 34-year-olds intending to vote for Khan, compared to 53% of Londoners aged 65 and over who plan to support Hall.
With the election approaching, Khan expressed concern about a potential repeat of the Brexit referendum and Trump's victory in 2016, where young people were reportedly shocked by the outcome due to low voter turnout.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged young Londoners to vote in the upcoming elections, drawing parallels to the 2020 US elections where high youth turnout helped Democrats defeat
Donald Trump.
Khan warned against the election of a "hard-right Tory candidate" named Hall, who he believes would set London back if elected.