Sadiq Khan: Realities of Mayoral Power, Blurred Lines Between Dominic Cummings & Boris Johnson
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- čas přidán 12. 06. 2024
- How much power does the Mayor of London actually have? Have we moved forward - or backwards - as a country when it comes to religion in politics? Should London take a leaf out of New York's book to boost investment in the city?
On today's special episode of Leading, Rory & Alastair are joined by Mayor of London, Sadiq Kahn to discuss this and more.
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00:00 Intro
00:50 Being a child of immigrants & the bus driver club
07:16 View on faith
08:03 Realities of being a practising muslim working in parliament
12:21 Siblings & Tooting roots
15:17 Interfaith relationships today
16:47 How some politicians go far right to be accepted
20:00 The good, the bad and the ugly of Boris Johnson
24:54 Blurred lines between Cummings & Boris Johnson
25:37 The realities of powers behind the Mayor of London
28:59 What Rory would have done if he won London Mayor that Sadiq hasn't?
33:55 Mental Health Experience
36:44 What will you do better in your third term?
43:35 How does the global picture impact what is happening in the UK?
47:24 Adopting ULEZ from Boris Johnson
50:00 Can more be done about dirty money in London?
51:18 Realities of being a politician
55:19 Debrief
1:11:04 Outro
No one else gives listeners the opportunity to see leaders in this long-form, friendly but probing format. This is what we need to really assess the character and intentions of our leaders. Fantastic work you two!!
I can’t agree with Rory here. I worked for Sadiq for 2 years. He is cautious … because he likes to have all the facts. And weigh them up. He is not indecisive. He takes the time to make informed decisions. Something we need more of in politics.
Thanks for this insight. FWIW I think it shows in a positive way.
He takes time so he can best turn Britain into a Sharia state.
He’s a racist. He knows ulez has destroyed many lives in east London. But he thinks that’s all good as they are only lower income whites vs his pals in Kensington and Hampstead
@@twelvecatsinatrenchcoat Khan wins again 👍 and Count Binface got more votes than your boys at Britain First ahahahaha!
@@twelvecatsinatrenchcoat bye tory. 😂
Rory’s blinkers are so frustrating, for such an intelligent, rational, experienced man, he sometimes appears not hear / listen.
A) Sadiq clearly laid out that the school meals money came from a specific part of his budget that was NOT to be used as part of the general budget, with a very limited kind of project that were eligible.
B) as for ‘the leader’ saying, the buck stops with me, I am going to change this ; Boris and Donald were exactly these kind of political leaders. It is surely far better to have the humility, and clarity to say - my powers are limited, but this is what I can do, and this is what I will fight to change (but can’t guarantee cos I don’t have control of it).
C) to ask a politician in the middle of 2 simultaneous election campaigns to lay out a black and white financial percentage seemed strange.
If he answers with exact figures and percentages
1 he provides ammunition for opponents during his mayoral campaign (when this is still just a vision and not implementable without a long battle to radically change current policy).
2 He then provides the media with a double barrel of ammunition
- the Labour Party said THIS amount (when it is just his personal ambition not party policy) so THIS is a Labour policy
- ooh, problems between Starmer and Khan.
Following the recommendations of the Brown report, more devolution of power, greater access to funding shows his desire, the vision, and the intention ; leaving him the flexibility to then do what is POSSIBLE to make those happen.
Is Rory really saying he'd rather vote for Susan Hall than Sadiq?
Never forget that he's a Tory deep down.
@@Liam.Fairhurst not particularly deep down
Well he's saying he wants a politician to lie about what it's achievable and what they have the power to do .... So ... That fits with Susan hall
@@Jack-yg7deDeep enough.
Saying he will vote for his main competition will be on the the leaflets if Rory ever run against him again
Rory's point about nobody holding the Mayor of London accountable was disappointing - that's exactly what the London Assembly is for. None of the other Metro Mayors have that sort of institution keeping them in check.
He didn’t say that.
@@Sumonebody1:00:48, talking about how Khan had a policy to plant trees and "nobody really holds him accountable" for missing it.
I think you should have another look at that. Greater Manchester Council leaders don't just hold the mayor to account, they are part of the decision making.
I know this is not a traditional broadcaster, but given the context of this show trying to agree disagreeably I hope we get another episode with one of the Tory Mayors (or Mayoral candidates) before election day so they can make their case. And I say that as Labour supporter, balance is good.
Not sure Susan Hall will do it, she is turning down most opportunities to appear in front of any press where she cannot control the agenda. Plus she appears to be thick as mince...
Well there is only a choice of 2 Tory metro mayors isn't there? Although I they had Andy Street (along with Andy Burnham) in 6 or 7 months ago. The paucity of Tories winning mayoral elections may have been one of the drivers for driving the mayoral elections away from Supplemental Vote. The transfer of votes definitely got the mayor in my metro region (Cambs and Peterborough) over the line.
@@andyleighton3616 If Ben Bradley wins in the East Midlands, he'll be an interesting guest to compare his current dual role as an MP and County Council Leader to the Combined Authority Mayoralty
@@DylanSargesson East Midlands is interesting because most of them are pushing fairly similar lines (at least when it comes to soundbites) around transport. The Reform guy is a bit different because he is ranting against 15minute cities, and ULEZ and claims they are in favour of freedom of movement (well obviously not that "freedom of movement" silly).
On another note I am against politicians holding positions at two different levels on principle. I know you can't be a councillor and mayor, but I think that should extend to being an MP and councillor (or mayor or MSP etc). Giving up being an MP to be a mayor (rather than trying to do both) is one of the things I respect Andy Burnham for.
@@andyleighton3616 Double Jobbing can be fine so long as the person can fully execute all the responsibilities of both jobs, and it doesn't create a conflict of interests.
On double jobbing for Mayors it depends on the Mayoralty, sometimes it's a choice and sometimes its a requirement - those Mayors who have Police and Crime Commissioner functions are not legally allowed to be MPs.
That is the case in Greater Manchester for Andy Burnham, but wasn't the case for Dan Jarvis MP when he was elected Mayor of the Sheffield City Region (South Yorkshire) - but he stepped down as Mayor at the last election to focus on being an MP (Jarvis' case is a little different though because when he was first elected the Mayor had literally no powers because the Government and the local councils hadn't finalised the devolution agreement yet). South Yorkshire are reelecting their Mayor this year (even though the last election was only 2 years ago) because the Mayor is gaining the PCC functions.
The new East Midlands Combined Authority crosses two Police Force Areas (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire) so the Mayor isn't going to get the PCC functions.
Another example of double jobbing is Ben Houchen, the Tory Mayor of the Tees Valley, who is also a member of the House of Lords (as Baron Houchen of High Leven). That one is weird for me as he claims to be unwhipped by the national party as Mayor, but then follows the Government whip in Parliament. (Which of course can pull him away from Teeside down to Westminster to come and vote).
I’m putting together that much of politics is the ability to charm an audience through storytelling
Indeed, it’s why cluster B personality disorders are so attracted to & tend to thrive in the political arena....Highly recommend reading ‘Political Ponerology’.
The comment on being a “politician vs a Politician” is an extremely insightful heuristic for describing politicians whose primary goals are to work for the people vs Politicians whose primary goals are to advocate for their parties.
Hello Alastair, hello Rory, love the show, keep it going! :)
Thanks Alistair for putting Rory straight. I like Rory but he seems unreasonably bitter on this.
Nah its understandable he is bitter election campaigns are exhausting
and expensive and he ran without a
parties support.
It's hard to be a good sport.
He still hasn't ruled against running again so he is understandably adversarial
This podcast is getting better and better. Enjoying this from India with a pint of lager and a packet of crisp.
Crisps? 😂
@@alexm7310 In India, we call people like you Grammar Nazis. We often deliberately do it cause we known someone like you will turn up correcting you.
I'm listening with a cup of tea !!!
@@ghotio1927 ...glass of wine here! 🍷
Large gin and tonic with a packet of hula hoops 😂
Wow. Refreshing to hear a sitting UK politician (and a London Mayor in fact) commenting on blind trusts taking over London housing and pricing out locals to be able to afford homes in which they rent in. Sadiq Khan is impressing me with this interview I must say. Unafraid to speak on Putin either. Brilliant.
Sadhiq Khan, the real deal, if I was still in London I’d vote for him!
exactly my point, your not from london yet you would consider voting
for someone who you haven't even experienced living under .
If you aint from london than respectfully its best to just shut the fuck up
Sadiq khan is a tyrant
He's the real deal if youre a religious fundamentalist out to destroy British culture.
I would like that whole heartedly thank Sadiq Khan for the wonderfully exceptional changes he has made to London.
In the 90's I was brought up in Essex with a father who demanded that we'd cycle through London when we visited. It was a rather scary experience. This March as I visited the elders I made a few day trips into London.
The air is so much cleaner, the streets themselves look cleaner, you hear more of the bussle of people, rather than the noise of traffic. There are so many people cycling, and running now. As an experienced cyclist I can say that the quality of the cycling infrastructure matters more than the amount and the newest paths really look well made.
Really impressive work!
No, changes are bad in London. Stop liking Sadiq Khan
@@membershipofbus but if London doesn't change that would be a change in itself?
As you used the word 'stark' (unpleasantly sharp or clear), normally a critical word, I thought at first that your comment was critical or sarcastic. I think you meant though that it's a stark contrast (striking difference) to your earlier experience.
@@heliotropezzz333 sorry I was thinking in German earlier, stark in german means substantial.
@@SBuk1Crawl back down your hole troll..
Good one chaps, found it very interesting all around.
Thanks so much for posting
Interesting listen as always
There is always so much more to people in politics and your interviews really help me to understand another perspective. I didn't know much about Sadiq Khan other than the criticism I've heard. I found this interview interesting and really liked him. Thank you.
Rory doesn’t do well with being beat. His view of Sadiq will be heavily swayed by him getting the role of London Mayor.
He wasn't beaten, he had to withdraw from the race
@@QwentyJ he was lost
@@beijing1984 what does that mean?
@@QwentyJ It means that Roy should man up and be less bitter about it
This beats all the other political interview formats hands down. Engaging, enquiring and much more revealing. You draw more out of the interviewees and the viewer/listener gets a better insight into the issues, past and present. Great teamwork. Keep up the excellent work.
Great eppy though I feel Rory pulled a lot of punches in favour of comfortable chat. Bit too familiar all round for an incumbent electoral candidate
Another great interview! Sadiq Khan has been a powerful voice for London. One thing I wanted to mention re the broadcast: I put on captions as my volume can only go so high on my laptop, my hearing is a bit dodgy on certain tones, and Sadiq speaks fast and swallows words often. I am afraid they are not worth a damn! Haha! Have you read how it is reading what is said? It is nonsense. Would really help to have good CC. Thanks for TRIP, and I see that you are doing election night coverage with Emily Maitlis, which will be brilliant. I will be watching closely from the US.
Thank you for this podcast; it was helpful to understand how much power a mayor really has and generally how the role works (and much more informative than the A5 page in the London Elects booklet)!
These two are entertain, knowledgeable and they entertain. They get on even when they don't agree. This is a good model for all politicians kind
Great interview 👍
MTA heavily subsidises fares on the NY Subway. It’s way more expensive to use the tube here!
If an independent candidate has, at best, a small chance, even under transferable 2nd choices - then how come Ken Livingstone absolutely thumped both Labour and Tory candidates in 2000? This minor quibble aside, The Rest Of Politics is a consistently fantastic show. Top work, Mr. Campbell and Mr. Stewart
Mayor of Paris. You are right Rory. She is terrific !
Best wishes to Sadiq Khan; shame I don’t live in London so I could give him my vote. One of the best episodes yet. 👍
Bot
Think Rory is still miffed that Sadiq won the Mayor election 😀
Guys, please get a leading expert on regarding Ukraine. Ben Wallace or Jens stoltenberg??
After listening to Rory's assinine comment in which he considered that Ukraine might have been responsible for the Crocus City Hall attack they certainly need to!
Professor Timothy Synder would be best for this, not Wallace
Perhaps even John Mearsheimer, the Russian asset!
@@twometerpeter I will never ever listen to these guys again if John comes on lol
I love this podcast, it's refreshing listening to neutral coverage and hearing the perspectives of different politicians and parties. Keep up the great work!
Neutral...wow, are we listening to the same stuff. AC is tribal personified and would struggle to be neutral. Rory on the other hand is much more analytical, nuanced and tries to create a more even-handed approach. If you pay close attention to both their styles, thus will become obvious.
how many council homes are being knocked down vs built?
More likely sold off.
Freedom for Tooting!
Khan's evidence to the COVID inquiry was impressive. Worth a listen if you can make time.
Considering the absolute effort put into smears and the disinfo about the policies he pushes, he aint doing bad really.
Rory is always nice and diplomatic to interviewees faces but often reserves his hardest criticisms for after they've left the studio. Alistair's views during and after the interviews seem less conflicting but he can make Rory laugh a lot. My one criticism of Andy Burnham is that he signed off some legislation (I believe on the NHS) when he was in power as a Health Secretary, and then criticised it after he was in opposition, not seeming to realise that he was the one who had signed it off when in power. How bright or on top of things is he really?
Would have liked a question on Silvertown tunnel
Don’t underestimate the power of trees 🌲 so needed in London especially with the rising temperature
In the span of a week I saw kids spray a random man in the eyes with a substance (hopefully just soapy water) and a guy with a bally on grab a phone out of a guy's hand on Camden Road in broad daylight. The thief was on an e bike. I'm tired of London being like this
It isn’t just a problem in London; it’s a problem right across the country, and much of the blame lies with parenting skills. Villains tend to breed villains.
The man can keep talking without any break
Thanks :)
It was a cosy interview betweem mates without challenging him..
as an Australian listener to the show, its pronounced Wogga Wogga, and its a small country town. Vast majority of us Aussies would not mind Sadiq slagging it off haha
I disagree that the PNW words are coming back. Not in my world.
I don’t even know the the W word is.
Pacifist Northwest?
I've been waiting for this, what a legend.
I have never warmed to SK but this interview has changed my opinion. I have always had the opinion he says things to ensure he gets re-elected. calling the police officer who told a jewish man not to cross a pro-palestinian march actions deplorable is an example. stopping the Las Vegas type sphere from being built in east London to protect residents from light pollution is another. However he does come across as a true Londoner with a close family and a man of integrity and intelligence. It is hard to escape religion when you are born into it.
Clearly haven't been paying enough attention. Him funding child school meals should have been an indication.
nobody is supposed to cross a march
@@ftftyffghfvghfcht6701funny that before the video him and his team were walking up the March against the flow of people rather than across it. Very disingenuous
You didn't like him because he's anti light pollution?
@@chindit6784 what? are you saying that that shows their video was disingenuous. because then i agree.
I haven’t heard the expression “prince across the river” yet…may I ask someone to explain it to me? 🙂 Does it have any relation to the “king across the water”, with Jacobites? And if so, how and what does it mean?
Same thing
@@jackthemac132 thanks, but what does it / do they mean?
@@Narg_Smart Oh it just means that there's a political figure who's biding his time until the moment is right before running for leadership and everyone knows that they want the top job. A good example in Britain would be when Johnson resigned dramatically from May's cabinet. Another example from American politics might be when Jefferson made a similarly dramatic resignation from Washington's cabinet. Going even further back, you might say Ceasar when he was deciding what to do when returning from Gaul.
@@jackthemac132 Ah thanks so much!
insightful comments regarding discussing mental health issues openly. well done. there are various levels of depression. In severe depression when you are contemplating suicide then you should not be working. Great way to describe the need to look after your mental health.
Should terms for major city mayors be limited to 2 terms max ?.Discuss.
No surprise Sadiq’s father hated Wagga (pronounced “wogga”). Wagga in the 1950’s would have been pretty grim for anyone, especially if they were not white and not a Christian. And halal food? Decades before that would have been available.
I agree with Mr Khan on many points. I am not a Tory or any way Conservative. I consider myself left of centre. However, my concern is that this in the current Labour Party do not talk about how their behaviour and some important decisions they made or (in my opinion more importantly ) what they did not make which gave away their power this enabling the right wing take power. I was shocked by Brexit. I couldn’t believe the common man and woman chose this route. I feel there were so many people feeling that they had no one representing their interests. Why don’t you air these views and discuss
Good friend of yours says it all
32:00 personal timestamp
As always a great session. However, having the microphones away from the face and mouth would enhance the experience.
Please invite Anita Anand (the Canadian) onto your show!
I am looking forward to voting for Sadiq Khan again in the mayoral election next month.
@@SBuk1What does that even mean?
@@mildlydispleased3221I’m baffled haha
@mildlydispleased3221 Their point (as far as I can infer) is that you shouldn't vote for Khan due to his beliefs (which when put into practice regarding halal meat could be considered overly cruel to animals).
@@lukeskywalker8543 I don't even eat meat so as far as I'm concerned it's all a bit cruel. I have bigger things to worry about than how someone likes their chicken. The alternative to Khan is an overtly racist, homophobic woman who is unafraid to tell blatant lies to push her dangerous agenda.
@@SBuk1I’m taking it you’re a staunch vegan, since the meat and dairy industry themselves are beyond cruel regardless of being Halal, Kosher or otherwise. So unless you don’t touch meat and dairy at all, you’ve got absolutely no leg to stand on.
If Sadiq acted in the way Rory wanted he would spend all his time in the courts.
Nicolas Maduro was also a bus driver....
Anne Hidalgo and Sadiq Khan have transformed their cities for the better. Politicians making meaningful change are always unpopular with the luddites.
Sadiq does talk very fast - I needed the subtitles on
Wonderful Sadiq! Maybe next Labour leader - that would be great!
Binface for next London Mayor.
Don't think the country needs CEO style mayors.
Not the motorists' friend.
Rich motorists yes.
i may be naïve and innocent, but i can't figure out what Khan means by 'the Y word'. Is anyone able to tactfully help?
I believe he either means "yid." A term used against Jewish people and used against fans of Tottenham due to its large Jewish following.
Here I am, unshaved in jogging bottoms 😅 Do I need to see a doctor?
I have changed my view on SK..
Do we notice how all the nasty comments are at the start of the comment section - like people are lining up and waiting for the next Rest is P to come online so they can throw insults? Always the same pattern. They write the comments before watching the video - if they ever actually watch the video.
I think what Rory is telling you Mayor is to be more cynical and follow the Tory rule book of never being honest.
Has Sadiq Khan left London in a better or worse state than when he found it?
Vote for Khan for being LIVERPOOL fc fan 😊
Rory let himself down post interview.
Can someone give me a timestamp to the bit about where they talk about the London and the ongoing Palestine/Israel protests?
What a lovely comment section this will be
My leadership training suggested that most big, tough challenges are so confused and uncertain that responsibility can really only be taken (by eager and purposeful people) and not given (to reluctant and timid people). Its the same mentality as found in the notion that its better to act and beg for forgiveness, than to wait and beg for permission. I think that Rory rather exposed Sadiq on that score, leaving me with the impression of a good, well-intentioned man who is also a consummate politician but not at all a clear-minded and transformative leader.
It's hard to act on ideas without the money to do so but I think he has been proactive within budget limitations such as funding permanent free dinners for London schoolchildren and as someone in the comments section who experienced London from living in Essex as a child and and visiting and cycling across it, then visiting again more recently, from a German perspective said, that London has been transformed as more bustling with people but less traffic clogged with cleaner air and streets, much more people friendly to visit. He credited Khan with that transformation. We don't want a crazy Liz Truss type with outlandish ideas that fail badly.
Why on earth can't you poms copy us in Australia? How hard is it to do a full preference based count? Vote 1, 2, 3... etc. Can't you guys count?
Is this because SK mentioned how much his Father hated Australia when he decided to move there? I’m not surprised really..
@@sherlockgnomes8971 no, this is the fact that you lot can’t run proper elections.
It would have been good to ask about his real ambitions. His career seems to have a bit of a dead-end. Id think he'd prefer rk go back into government if there's a Labour win.
P word, N word, W word. Took me a while to figure out what the w word is.
I can only think of a very old fashioned slur same as n word.
I thought "wop" initially but isn't that Italians?
He doesn't mention the S word [scouse]
"I'm very upset as a foreigner moving to this country that people are allowed to say words that I don't like. So me and my buddy in scotland are passing laws that ban the natives from speaking their own language."
Great show, I liked it. Perhaps you should invite people like John Mearsheimer or Jeffery Sachs to hear other side and their perspective on Ukraine and Gaza War and Geopolitics in general
Sorry but there was no halal food is silly. Plants are halal.
he said meat
@@bigsmerdo6:21
@@bigsmerdono he didn't
@@fplyerbs5251 6:43
@@bigsmerdo did you ignore my message?
Not disparaging of bus drivers, but of the 'bank-of-Mum-and-Dad'. Try being a young-carer.
My god Rory is so pathetically salty here. Hard to respect the guy tbh
I dont believe anything he says this man is a compulsive LIAR ! 🤥
Completely lost respect with Rory. Rory going to bust in like the incredible Hulk and shake things up - super CEO, and failed minister. Try fighting against an inept TORY government for 8 years Rory.
SK has a great nose reminds me of a peregrine falcon.
To Rory's I think it's telling that when asked about FSM he said that he didn't have the powers to do it, followed by an explanation of how he would do it when asked. makes me wonder if some things he says he lacks power to do are just things he isn't too bothered about
Please educate yourself on this, rather than making such an uninformed generalisation.
Interesting, when Mr Khan speaks “freely”, sentences are at least 5 words long. Very eloquent man, as his legal training would suggest.
COUNT BINFACE!!!!
The bin is the most useful part of him.
Fan of the podcast, inappropriate in my opinion to do this during an election campaign.
What a hilarious and ridiculous comment..
Khan wins again 👍
Sounds like he is arguing for city-states
Like the famous city States Tokyo and New York
Happy to have Sadiq Khan? You must be the only person in the UK to say that.
I can see this channel isn't worth any time
Bye bye 😂 voted in again 😎
Tootin'
I like Sadiq Khan. He says he has nothing against bus drivers - some of his best friends are bus drivers.
He unfortunately is a man of his time and knows that if he were to simply say that his father had to do a job considered less skilled to feed his family…the Twitter bozos would implode with …”Ooooo he has disparaged Alll bus drivers, he in fact hates them and think their beneath him!!”
It’s a sad world really, nuance is dead
It's troubling to hear him criticize the British public while claiming he experienced racial abuse.
Can you be more specific? What is he criticising the public for?
Oh Gregory, Count Binface got more votes than your boy from Britain First 😂
@@mohammed5593 He basically criticized the white British public on being overall racist, discriminatory, classist, and having an overall ignorance towards Ramadan and Muslim practices which I think is wrong.
@@sherlockgnomes8971 I don't have any horse in this race Sherlock
🤢🤢🤢
Rory has been very unclear and boring to be honest in this interview. He needs to stop trying to force himself to talk if he has nothing relevant to say.
Complete political broadcast very disappointed in you Alistair. Taking advantage of your position. And will complain about the new news channels doing the same? Worried your buddy might be in the ropes? You keep forgetting the ones who make the noise don’t vote…
There should be an emergency law, that let's local authorities access to emergency funds. Like $1B a day... just like Israel and Ukraine are allowed our money to spend $1B, why can't we spend that $1B at home on ourselves??
Just to add a little to the Cummings story. Like him, I've had to take control. Rory actually knows me well, having had a ringside seat when I landed a major diplomatic coup in 2015, in seven hours 0200-0900. Hiding behind that was four months work, which the shrinks watching termed hyperperception. I knew it was headed my way, and was PPPPPPPPed. I simply took the reply off file.
When Cummings came up with the search for weirdos and misfits, he was at his wits end. The Civil Service was fluffing it, probably because their Bosses, the First Division group, Permanent Secretaries etc, had shut down after Brexit, in mental fugue, and Boris had no idea whatsoever about how to run a huge organisation like the Government. He should never have been grandstanding Covid, for example, if his Health Secretary wasn't up to it, find someone who was. The problem there though was that Boris had demolished any such, as a potential threat. So instead, he asked for all weirdos and misfits (the Neurodiverse, which includes Gifted and Genius) to come forwards and work their butts off, only to come up empty. I was in a hell of a state as a result of the trashing, friends had fled the land, suddenly. The fact that all he had was damaged goods, the result of a century of neglect of our finest, led to the election of two of the worst PMs on record.