Furious London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan Drops Bombshell Claim About How Muslims Are Being Treated in the UK Before Defending His Record

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has refused to rule out standing for a fourth term in office, saying he will discuss the decision with his wife and family before making an announcement next year.

Sir Sadiq also defended his record as Mayor and spoke about the treatment of British Muslims. He said many Muslims were being made to feel like “second-class citizens” because of the way Islam and Muslim events were sometimes discussed in public and political debates.

His comments came after criticism of a public Iftar gathering held in Trafalgar Square. Iftar is the evening meal Muslims eat to break their fast during Ramadan. The event attracted criticism from Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy, who described it in a post on X as an “act of domination and division.”

However, Sir Sadiq strongly rejected that description. He pointed out that the event was peaceful, open to the public and passed without any trouble. He said he could not understand why some people wanted to turn a peaceful religious gathering into a political argument.

According to the Mayor, allowing Muslims to celebrate their faith openly should not be seen as a threat. He suggested that it was better for communities to come together in a public place than for people to feel that they must practise their religion behind closed doors.

Sir Sadiq said he believed Muslims were often placed at the bottom when society discussed groups facing discrimination. He also warned that some politicians might believe they could win votes by making people afraid of Muslims instead of giving them hope and bringing communities together.

He rejected the suggestion that Muslims wanted to take control of Britain or replace the country’s traditions. He said nobody was trying to “fly the flag of Mohammed over Downing Street” and made it clear that this was not something he supported.

The Mayor warned that making Muslims feel unwanted could have dangerous consequences. He said repeatedly presenting different religions and cultures as enemies could create division and help extremists who try to radicalise young people.

Figures released by the Metropolitan Police in June showed that offences recorded as Islamophobic hate crimes increased by 33 per cent between April and May. The number rose from 135 incidents in April to 179 in May, which was reportedly the highest monthly total since August 2024.

Westminster recorded the highest number of Islamophobic hate crimes in May, with 21 incidents. During that month, a “Unite the Kingdom” rally organised by activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, took place in central London. Some speakers and posters at the event reportedly called for Islam to be removed from Britain.

Sir Sadiq, who is a practising Muslim, stressed that London remained an open and tolerant city where Muslims, Christians, Jews and people of other religions could live together peacefully.

He also responded to criticism he has received from prominent international figures, including US President Donald Trump and Tesla founder Elon Musk. Sir Sadiq said he understood that his name attracted attention online and described himself as “clickbait.”

He argued that some critics disliked what London represented. He described the capital as liberal, progressive, multicultural and successful. According to him, London challenges people who believe that communities from different ethnic or religious backgrounds cannot live together.

The Mayor also defended his performance since he was first elected in 2016. He later won two further elections, securing another term in 2021 and again in 2024.

Sir Sadiq claimed London had become fairer, safer, greener and more prosperous during his time in office. He pointed to cleaner air and falling levels of serious violence as evidence of progress.

He said teenagers in London were now less likely to be killed than at any other time in the past three decades. He also claimed that the homicide rate per person was at its lowest level since records began and that London recorded 36,000 fewer crimes during the previous year.

However, he acknowledged that official statistics did not always match how people felt in their communities. He said that even if crime figures were falling, it remained a serious problem if Londoners did not feel safe.

Sir Sadiq also blamed reductions in police funding for weakening the Metropolitan Police since 2010. He said years of cuts had “hollowed out” the force and made it more difficult for officers to provide the visible presence that residents wanted.

Despite this, he accepted that public confidence was part of his responsibility. He said the reality of reducing crime mattered, but the Mayor must also address people’s fears and make sure residents feel protected.

When asked whether he would stand as Labour’s candidate in the 2028 London mayoral election, Sir Sadiq did not rule out the possibility. He said he still had plenty of energy and remained full of new ideas for the capital.

However, he admitted that he had concerns about whether one person should remain in such a powerful position for too long. A fourth victory would allow him to serve as Mayor for as many as 16 years.

Sir Sadiq said polls suggested he could win another term, but he insisted that winning was not the only issue he had to consider. He said he must also ask whether it would genuinely be good for London to have the same person in charge for 16 years.

For now, he has not made a final decision. He plans to speak with his family and consider what would be best for both them and the city before announcing whether he will seek a fourth term.