London decides: Two million voters set to have their say in crunch mayoral election

Two million Londoners head to the polls on Thursday to elect the next mayor, with Sadiq Khan aiming to secure victory and a third term.

The Labour incumbent, accompanied by wife Saadiya, cast his vote in Tooting, while his Tory rival Susan Hall voted in Hatch End in Harrow, accompanied by her daughter Louise.

Mr Khan, who gave photographers a thumb’s up, also brought his dog to the polling station.

Susan Hall (left) and Sadiq Khan casting their votes (ES Composite)
Susan Hall (left) and Sadiq Khan casting their votes (ES Composite)

Polling stations will remain open until 10pm. Voters who are in the queue at 10pm will still be allowed to cast their ballot, according to London Elects, the organisation that runs the Greater London Authority elections.

Counting of the votes will not start until 9am on Saturday, with a result not expected until around 10pm — though it could be as late as 1.30am on Sunday.

If the process is delayed by a higher than expected turnout, or if recounts are required, election staff will be sent home on Saturday night and will return on Sunday morning to finish the job.

Unlike previous City Hall elections, which used counting machines, the ballot papers will be counted by hand.

For the first time in the London mayoral elections, traditional first-past-the-post voting was in use, with one vote per person. Previously, electors were able to vote twice, for a first- and second-choice candidate.

Mr Khan believes the switch to the first-past-the-post system, and the need for voters to show ID at polling stations, could favour Ms Hall.

In 2016 and 2021 his winning margin was boosted by second preference votes from Lib-Dem and Green supporters.

Evening Standard Front Page (Evening Standard)
Evening Standard Front Page (Evening Standard)

Voters without official ID — such as a passport, driving licence or freedom pass — face being turned away. Londoners were also able to vote for the 25 members of the London Assembly, which scrutinises the mayor.

Electors cast two votes for the assembly, which uses a proportional representation system to allocate seats according to each party’s overall support.

A Savanta opinion poll on Wednesday found a 10-point lead for Mr Khan, putting him on 42 per cent and Ms Hall on 32 per cent — the smallest gap of any poll conducted during the campaign.

Mr Khan told the Standard on Wednesday that the election was a “close two-horse race”. He said he would be happy to secure victory, regardless of the winning margin.

“A win is a win,” he said. He has described Ms Hall as “the most dangerous candidate I’ve ever faced”.

Ms Hall said: “Today is your chance to vote for a mayor who listens. It is your last chance to scrap the Ulez expansion.”

There are 13 candidates standing to be mayor. Rob Blackie, the Lib-Dem, who voted in Herne Hill, said Mr Khan “does not deserve to win”.

London was one of 11 “metro” mayoral contests across the country, with the Tories trying to retain West Midlands, where Andy Street is mayor, and Tees Valley, where Ben Houchen is the incumbent.

There were also elections to about 100 councils outside of the capital, with more than 2,500 seats up for grabs. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the Tory party expects “significant losses”.

There is also a parliamentary by-election in Blackpool South after the resignation of former Tory MP Scott Benton.

Today’s polls will be the final test of public opinion before Rishi Sunak calls a general election and could determine its timing. Many council election results will be announced around midnight.