London mayor elections: Susan Hall 'honestly believes' she can deliver shock defeat of Sadiq Khan
Susan Hall says she “honestly” believes she can deliver a political shock and defeat Sadiq Khan to become London mayor.
The Tory candidate said Thursday’s election would amount to a referendum on Mr Khan’s eight years as mayor as she vowed to “get back to basics” by addressing the rise in violent crime and axing the Ulez expansion if elected.
She told the Standard: “Of course it should be on his reputation. In eight years, look at what he has done. It’s dreadful.
“That’s why I have got confidence. I think people know things are not as they should be in London. As mayor I would make sure the basics are put right first.
“I am confident that what I’m offering is what Londoners want.”
Battle bus: @Councillorsuzie has arrived in Wallington pic.twitter.com/roeqi0BJPm
— Ross Lydall (@RossLydall) April 29, 2024
Ms Hall unveiled a heritage Routemaster as her “battle bus” on Monday as she was joined by a number of anti-Ulez activists.
She said she chose the 1960s bus – which is exempt from the Ulez because it is more than 50 years old - because it symbolises “iconic London”.
Last summer she said she genuinely believed victory was possible. Asked if she still felt that to be the case, despite multiple opinion polls giving Mr Khan a commanding lead, she said: “Yes, I do.”
Ms Hall added: “I have been knocking on doors for a year now, listening to what Londoners want. They want everything that I’ve been promising. They want the Ulez [expansion] gone because they cannot afford it. Honestly, this is crippling some people.
“Nobody wants pay-per-mile [road charging], and obviously that was going to come in through the back door if he [Mr Khan] got back in again.”
Asked if the polls were wrong, Ms Hall said: “I have just got a feeling that the really good people of London have had enough. They don’t feel safe.
“Everyone has got different issues. In some boroughs, policing is far more important than the Ulez. People say I have followed the ‘donut’ strategy [of just targeting outer London]. No, I haven’t. I have been to every borough at least twice.”
She accepted it would be a massive political shock if Mr Khan managed to lose the election - “or I manage to win it”.
She admitted she was the “underdog” – but still believed victory was possible. “Yes I do, I really honestly do. I did say that [to the Standard] a year ago. I do believe it, and I have done everything I can to listen to Londoners, to make sure that what I promise is what Londoners want.
“The mayor should be absolutely focused on ‘bread and butter’ policies. I have got to go back to basics if I am lucky and honoured enough to be the next mayor. You have got to go back to get the basics right. Then you can fiddle around with other things.”
On Monday, Ms Hall’s battle bus was met by Ulez opponents during her visit to Wallington in Sutton. Some have previously been present at events that have been disrupted by anti-Ulez protests.
After posing for pictures and receiving a bear-hug from Nick Arlett, of the Action Against Ulez campaign, Ms Hall said: “Some of the things that have gone on aren’t what I would necessarily approve of.
“But you have got to understand the desperation of some of these people. They cannot afford £12.50 a day. I understand their passion. They are desperate that I get in.”