London Quakers welcome new mayor
Friends welcome Sadiq Khan
London Friends were among those who welcomed the new mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and his team to City Hall on their first day in office, Monday 9 May.
Friends brought breakfast for the new team. In doing so they built on a relationship established the previous week at the London Citizens Mayoral Accountability Assembly.
More than 200 Friends and friends of Friends attended the debate between the London mayoral candidates. There was an audience of 6,000 people. The Quaker involvement was prompted by London West Area Meeting, which is a member of London Citizens, a network of community organisations.
The two front-running candidates, Conservative Zac Goldsmith and Sadiq Khan of the Labour Party, were asked for commitments on four issues. These were: jobs for young people, the Living Wage, welcoming refugees, and London’s housing crisis.
The main aim ‘was to establish a relationship with the next mayor of London. Both candidates were impressed by the diverse and respectful communities involved, and a positive working relationship was agreed to by both Zac and Sadiq’, Sarah Holtam of London West Area Meeting told the Friend.
