Khan pushes for the finishing line and tells Londoners to choose hope over fear

Sadiq Khan today issues a rallying cry to Londoners to “choose hope over fear” as he unveiled a blizzard of stats unveiling the depth of the Tory housing crisis.

In his final major speech before Thursday’s election, Khan warns that a victory for Zac Goldsmith will mean there will “no change” for the thousands of Londoners priced out of the city.

Khan highlighted his opposition to the Conservatives’ housing bill, backed by Goldsmith, which he said would mean the sale of social housing with no guarantee they will be replaced by affordable homes.

A Goldsmith victory in the capital will mean Londoners need to earn £77,000 in order to afford a Conservative “starter home” – which could cost up to £450,000, Khan added.

“The Tories and Zac Goldsmith do not want to build more genuinely affordable homes. You only need to look at the Housing Bill – which I will be voting against in Parliament tonight. It will mean the forced sell-off of affordable family-sized homes in London.

“This Bill is a disaster for affordable housing in London, and Zac Goldsmith has defended it at every step of the way.

“Which is why I can say with surety that if he wins on Thursday there will be no change on housing in London.

“So I ask Londoners today to choose hope over fear – and to give me the chance to ensure that all Londoners get the opportunities that our city gave to me and my family.”

This follows a bad weekend for Goldsmith, who was accused of racism after his column in the Mail on Sunday linked Khan to extremism under a picture of the damage caused by the 7/7 bombings. Conservative Peer Baroness Warsi condemned the move, saying it was akin to watching an “Britain’s Biggest Bigot”.