Sadiq Khan’s win heralds even bigger Labour victory at general election

‘Chipper’ Conservatives crumple in face of incumbent mayor’s broad appeal to London voters

Before the counting had even started, senior Tory sources were briefing that their candidate for London mayor, Susan Hall, had pulled off a spectacular, and unlikely, victory.

Despite the Labour incumbent, Sadiq Khan, having a consistent polling lead throughout the contest, Tory insiders briefed journalists that the mood was “chipper” at the Conservative headquarters on Friday night after polls closed, and that they were “utterly convinced” Hall had won.