Sadiq Khan wins record third term as London Mayor after rumours of shock Susan Hall win

Sadiq Khan has won a record third term as mayor of London.

The Labour incumbent secured just over 1,088,000 votes, a majority of some 275,000 over Conservative rival Susan Hall, who secured just under 813,000 votes.

It comes after rumours swirled that Ms Hall could pull off a shock victory.

Both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer were braced for the result of the key mayoral election in the capital.

It has been a bruising set of local elections for Mr Sunak after voters took to the polls on Thursday.

As Friday's result declarations closed, the Conservatives had suffered a net loss of 371 seats, and lost control of 10 councils.

Overall, Labour won control of eight councils as it saw a net gain of 204 seats, and saw victory in three inaugural mayoral races in the East Midlands, the North East, and in York and North Yorkshire.

But in a glimmer of light for Mr Sunak, Tory Ben Houchen retained the mayoralty in Tees Valley.

The Conservative victory appears to have quelled a potential revolt against the embattled Prime Minister.

Mr Sunak last night insisted “I’m up for the fight” vowed to battle to protect "our values and our country’s future”.

He told the Daily Express: “At the beginning of this year, we turned a corner and our plan is demonstrably working.

“Whether its inflation coming down, tax cuts coming in which are on average putting £900 in people’s pockets, our Rwanda bill coming into law and the first failed asylum seeker going there with many others detained just this week, legal migration falling steeply, or significant welfare reforms to help people into work – it is this Conservative government that has a plan and is delivering for the British people and their priorities.

“And make no mistake, we are going to keep going because there’s more work to be done. And what is as clear as day is that Labour just don’t have a plan. Of course, losing Conservative colleagues is always disappointing.

“But just like Ben Houchen in Teesside, we are going to continue taking the right, bold decisions for the country underpinned by our Conservative values that Britain must control its own destiny, protect our borders, ensure our security and build a thriving, lower tax economy.

“That will be the choice at the next election – stick with the Conservative plan or go back to square one with Labour. And trust me, I’m up for the fight because we are fighting for our values and our country’s future.”