On Saturday 1 September 2018 a blimp of a semi-naked Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, will be flown above Parliament Square.
The event has been organised by a man called Yanny Bruere who describes himself as “pro free speech” and “anti political correctness”. It has been paid for by a crowdfunding campaign which has raised more than £58,000. The stunt is part of a wider campaign to stop Mr Khan from being re-elected as London Mayor and is a response to the decision to allow a blimp of Donald Trump during his presidential visit in July.
Showing his witty sense of humour, Mr Khan has said: “If people want to spend their Saturday looking at me in a yellow bikini they’re welcome to do so. I don’t really think yellow’s my colour though”.
I think the stunt is rude and a huge waste of money. Surely, in these austere times, £58,000 could be better spent? It is also a win for Mr Khan as it has received publicity and allows him to show he is not above having the rise taken out of him.
But let’s use this as an opportunity to stimulate intelligent debate. The Mayor’s responsibility is to make London a better place for everyone who visits, lives or works in the city. His influence ranges across transport, the police and fire service, housing, business and the economy, regeneration and young people. Are these areas genuinely better than when Mr Khan took office in 2016? Has he made a real difference since coming to power? Has he improved the daily lives of Londoners or has the situation got worse? These are the areas on which Mr Khan must be judged and serious questions asked.
I notice the media are already identifying Mr Khan as the “front runner” for re-election as Mayor of London in 2020. The key question, which requires an honest answer, is why?