Support NeoGAF

[milanbaros]

It is now almost a certainty that Sadiq Khan (Labour) will be the first Muslim mayor of a major Western European city.

This is a big moment for British politics.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-36206505

London has a 14% Muslim population, with a higher proportion below voting age.

 

[Skellig Gra]

I'm going to miss Boris Johnson's hair.

 

[Broken Joystick]

 

[Aurongel]

Please give me a link to some delicious UK conservative reactions.

 

[CitizenVectron]

What about the mayor of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi?

 

[Mr Git]

Good to see Goldsmith's gutter politics backfired.

 

[Beefy]

Think I am going to be sick.

 

[El Topo]

Didn't Rotterdam get a Muslim mayor many years ago? Still this would be a historic moment.

 

[Visualante2]

Khan will be gone within 1 term if he can't make good on his housing promises. I think Londoners are sick of it.

 

[QuicheFontaine]

What about the mayor of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi?

It says Western European city bro.

 

[Yaboosh]

It says Western European city bro.

Canadians like to dissociate themselves from America whenever they can.

 

[3N16MA]

What about the mayor of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi?

I don't think Calgary is in Western Europe.

 

[hobblygobbly]

Didn't Rotterdam get a Muslim mayor many years ago? Still this would be a historic moment.

Yeah and he's an immigrant too. The thread title is a little confusing, had to read it over again to see it referring to London specifically as having the first Muslim mayor. Nonetheless London is a capital and having a Muslim mayor for the first time is a historical moment.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

It's cool as a general thing (in that so many people would vote for a muslim mayor after all the newspaper articles over the last few decade).

The guy himself is a douchebag though.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...f-77-meeting-is-at-odds-with-our-recollection

That said the tory candidate was nothing great either. I just threw my vote away (by voting green) this time.

 

[gogogow]

Ahmed Aboutaleb has been the mayor of Rotterdam (second biggest city of the Netherlands) since 2009.

 

[Kickz]

Cool, good for him and London

 

[SlimySnake]

Wow. Good for this Sadiq Khan dude. First major muslim politician in the Western world, right? I hope he sets a great example for muslims and shows the rest of the world that not all of us are cunts.

We need more Muslims movie stars, athletes and politicians. Exposure to moderate muslim figures will help fight islamophobia. Amir Khan is fighting in Vegas tomorrow. Should be fun.

 

[Fox318]

I don't think Calgary is in Western Europe.

We've been trying to get rid of Canada for years.

Their hockey teams never win and are dragging down the league.

 

[CCS]

Good for what it represents and because it means Labour get back control, don't like him though.

 

[nib95]

I'm not the biggest fan, but I'd easily take him over Zac. So yea, good result if true.

 

[RustyNails]

London is a bigger deal than Rotterdam you guys. It's like New York, Chicago, LA or Paris electing a Muslim mayor.

Good stuff.

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

Awesome no matter if he's the first or not big step in London's political climate.

 

[RustyNails]

I'm not the biggest fan, but I'd easily take him over Zac. So yea, good result if true.

What should we need to know about him? Where does he fall short in your opinion?

 

[Bold One]

professional troll

 

[liquidtmd]

She'll have to remove the existing stick up her arse to make room

 

[GeordieMark]

Lesser of two evils, but I guess Zac just about edges it in the knobhead stakes.

Nice to be shot of Boris.

 

[The Artisan]

that's cool. but i hope he doesn't end up universally hated.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Wow. Good for this Sadiq Khan dude. First major muslim politician in the Western world, right? I hope he sets a great example for muslims and shows the rest of the world that not all of us are cunts.

We need more Muslims movie stars, athletes and politicians. Exposure to moderate muslim figures will help fight islamophobia. Amir Khan is fighting in Vegas tomorrow. Should be fun.

Not not even close to the first major muslim politician. First mayor of london that is a muslim. OP's qualification is hyper specific.

 

[milanbaros]

Ahmed Aboutaleb has been the mayor of Rotterdam (second biggest city of the Netherlands) since 2009.

I know major is subjective but I doubt people think of Rotterdam as major.

 

[nib95]

What should we need to know about him? Where does he fall short in your opinion?

Now I could be wrong, but based on what I've read or seen, he's more of a Blairite or modern type of Labour candidate (despite nominating Corbyn). He is business/economics orientated and a bit too quick to distance himself from other lefties for political expedience or shielding. Then again, as a Muslim political candidate, especially one running for mayor of London, I suppose that is a necessity in order to ensure his survival or success. Like I said though, I'd still take him over Zac Goldsmith any day of the week.

 

[3N16MA]

We've been trying to get rid of Canada for years.

Their hockey teams never win and are dragging down the league.

I'm Canadian. Can't get rid of me.

You can get rid of the Leafs.

 

[-MB-]

I know major is subjective but I doubt people think of Rotterdam as major.

AT least when it comes to their football clubs that is true.

 

[Angelus Errare]

She'll have to remove the existing stick up her arse to make room

I'm sure she can make them both fit.

 

[Timbuktu]

I know major is subjective but I doubt people think of Rotterdam as major.

it is the largest port in Europe.

 

[Fritz]

I know major is subjective but I doubt people think of Rotterdam as major.

It absolutely is. Biggest port in Europe and 3rd biggest port in the world.

 

[Übermatik]

No no no no please don't fucking do this no-one needs to see this fuck please no

 

[Skellig Gra]

I know major is subjective but I doubt people think of Rotterdam as major.

Probably has something to do with it being completely demolished by Hitler.

 

[SlimySnake]

Not not even close to the first major muslim politician. First mayor of london that is a muslim. OP's qualification is hyper specific.

well to be fair, i didnt know about the other two muslim mayors and i try to keep my ears to the ground. No offense to those cities but they are not London or NYC.

 

[OverBlood 3]

Such a shame there's so many career politicians in the Labour Party. They have short memories condemning Corbyn and Livingstone for racism considering their focus on fighting just that.

On a slight side note Michael Dugher is a fucking idiot.

 

[Bleepey]

How I loathe this woman. We can hope she is woman enough for her word and gets arrested.

 

[SJRB]

I know major is subjective but I doubt people think of Rotterdam as major.

Good lord..

 

[The Artisan]

How I loathe this woman. We can hope she is woman enough for her word and gets arrested.

her being woman enough would mean she would realize wtf she just said and then come to her senses.

 

[milanbaros]

It absolutely is. Biggest port in Europe and 3rd biggest port in the world.

I don't think it is even in the top 30 cities in the EU by population.

City mayors.com has it at 73rd in Europe.

 

[GeordieMark]

Now I could be wrong, but based on what I've read or seen, he's more of a Blairite or modern type of Labour candidate (despite nominating Corbyn). He is business/economics orientated and a bit too quick to distance himself from other lefties for political expedience or shielding. Then again, as a Muslim political candidate, especially one running for mayor of London, I suppose that is a necessity in order to ensure his survival or success. Like I said though, I'd still take him over Zac Goldsmith any day of the week.

He's a bit of a revisionist too, but we aren't likely to find a candidate who is squeaky clean so we make do. Like you say, if it's him or Goldsmith, I'd pick Khan.

It'll be interesting to see if he really can keep transport costs down and I remain skeptical he will be able to pull it off.

 

[Skellig Gra]

I don't think it is even in the top 30 cities in the EU by population.

City mayors.com has it at 73rd in Europe.

Strange metric you are using there. Would you say Madrid is more "important" than Paris or Rome?

 

[CCS]

He's a bit of a revisionist too, but we aren't likely to find a candidate who is squeaky clean so we make do. Like you say, if it's him or Goldsmith, I'd pick Khan.

It'll be interesting to see if he really can keep transport costs down and I remain skeptical he will be able to pull it off.

The transport costs one is the big policy concern for me. I don't see how he does that without slashing infrastructure spending, and that better not happen.

 

[Mr. Sam]

Oh, I desperately hope this isn't the internet age's "Dewey Defeats Truman" moment - Goldsmith ran a despicable campaign.

 

[Bold One]

Oh, I desperately hope this isn't the internet age's "Dewey Defeats Truman" moment - Goldsmith ran a despicable campaign.

with 80% of the votes counted, not likely

 

[milanbaros]

Strange metric you are using there. Would you say Madrid is more "important" than Paris or Rome?

It is from 2008 but a PWC report on city gdp didn't have it in the top 25 in the EU.

 

[Oemenia]

Told you guys the Muslamic takeover was real.