Sadiq Khan

Acceptance Speech
I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. together - rather than the walls that can only drive US 40
I'm deeply humbled' by the trust Londoners have further apart.
placed inme to continue leading the greatest city on This virus doesn't care whether you live in London or

earth. I promise to strain every sinew2 to help build a Liverpool. Whether you're a Brexiteer or Remainer.

better and brighter future for London after the dark Or what you think it means to be "woke"*.
days of the pandemic. And to create a greener, fairer We're only defeating it by acting together - and by 45
and safer city where all Londoners get the opportuni- helping each other.
ties they need to fulfil their potential. So, now we must capture' and harnessl0 that spirit of
I'm proud to have won an overwhelming mandate to- unity and cooperation to build a better and brighter fu-
10 day. want to thank everyone who voted for me - La- ture. And it's in this spirit that I promise to lead London
bour voters and non-Labour voters. And also want to over the next three years. Building bridges between the 50

speak directly to every Londoner who didn't vote for me
this week. I'll never ignore your voice, your concerns or
your worries. I'll always be Mayor for all Londoners
15 working to improve the lives of every single person in
this city. The results of the elections around the UK
show that our country - and even our city - remain
different communities in our city. Building bridges
across cultural, social and class divides. Building bridg-
es between London and the rest of the country to en-
sure London can play its part in a national recovery.
And building bridges between City Hall and the Gov- 55
ernment. Because we must all work together to build :

deeply divided. The scars3 of Brexit are yet to heal. A brighter, greener and more equal future for London,

crude culture war is pushing us further apart. There's a and for our entire country, after the pandemic. It's not
20 growing gap between our cities and towns. And eco- a competition between areas: people without a good job
nomic inequality is getting worse - both within London or living in poverty need help wherever they are. 60

and between different parts of our country. I want to finish by saying thank you. Thank you to my
So, as we now seek to confront the enormity of the wife, Saadiya, and my family for your endless support.

challenge ahead and as we endeavour5 to rebuild from It's been tough five years and know how lucky am
25 this pandemic - we simply must use this moment of to have you. Thank you to the returning officer, Mary

national recovery to heal those damaging divisions. Harpley and your team and those across London for 65
often talk about the different experiences I've lived delivering this election under incredibly difficult cir-
during my life and how they've shaped my identity. I do cumstances. Thank you to the other candidates in these

sO because these experiences have forged° my cast- elections who put forward a positive vision for our city
30 iron? belief that there's far more that unites us, than and congratulations to those who've been elected to
divides us. I grew up on a council estate, a working. the London Assembly¼1, Thank you to my supporters 70
class boy, child of immigrants. But I'm now the Mayor for all your hard work phoning Londoners, delivering

of London. leaflets and knocking on doors. You have been brilliant.

I'm a Londoner through and through - this city is in And, most importantly, thank you to my fellow Lon-
35 my blood. But I'm alsopatriotic Englishman and doners - for the trust you've placed in me once again

Brit, who's proud to represent this nation's great capi- today. 75

tal. The experiences I've had through my life have It's a privilege to serve. Thank you.
shaped my belief that we all have a responsibility to do
everything we can to build the bridges that bring us [14.10.2021]

4. How does Sadiq Khan's personal and professional background, described in the speech, reflect that Brit-
ain is a nation "between tradition and modernity" as depicted in the headline of this unit? Discuss in class.

1 humbled uberwaltigt - 2 to strain every sinew to try one's hardest - 3 scar Narbe - crude rude and offensive - 5 to endeavour
[en'devar] to attempt to do sth. 'to forge sth. to make sth., esp. with difficulty -7 cast-iron very strong - 8 woke aware, esp. of social
problems such as racism and inequality " to capture to secure . 10 to harness to control - 11 London Assembly 25-member elected
body that examines the Mayor's activities and decisions

25