London Mayor Sadiq Khan has robustly championed the advantages of immigration in a comprehensive statement, branding individuals who depict the capital as perilous as 'callous' and 'cruel'. The veteran mayor asserted that there has been a 'drastic fall' in legal migration into the United Kingdom, notwithstanding a staggering increase of over 450 per cent since the early 1990s.
Resetting the Immigration Debate
His remarks, disseminated via the social media platform X, succeeded a speech delivered this morning at London's historic Guildhall, where he further extolled the virtues of diversity. Accompanying his afternoon post with the caption 'it's time to reset the immigration debate', Sir Sadiq articulated a forceful critique of the current discourse.
He declared: 'For too long the immigration debate has been dictated by the hysteria, hatred and fearmongering of the far-right. They paint a dystopian picture of London as a city that's fallen. And let's be frank - they do so because they can't stand what London represents - a city that's diverse, progressive and thriving.'
A Clear Path Forward
The London mayor emphasised that the significant reduction in legal migration presents a 'unique opportunity for progressives to reset the immigration debate - and take the public with us'. He identified a 'clear path' that could 'allow us to highlight the benefits of immigration', framing the issue as crucial for the future prosperity of both the capital and the nation.
During his address to the Fabian Society's new year conference, Sir Sadiq launched a scathing assault on Reform and Conservative politicians, accusing them of being unable to tolerate London's identity as a diverse, progressive, and thriving metropolis, led by a Muslim mayor.
Political Backlash and Counterclaims
Responding to the mayor's comments, Reform chairman Zia Yusuf retorted: 'Sadiq Khan has given a speech at the Fabian Society declaring mass untrammelled immigration is actually amazing and turned off replies. Peak Labour politics.' This exchange follows recent controversy after US President Donald Trump labelled Sir Sadiq a 'horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor', suggesting European immigration policies were 'a disaster'.
Sir Sadiq retaliated, alleging that such attacks on Europe and London were 'grooming' and 'radicalising' extremists within Britain. He expressed concern that President Trump 'normalises and brings to the mainstream views that I think are unacceptable'.
Crime Statistics Dispute
Earlier this month, the mayor released new data purporting to show London is 'safer than ever', highlighting that the capital's murder rate has plummeted to its lowest level in decades. However, opponents have dismissed this evidence as 'cherry-picked', noting increases in other crime categories such as shoplifting, phone snatching, and sexual offences during his tenure.
Susan Hall, Conservative leader of the London Assembly, contended: 'Whilst knife homicides may be down, they represent just a small number of outcomes from knife offences. In reality, most Londoners who encounter a knife - such as a robbery - are significantly less likely to see action on that matter, and the number of knife offences in London continues to climb.'
London's Demographic Shifts
The debate unfolds against a backdrop of significant population movement. Daily Mail analysis reveals that someone departs London every 75 seconds, with nearly 415,000 residents relocating to the Home Counties or beyond in 2024. Offsetting the 287,000 who moved in the opposite direction, London's internal net migration stood at approximately -128,000, one of the highest figures on record.
Experts attribute this exodus to cost-of-living pressures, escalating property prices, and concerns over crime rates. Reform's candidate for Mayor of London, Laila Cunningham, asserted: 'Sadiq Khan has allowed criminality to flourish in London and it's holding this city back. Not only do young people no longer want to live here, many are now moving away. It's hard not to conclude it's because they simply don't feel London is a safe place where you can raise a family.'
Confronting Far-Right Narratives
In his Guildhall speech, Sir Sadiq warned: 'The resurgence of far-right populism and nativism means that the idea that we can be diverse, united and prosperous is under threat like never before.' He criticised the White House's 'National Security Strategy' for its 'preposterous claim' that Europe risks 'civilisational erasure', and accused Reform and the Conservatives of 'dancing to the same tune'.
He elaborated: 'They paint a dystopian picture of London as a city that's fallen. And let's be frank - they do so because they can't stand what London represents - a city that's diverse, progressive and thriving, with a Mayor who happens to be a Muslim. The fact that this is the greatest city in the world makes a mockery of their entire worldview.'
Immigration Figures and Context
Around 1.27 million foreign nationals migrated to the UK in 2023, a number sufficient to populate a city the size of Birmingham. Comparative European data shows Germany received 1.22 million, Spain 1.1 million, Italy 378,000, and France 295,000. However, Britain's immigration figures have subsequently declined, with fewer than 900,000 arrivals in the year to June 2025.
Amid these conflicting narratives, London recently secured a high ranking on The Spectator Index as among the 'world's best cities to live in' for 2026, adding another layer to the complex debate surrounding the capital's status and immigration's role within it.
