The two faces of modern Britain: Far right candidate (who swears he's not racist) turns his back on Sadiq Khan as he makes history by becoming London's first Muslim mayor
- Sadiq Khan was confirmed London mayor after taking 1,310,143 votes
- He gave a victory speech at City Hall and Paul Golding turned around
- Britain First leader looked away as mayor called for a unified London
- Mr Golding's one-man act of defiance sparked instant online backlash
The leader of Britain First turned his back on Sadiq Khan as he gave his victory speech after being elected London's first Muslim mayor last night - but claimed he was not being racist.
Far-right activist Paul Golding, who was stood alongside the other candidates inside City Hall, was filmed gazing out the window as Mr Khan urged Londoners to come together.
He kept his back to the new mayor as he called for Londoners to choose 'hope over fear' and 'unity over division' and set out his plans for the capital.
Far-right activist Paul Golding was filmed gazing out the window as Mr Khan urged Londoners to come together
The Britain First candidate kept his back facing the new mayor as he called for Londoners to choose 'hope over fear' and 'unity over division'
Mr Khan delivered a barbed judgment on the Goldsmith campaign in his acceptance speech at City Hall, when he promised to be 'a mayor for all Londoners'
The one-man act of defiance sparked an instant online backlash, with many Twitter users dubbing the Britain First candidate (pictured right) a 'sore-loser' and 'pathetic'
The one-man act of defiance sparked an instant online backlash, with Twitter users dubbing the candidate a 'sore-loser' and 'pathetic'.
Labour politician Jonathan Reynolds tweeted: 'If only these Britain First folks would adapt to British values. #Democracy.'
While former Labour candidate Gareth Siddorn said: 'I stood against Paul Golding in Sevenoaks in 2010. He was a small-minded, pathetic scumbag then and he remains one now.'
But Mr Golding, who won less than three per cent of Mr Khan's total, defended his actions and claimed he was not being racist
Speaking to BuzzFeed News, the Britain First candidate said: 'Racist? I didn't turn my back around because he's Asian, I turned my back on his because he's a vile man.
Speaking to BuzzFeed News, the Britain First candidate said: 'Racist? I didn't turn my back around because he's Asian, I turned my back on his because he's a vile man.
'The extreme left lunatic fringe of Labour have taken over with Corbyn.'
Mr Khan took 1,310,143 votes after second preferences were taken into account, beating Conservative Zac Goldsmith into second place on 994,614.
His tally gave him the largest personal mandate of any politician in UK history.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn led congratulations on Twitter using the hashtag YesWeKhan, telling the new mayor: 'Can't wait to work with you to create a London that is fair for all'.
In a Facebook post, Zac Goldsmith also congratulated Mr Khan and thanked 'the hundreds of thousands of people who trusted me with their votes'.
Mr Golding, who won less than three per cent of Mr Khan's total, defended his actions and claimed he was not being racist
Former Labour candidate Gareth Siddorn took to Twitter to criticise the actions of the Britain First candidate
One Twitter user dubbed the Britain First candidate a 'sore-loser' after he turned his back on the new London mayor
Labour politician Jonathan Reynolds was among a large number of people who blasted the candidate on Twitter
But there were recriminations from Mr Goldsmith's side over his decision to target Mr Khan as a 'radical' and highlight his supposed links with Islamist extremists.
Conservative former Cabinet minister Baroness Warsi said the 'appalling dog whistle campaign' had 'lost us the election, our reputation and credibility on issues of race and religion'.
While Mr Goldsmith's sister Jemima said the way the contest was fought 'did not reflect who I know him to be'.
Mr Khan delivered his judgment on the Goldsmith campaign in his acceptance speech at City Hall, when he promised to be 'a mayor for all Londoners'.
Without naming his Tory rival, he said Labour had fought a 'positive' campaign, adding: 'Fear doesn't make us safer, it only makes us weaker, and the politics of fear is simply not welcome in our city.'
Outgoing mayor Boris Johnson said: 'Many congratulations to Sadiq on securing a huge mandate to do the best job in British politics.
'I wish him every possible success and will be calling him in the morning.'
Mr Khan's 57 per cent support after second preferences were counted amounted to a landslide victory on the largest turnout in the history of directly-elected mayors in London.
Today Mr Khan carried out his first official piece of business as the new mayor after attending a swearing-in ceremony at Southwark Cathedral.
Mr Khan took 1,310,143 votes beating Conservative Zac Goldsmith into second place on 994,614
Mr Khan's 57 per cent support after second preferences were counted amounted to a landslide victory
Today Mr Khan carried out his first official piece of business as the new mayor after attending a swearing-in ceremony at Southwark Cathedral
Khan was introduced by Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, the mother of British teenager Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in a racist attack in South East London in 1993
The newly-elected mayor of London received a standing ovation from a crowd, which included actor Sir Ian McKellen and former Labour Party leader Ed Milliband.
Current Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was conspicuously absent from the formal signing-in ceremony, however.
The first Muslim to hold the position, Khan was introduced by Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, the mother of British teenager Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in a racist attack in South East London in 1993.
The pair embraced as Mr Khan took to the stage, before addressing the crowd: 'My name is Sadiq Khan and I'm the mayor of London.'
He added: 'I can't quite believe the last 24 hours. We are here in Southwark because I want to start how I intend to go on.
'I wanted to do the signing here in the very heart of our city, surrounded by Londoners of all backgrounds, and I'm so proud that my good friend Doreen Lawrence introduced me here today.
Mr Khan joked: 'Some of you may not know this but I grew up in a council estate just a few miles from here.
'Back then I never dreamt I could be standing here. I'm only here today because of the help that our city gave to me and my family and my burning ambition for our city, that will guide my mayoralty, is to ensure that all Londoners get the opportunities that our city gave to me
'I'm truly humbled and my promise to you is this; I will always do everything in my power to make our city better. I will be a mayor for all Londoners.'
The newly-elected mayor of London, who gestured to his children on the way in, received a standing ovation from a crowd which included actor Sir Ian McKellen and former Labour Party leader Ed Milliband
Mr Khan took to the stage before addressing the crowd: 'My name is Sadiq Khan and I'm the mayor of London'
Mr Khan, who said he will be the mayor for all Londoners, added that he will do everything in his power to make the city better
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3578308/Far-right-Britain-candidate-claims-turned-Sadiq-Khan-London-s-Muslim-mayor-s-vile-man-not-s-racist.html#ixzz47yNMwg2E
