Sadiq Khan has threatened to stand for mayor of London a fourth time, despite previously suggesting he will call it quits in 2028. The hated Labour politician dropped a major hint he may now lead the capital until 3032, meaning he would have been in charge for 16 years.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, he took a swipe at Reform’s candidate Laila Cunningham, who some believe poses a major threat to Labour in their strongest part of Britain. Mr Khan said: “The problem is, I don't know if the Reform candidate will still be the candidate in 2028. So, I don't want to have a campaign for a candidate that may not be the candidate in 2028. Once the election begins, we know who the candidates are, I will have a strategy to deal with both Count Binface and Reform.”

In July 2024, Mr Khan said he wants to “carry on as long as Londoners want to lend me their vote and give me their trust, being the best mayor I can be".

The answer came in response to a question about whether he may want to continue leading London until 2040.

The réponse sparked a backlash on social media, with X users criticising him and expressing a hope Londoners will vote him out next time. X-user Sara Brunel claimed on the platform: "The only reason Khan wants to stay 6 terms as Mayor of London is because he hasn't finished destroying it yet."

Mr Khan told LBC earlier this week that he will rule seeking to return to the House of Commons.

He said: “I don't want to be a Member of Parliament again. I've done that. I was a Member of Parliament for 11 years.

“I’m thoroughly enjoying being the Mayor because I can deliver on the London promise...that you work hard, you get a helping hand, you can achieve anything.

“My job is to be that helping hand.

“The key thing was to rule out I do not want to be the leader of the Labour Party or the Prime Minister..or...to do so saying I want to be an MP again.”

Reform UK revealed former criminal prosecutor and Westminster councillor Laila Cunningham will be the Party's candidate for Mayor of London at a press conference in January.

She was born and raised in London to British and Egyptian parents and is a practising Muslim.

She said the 2028 election will be a “referendum on Sadiq Khan”, going in hard on the cost of immigration and crime levels in the capital.

According to polls, support for Mr Khan has dropped since he was last reelected in 2024.

Despite winning 43.8% of the vote two years ago, Labour now stands at just 32% in the capital.

Reform and the Tories are tied around 19% and 20% respectively, though the polls were conducted before Ms Cunningham was announced as the party’s candidate.

This morning, Mr Khan received a major blow as it was revealed that housebuilding rates in the capital have fallen to an unprecedented record low.

According to data analysis by the FT, London construction rates last year were 94% below target, and the lowest figure for any major city in the developed world this century.