London mayor Sadiq Khan signals bid for a fourth term, aiming to stretch rule to 2032

London mayor Sadiq Khan signaled on Friday that he intends to seek a fourth term, outlining a 16-year stretch in City Hall that would extend his tenure to 2032 if he wins re-election in 2028. In a radio interview with LBC, Khan described the job as the best in politics and said there was no reason to give it up as long as he could deliver for the capital. He added that his intention to run again is a reflection of his belief he can continue to govern London and implement his policy agenda.

The 2016 election made Khan the first Muslim mayor of London, and he is now the longest-serving person to hold the post after securing a third-term victory last year. His tenure has featured a controversial expansion of the capital’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and ongoing public-transport disruptions, including Tube strikes that have punctuated his time in office. Critics have also scrutinized crime trends in the capital, an issue Khan has repeatedly defended while pursuing his broader urban policy goals. The next London mayoral election is scheduled for 2028, which means a successful fourth-term bid could keep Khan in City Hall through 2032.

His public profile has long been a talking point within Labour circles. Khan has previously been touted as a potential future Labour leader should he return to Westminster, though he told LBC that a return to Parliament is not on the horizon. That stance stands in contrast to Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, who has floated the possibility of seeking leadership of the party from Keir Starmer. Khan acknowledged Burnham had raised legitimate concerns about the Prime Minister’s leadership and said such debate is a function of a healthy party. He also noted there are 400 Labour MPs and that a minority may be unhappy with leadership decisions, but he framed the broader Labour conference as a positive moment when Labour is in government.

Asked whether Burnham’s comments point to broader leadership ambitions, Khan responded with caution, saying the question of individual motives is subject to interpretation. He said his focus remains on London and that he would be attending the Labour conference next week, arguing that the event’s prospect of governance at the national level outweighed concerns about internal leadership debate. "I’ve got the best job in politics. There’s no reason I’d give this job up for another job in politics," he told listeners. "I love what I’m doing, and Londoners have lent me their votes, not on one, not on two, but on three occasions. As long as I continue to feel I can deliver for this great city of ours, I’ll carry on being the mayor."

When pressed about a fourth term, Khan said, with a directness that has characterized his tenure, that running again is his intention. A close associate familiar with Khan’s thinking cautioned that the adviser’s comments reflected the mayor’s own plan and not an endorsement of every political development in Westminster or beyond. The associate emphasized Khan’s belief that Sir Keir Starmer remains the right leader for the country and that Khan is focused on London’s needs rather than national party maneuvering. This stance comes as Londoners have faced a mix of policy changes, labor action in public transport, and debates over environmental measures tied to the city’s growth and quality of life.

The potential for a 16-year leadership span places Khan in a historic frame for the city. If elected for a fourth term, he would surpass the length of time most prior London mayors have served. His predecessors include Boris Johnson, who served from 2008 to 2016, and Ken Livingstone, who led City Hall from its creation in 2000 until 2008. Khan’s own rise from the Parliament seat representing Tooting to City Hall has shaped a career defined by a blend of progressive urban policy and governance challenges that have become hallmarks of modern London administration.

Londoners will ultimately decide Khan’s political fate in the 2028 mayoral election. In the meantime, the city continues to navigate debates over transport reliability, air quality, and the balance between growth and inclusivity, as Khan reiterates his intention to stay at the helm through 2032 should supporters continue to back his leadership.