Sadiq Khan blasts LBC radio for Muslim mayor poll

One of the London mayor candidates has become embroiled with radio broadcaster LBC over a poll suggesting some voters would be uncomfortable with a Muslim leading the capital.

Media Guardian has reported Sadiq Khan’s team objecting to the way the station reported the findings of the poll on its website. It incorrectly published the poll showing half of Londoners saying they would be uncomfortable with a Muslim mayor.

The YouGov poll found that 55% of respondents said they would be comfortable having a Muslim as mayor, 31% said they would be uncomfortable, and 13% were not sure.

Marcus Roberts, campaign manager of Sadiq Khan told the Guardian, ���People are perhaps inevitably anxious about faiths they don�۪t know and that is why Sadiq has spent so much of his adult life reaching out across communities to increase understanding. I hope you can reassure me ��� and Londoners ��� that your coverage of these issues does not run the risk of undermining the strength of our city with questions that fuel prejudice and risk setting Londoners against each other.�۝

Khan’s campaign has been focused on conventional Labour policies including housing and pay. He has touched up his Muslim faith and said that the election of a Muslim mayor would be an “awesome” message to the rest of the world.