London mayor election: Race tightens as early votes show Sadiq Khan’s lead over Shaun Bailey narrows

THE race to be London’s Mayor tightened last night as early votes showed Sadiq Khan could be run close.

Labour’s Khan was expected to return to City Hall by trouncing Tory Shaun Bailey and polls indicated a landslide.

🔵 Read our Elections 2021 live blog for the very latest updates

But both sides said early results showed the race was much closer than expected.

As of 5.30pm yesterday, Mr Khan held around 39 per cent of first-round votes counted while Mr Bailey had 37 per cent.

Tory sources said ballots were “neck and neck” in the half of the boroughs counted.

But by the end of the night Mr Khan was almost 25,000 votes ahead over the Tory candidate.

The hopefuls have been told the aim is for an 8.30pm declaration, but a decision will be made at 4pm if it needs to roll over to Sunday.

Bailey has done far better than his party did in 2016.

One insider said: “It’s closer than everyone thinks. Shaun will have beaten the polls by a fair whack.”

A London Labour source added: “We think it will be close. There is no chance of winning on the first round.”

CAPITAL'S CRUNCH TIME

Labour said Mr Khan was missing out because the system allows voters to pick a first and second preference.

The source said: “We’re seeing a big impact from a low turnout and voters thinking they can put a smaller party first preference and not influence the result.”

Mr Khan is still favourite to win with the result expected later today.

On the London Assembly fight, none have so far changed party control.

Tories held three and Labour clung onto four, with seven more to be declared today.

Meanwhile, No 10 was monitoring Scottish election results amid fears an SNP majority will lead to demands for a .

Speaking in Hartlepool, PM Boris Johnson said: “I don't think people want much more constitutional wrangling.

“What the people of this country want to see is politicians of all kinds — in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, across the whole of the UK — working together to bounce back strongly from the pandemic.”