WEBVTT - London Mayor Sadiq Khan Talks COP30, Zohran Mamdani

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<v Speaker 1>Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm here with the chairman of C forty Cities, a

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<v Speaker 2>group that's very active here in the early days of

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<v Speaker 2>this COP thirty summit. Let me start by asking about

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<v Speaker 2>the role of mayors in this conversation. We in the

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<v Speaker 2>US know well that the President has expressed more than

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<v Speaker 2>skepticism about climate chain. I noticed there you go. What's

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<v Speaker 2>the role of mayors here and how do you see

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<v Speaker 2>this conversation evolving over the next three weeks.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, there's a huge amount of energy and dynamism and

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<v Speaker 1>hope here in rear because this is also a gathering

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<v Speaker 1>of C forty the world Miss sum It's taking place

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<v Speaker 1>in Rio, and we've got great story to tell about

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<v Speaker 1>how in cities across the globe, including some states in

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<v Speaker 1>the USA, we've been tackling the climate emergency, creating great jobs,

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<v Speaker 1>improving air quality, and showing that we are the doers

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<v Speaker 1>at a time and many national leaders are the delayers

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<v Speaker 1>and the deniers.

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<v Speaker 2>It's always a parlor game of how big a Camp

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<v Speaker 2>thirty is going to be set the expectations for us

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<v Speaker 2>in terms of what we will get out of this

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<v Speaker 2>at the end of it.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, I'm hoping that over the next three days, the energy,

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<v Speaker 1>the dynamism, the optimism from mayors leads into from Rio

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<v Speaker 1>to Blem. So the presidents and the prime ministers who

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<v Speaker 1>are coming to blem will see examples of success stories. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>by the way, we don't just deliver, we win elections

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<v Speaker 1>again and again and again, and that'll give them a

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<v Speaker 1>sort of encouragement to go much further this year a cop,

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<v Speaker 1>it's really important. Why across the globe you're seeing heat waves,

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<v Speaker 1>you're seeing wildfires, you're seeing flooding, You're seeing people concerned

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<v Speaker 1>about the consequences of this emergency. You're not just in

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<v Speaker 1>the global South like yesteryear, but in the global North,

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<v Speaker 1>in the USA, in the UK, across mainland your brother,

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<v Speaker 1>the public is demanding now much more of our national politicians.

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<v Speaker 2>Your message to the British government UK government was this

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<v Speaker 2>can't be the Ed Milliban show. It can't just be

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<v Speaker 2>the energy secretary talking about climate It has to be

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<v Speaker 2>something that labor priority the government takes up in earnest

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<v Speaker 2>What is your message to them in full about how

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<v Speaker 2>they should be looking at this event and the all

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<v Speaker 2>of climate change and in their conversation their policy conversations.

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<v Speaker 1>More broadly, while I'm really pleased and proud, proud, and

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<v Speaker 1>unlike some countries, my national leader is here, and it's

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<v Speaker 1>really will be Ca Starman will be here, the properncy

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<v Speaker 1>will be here. He does not think the climate change

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<v Speaker 1>catastrophe is a scam. He does believe the science really important.

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<v Speaker 1>But also it's really important that he's here because it

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<v Speaker 1>sends a message. We take it seriously. What I want

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<v Speaker 1>to do is turn this crisis into an opportunity. But

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<v Speaker 1>also it's going to be a joint endeavor. It should

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<v Speaker 1>be everyone in government. The new homes we need to build,

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<v Speaker 1>they should be energy efficient. They should be building in

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<v Speaker 1>a way that they are cooler in summer, warmer in winter.

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<v Speaker 1>But all's help with people's bilds by being energy efficient.

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<v Speaker 1>I want us to think about what is the future

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<v Speaker 1>of work with AI, with automation, with factories closing down.

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<v Speaker 1>I think there are jobs in terms of building the

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<v Speaker 1>wind turbines, building the solar panels, building electric buses, building

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<v Speaker 1>electric cars, installing the charging points. And that's why I

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<v Speaker 1>think this is an opportunity and loot these fossil fuels

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<v Speaker 1>we've used to our benefit. Individually and societies for children years.

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<v Speaker 1>But it's caused real damage to the environment. There are

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<v Speaker 1>alternatives now, whether it's solo, whether it's nuclear, whether it's

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<v Speaker 1>a wind, we should be invested in those.

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<v Speaker 2>I come from New York where we're hearing an awful

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<v Speaker 2>lot about London. It's being charactured and stereotyped in the

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<v Speaker 2>context of this mayoral race by the president, by one

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<v Speaker 2>of the candidates from mayor as well. It's been portrayed

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<v Speaker 2>as a place that's out of control, a lot of crime,

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<v Speaker 2>there's a heavy amount of Islamophobia in there as well.

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<v Speaker 2>What's your response to that, the way that London is

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<v Speaker 2>being used as sort of something held up in the

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<v Speaker 2>New York mayor old campaign.

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<v Speaker 1>But first, I've got some friends who are in New York,

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<v Speaker 1>and I think New York is the second greatest city

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<v Speaker 1>in the Well. Look, there's a reason why there are

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<v Speaker 1>some people hate London and hate New York. There's a

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<v Speaker 1>reason why they demonize London and now indeed New York.

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<v Speaker 1>Why Because we are progressive cities, We are liberal cities,

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<v Speaker 1>we are multicultural cities, and were incredibly successful. We are

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<v Speaker 1>the antithesis of nativist, populist commentators and politicians, and I think, listen,

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<v Speaker 1>the fact that in New York you may elect somebody

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<v Speaker 1>who's a Muslim is neither here nor there. It's what

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<v Speaker 1>are his policies, what are his vision? What does you

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<v Speaker 1>want to do for the people of New York? And

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<v Speaker 1>I think, listen, it says more about the people criticizing,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, Zora Mundani's ethnicity and faith says more about them,

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<v Speaker 1>and you know what they're all about that it says

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<v Speaker 1>about him.

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<v Speaker 2>You spoke with him after the Democratic primary, and I

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<v Speaker 2>wonder if you could kind of characterize what that conversation

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<v Speaker 2>was like. You say, it's neither here nor there that

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<v Speaker 2>he could be the first Muslim mayor of New York.

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<v Speaker 2>And I'll go with your hierarchy, London to New York,

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<v Speaker 2>these two major major cities. What did you tell them

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<v Speaker 2>about what that is like? You're the first Muslim mayor

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<v Speaker 2>of London, what that means.

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<v Speaker 1>Conversations with others are our private conversations. But I'm quite clear,

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<v Speaker 1>when you are from a city like London or New York,

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<v Speaker 1>I think the greatest honor and the greatest privilege is

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<v Speaker 1>to be the leader of that city. I've had many

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<v Speaker 1>great jobs in my life that I've thoroughly enjoyed. There

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<v Speaker 1>is no greater job than being the mayor of your city.

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<v Speaker 1>I've seen from Afar the campaign that Zora Mundani has run.

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<v Speaker 1>He appears to be having fun, he appears to be connecting.

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<v Speaker 1>He's doing something that I know a lot about, which

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<v Speaker 1>is reaching parts of your city that are undiscernd, reaching

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<v Speaker 1>people that hitherto feel as if politics isn't for you.

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<v Speaker 1>Understand that actually, you know, sometimes cities aren't fair. Sometimes

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<v Speaker 1>in a city you've got two separate tales taking place.

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<v Speaker 1>And what's important is for you to be authentic, and

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<v Speaker 1>whether you're in New York or London or other parts

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<v Speaker 1>of the globe, is to be true to yourself. That

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<v Speaker 1>I'm looking forward seeing the results in the next couple days,

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<v Speaker 1>actually see what.

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<v Speaker 2>Happens with your mayorality. And perhaps there is an element

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<v Speaker 2>of being the mayor of London or in New York

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<v Speaker 2>that is a global responsibility. You're here in Brazil. How

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<v Speaker 2>much of that is a surprise to you, and which

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<v Speaker 2>do you think about the role of London on the

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<v Speaker 2>global stage.

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<v Speaker 1>But the reality is when you are from a global city,

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<v Speaker 1>when you are a leader of that global city. Your

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<v Speaker 1>audience really importantly are your constituents, but also it's the

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<v Speaker 1>globe because the world's eyes are on London. The world's

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<v Speaker 1>eyes indeed are on New York. That is a huge privilege,

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<v Speaker 1>but it comes with a huge responsibility. So I've never

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<v Speaker 1>campaigned to be a Muslim mayor. I don't use those

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<v Speaker 1>sort of words. I have a mayor Muslim, but I

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<v Speaker 1>recognize and this is just a fact of life. There

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<v Speaker 1>are some people who may not a better Muslim. There

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<v Speaker 1>are some people who only see things in movies or

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<v Speaker 1>when they're here from presidents, and I want to address

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<v Speaker 1>some of the fairs people have. Sometimes because I have

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<v Speaker 1>a Muslim, I recognize sometimes people prejudge what it means

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<v Speaker 1>to be a Muslim, so not by choice, but almost

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<v Speaker 1>by duty. Sometimes I sometimes use my role to explain

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<v Speaker 1>we aren't the boogeyman. We are just like you. We

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<v Speaker 1>were the same ambitions and aspirations as you. I'd never

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<v Speaker 1>asked for that responsibility, but I recognize as the leader

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<v Speaker 1>of a great city, as a proud brit a proud Englishman,

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<v Speaker 1>a proud Londoner, but also a proud Muslim, I'm more

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<v Speaker 1>than happy to talk about my faith and what it means,

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<v Speaker 1>and I'm sure you'll see if Zara mam Nani does win,

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<v Speaker 1>mum Donah doing the same, not because he necessarily wants to,

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<v Speaker 1>but because he recognizes that our religion has been demonized.

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<v Speaker 1>I think we both would recognize that actually a small

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<v Speaker 1>minority of people who claim to follow our religion off

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<v Speaker 1>and some bad stuff that doesn't represent the more than

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<v Speaker 1>two billion people on this planet who are Muslims.

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<v Speaker 2>Last question, kind of playing off of this in New

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<v Speaker 2>York in this campaign, there is a lot of warning

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<v Speaker 2>from a lot of wealthier New Yorker is saying that

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<v Speaker 2>people will leave the city where he'd win if the

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<v Speaker 2>city were to get too progressive as they see, and

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<v Speaker 2>we had Nigel Farajishween the same warning in London today

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<v Speaker 2>that there is a chance that people who are of

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<v Speaker 2>means in London might have left to lead if we

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<v Speaker 2>go farther to the left. There. Your response to that

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<v Speaker 2>warning or that proposed trend.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, firstly, I've got no idea whether that is the case,

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<v Speaker 1>whether that or will happen. If that is the case,

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<v Speaker 1>come to London. I'm going to run at the red

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<v Speaker 1>carpet and welcome you to London. I think the reality

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<v Speaker 1>is New York's a great city. I hope ne York

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<v Speaker 1>continues to flourish and thrive. Of course, like London, we

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<v Speaker 1>have challenges, but the joy of being the marriage you

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<v Speaker 1>work with everyone across your city. I campaigned to be

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<v Speaker 1>a mayor for all Londoners. Yes, I campaign for those

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<v Speaker 1>who live in deprived communities, those who desperately need social housing,

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<v Speaker 1>those who are facing the consequences of cost of live

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<v Speaker 1>in crisis. But also recognizing that I, as a politician,

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<v Speaker 1>don't create the wealth. I don't create the jobs. But

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<v Speaker 1>working with the private sector, working with all Londoners, you

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<v Speaker 1>can do a great job.