Sadiq Khan’s successful pro-business campaign is heartening for us all – but the work is just beginning
It is fair to say that relations between the Labour Party and business are in a slightly odd place at the minute.
The nervousness is perhaps understandable, considering that both the leader and shadow chancellor of the party continue to describe themselves as socialists.
In these interesting times – and to be fair to those at the top of the Labour party, they do seem keen to engage with business organisations, even if they don’t always see eye to eye – it is heartening to see that Sadiq Khan, the new mayor of London, put business at the heart of his successful campaign.
He made a conscious effort to talk to business, attending countless roundtables and events with entrepreneurial audiences.
Khan – and his rival Zac Goldsmith – clearly understood that London’s businesses, from the start-up community to the very largest firms, are the driving force behind the capital’s extraordinary success story. The Tooting MP has certainly talked the talk on being a pro-business mayor, not least on the pages of Morning Wire. Now, of course, he must walk the walk.
Perhaps most importantly, Khan must double down on his pledge to ensure that young Londoners have the skills not just to survive but to thrive in the 21st century.
Members of the IoD 99, a community of young entrepreneurs predominantly based in the capital, cite the skills shortage as the number one issue holding back their business.
Automation and globalisation are combining to fundamentally alter the nature of work and business. As the global city, London is at the forefront of these changes. As this pace of change accelerates, preparing workers for the rapidly evolving employment landscape will become increasingly important.
Khan will receive control of London’s skills budget in 2019, but until then he must use perhaps the most valuable power that the mayor possesses; the powerful megaphone of the bully pulpit.
Ensuring that schools of whatever form right across the capital are focussed on delivering a future-proofed education, with high-quality careers guidance and teaching learning techniques that will allow young Londoners to adjust to new technology in the future, can ensure that every area of London is able to capitalise on the uniquely collaborative environment that London provides.
The mayor cannot do this by diktat, but through working closely with business, education providers and, indeed, central government. He must champion role models, encourage people from non-traditional backgrounds into mayoral initiatives, and be a powerful advocate for the capital’s young people.
Khan should be congratulated on his success.
That he won with such a majority is proof that London is a pro-business, entrepreneurial city – and that is good news for us all.