Sadiq Khan Took The Bus Into Work On His First Day As London Mayor

The 'mayor for all Londoners' hit the ground 'riding'.
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Sadiq Khan has begun his first day in office as Mayor Of London - and in a nod to his 'son of a bus driver' heritage, taken a bus and a Tube from his Tooting home into City Hall.

Ready to touch in: Sadiq Khan waits for the bus in South West London
Ready to touch in: Sadiq Khan waits for the bus in South West London
Jack Taylor via Getty Images

Khan's arrival on his first day in office was markedly different from that of his predecessor, Boris Johnson.

Although famous for cycling just about everywhere, the former mayor turned up at City Hall in 2008 in a private car.

Johnson was driven by a private car to his first day at work on May 3 2008
Johnson was driven by a private car to his first day at work on May 3 2008
Bloomberg / Contributor

Khan beat his rival Zac Goldsmith to the top job on Friday night, when it was announced he won 1,310,143 votes to the Tory MP's 994,614.

After a long-fought campaign, Khan pledged in his speech immediately after being sworn in to be a "mayor for all Londoners".

“I’m determined to lead the most transparent, engaged and accessible administration London has ever seen, and to represent every single community, and every single part of our city. A Mayor for all Londoners," he said on Saturday.

"So I wanted to do the signing-in ceremony here. In the very heart of our city, surrounded by Londoners of all backgrounds."

He added: "I’m only here today because of the opportunity and helping hand that our city gave me and my family. And my burning ambition for our city, that will guide my mayoralty, is to ensure that all Londoners get the opportunities that this city gave to me.

"My promise to you is this. I promise you I will always do everything I can in my power to make our city better. I will be a Mayor for Londoners."

Jack Taylor via Getty Images
Khan was snapped as he left his home in Tooting, the constituency he represents but will step down from, early on Monday morning.
Jack Taylor via Getty Images
The new London mayor appeared relaxed as he casually waited for a bus at his local bus stop.
Jack Taylor via Getty Images
Showing his credentials as a true born-and-bred Londoner, Khan had his Oyster card at the ready before being confronted with the reader.
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Once on the Tube however, his travelling skills dipped into the novice arena, pictured here briefly waiting outside the barriers.
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
But he soon recovered, tucking his Oyster card in to his pocket and moving on.
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
The new mayor arrived at City Hall in style, waving to campaigners who were there to welcome him.
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
He posed for a picture with his new office in the background.
Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
His entourage seemed to be enjoying the event.
Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
But not as much as his supporters, who hugged Khan and gave him their messages of support.
Hannah Mckay / Reuters
One posed for a selfie with him, while others offered him a croissant.
Reuters
Khan then entered his office and set out on an historic four-year tenure as London's first Muslim mayor.

Khan added that he was "deeply humbled by the hope and trust" voters placed in him, adding: "I want to thank every single Londoner for making the impossible possible."

He added: "I’m so proud that Londoners have today chosen hope over fear and unity over division," in a jab at the overwhelming negative campaign run by Goldsmith.

It was a tactic that would seriously backfire, not just in the results of the election but also in the reaction of Conservatives:

And even Goldsmith's own sister:

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