Sadiq Khan has mastered the art of woke populism – Telegraph.co.uk

Sadiq Khan is an enigma. The mayor of London has presided over surging knife crime and the bankruptcy of the citys transport network. The capitals shortage of affordable property shames his egalitarian brand. And yet he is set to be re-elected in May by a landslide.

Why? Perhaps, in part, because Khan has perfected the art of woke populism. At first glance his behaviour is crass and cack-handed. He has vowed to stand with BLM protesters, despite their laying siege to police stations. In solidarity with monument-felling hooligans, he has set up a new anti-racist statue commission.

But theres a more subtle power to Khan. In his latest promotional video, he plants cherry blossom trees and promises every young Londoner a mentor. He has an eye for a photo-op to rival Nigel Farage. Campaign launch photos show him sipping a latte in a hipster cafe, the London populists answer to pouring a pint in a pub.

Khans populism caters to the prejudices of middle-class Londoners. He makes snide comments about luxury penthouses. He wallows in being the son of a bus driver as if it were an obstacle to overcome rather than a source of pride. He talks up Tory divisiveness to distract from the capitals Remainer tribalism.

But the real genius of Mr Khan is how he has mastered the skill of fading into the background, like the political equivalent of exposed brick. When it comes to fashionable causes, he is part of the furniture. But when moments arise that call for real leadership such as the polices handling of the Sarah Everard vigil he disappears. Nobody apart from Khans critics notice or care that he constantly pulls this trick. In the woke era, politics is about virtue rather than action.

This is ominous. Not just because London risks becoming a one-party state. If politicians twig that they can be re-elected with vast majorities based on their cultural brand rather than their record, new class divides could bed into our politics no sooner than the old ones have fallen away.

Link:

Sadiq Khan has mastered the art of woke populism - Telegraph.co.uk