Sadiq Khan boosts his future Labour leader credentials as he shares stage with Bill Clinton among others

Tour: Sadiq Khan walks to his hotel in New York City during a three-day stay
PA
Pippa Crerar19 September 2016
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Sadiq Khan boosted his credentials as Labour leader-in-waiting today as he shared a stage with former US President Bill Clinton at a major international summit.

As his North American tour drew to a close, he joined the global statesman to discuss issues including Brexit, tackling inequality, affordable housing and air quality.

The Mayor was joined by two other world leaders – Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri – at the Clinton Global Initiative gathering in New York.

He rubbed shoulders with a host of other international politicians, Hollywood stars, business tycoons and philanthropists as well as Chelsea Clinton.

He was not expected to meet Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton, who his predecessor Boris Johnson held talks with last year, as she is out campaigning in the race for the White House.

It concludes a six-day visit which has taken in Montreal, where he met Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Chicago and New York, where he held talks with city leaders Rahm Emanuel and Bill de Blasio.

City Hall insiders believe the high-level meetings, culminating in his discussion with President Clinton today, not only underlines London’s significance as a global player, but also Mr Khan’s status as a potential future leader himself.

He has gradually built up an effective Labour operation at City Hall which many MPs view as an alternative power base while the national party struggles on under Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Khan is always careful to say he has the “best job in politics” and has no desire to look further ahead, but his political allies are already discussing how he might be able to lead his party in future.

Honour: Sadiq Khan was invited to pitch the first ball at New York Mets game during visit
PA

He became a powerful symbol of hope and diversity after he won the London mayoral race in May, receiving plaudits for taking on Republican Donald Trump in a row about Muslims entering the US.

The Mayor, who has not spoken to Mr Corbyn since before the Brexit vote, had not informed him of his travel plans, nor does he expect to update him when he returns home.

However, ahead of the visit he met Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who was also in New York today for the UN general assembly along with Theresa May.

Mr Khan was originally supposed to be hosted by Chelsea Clinton at the summit but was “bumped up” to the former President’s event several days ago, putting him into the major league.

Much of the 45-minute discussion was expected to centre around Brexit, with President Clinton asking how London can expect to remain a hub of prosperity after leaving the European Union.

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