Susan Hall is convinced the early controversy in her bid to become London mayor will not be the last as she intensifies her bid to win the Labor-leaning city for the Conservatives.
Hall, who a poll this month suggested could win next May’s mayoral election, said she was undaunted by headlines for her controversial comments about London’s black community and past online events.
These include “liking” posts calling current mayor Sadiq Khan a “traitor rat,” baselessly claiming he supports electoral fraud, making fun of his height and using the Islamophobic trope “Londonstan.”
“I’m sure there will be more places to come,” Hall told the Financial Times, referring to reports of what she described as “happy triggering” posts over the years on X (formerly Twitter).
“I won’t be intimidated. They can throw any grenade they want at me.”
The 68-year-old staunch right-winger, a former low-profile Conservative MP for London and leader of Harrow Council, has been chosen as the Conservative candidate for one of Britain’s most important jobs under unusual circumstances.
Her path to the nomination was cleared when one of her rivals withdrew amid accusations of indecency, which he denied.
But as controversy rages over Khan’s expansion of London’s ultra-low emissions zone, a survey this month by Redfield & Wilton Strategies showed Hall’s approval rating at 32%, just 1 percentage point behind the incumbent.
poll She said she would win outright if former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was stripped of his party whip, ran as an independent.
Hall is now limiting her use of social media on the advice of aides to pursue the “very serious work” of City Hall.
“If I offended anyone, of course I would apologize,” she said, but added: “Too many people do feel offended, even though they actually know I didn’t mean it.”
Regarding her controversial behavior on social media, which was unearthed by the campaign group Hope Not Hate, Hall said she would no longer support “personal” attacks on Khan. She said she didn’t know “Londonstein” was a derogatory term that suggested there were too many Muslims living in the capital, and she liked the post using the phrase.
Hall also had to deal with backlash over comments she made last year about “crime within the black community.”
She insisted she was referring to black people being more likely to be victims of certain violent crimes, telling the Financial Times: “If you’re black, you’re four times more likely to be stabbed – you can’t Ignore this…” . . If people say ‘Oh, forget it’, nothing will change. “
Tackling crime is at the heart of her campaign, with the slogan “Safer Susan” and a particular focus on violent gang activity in the West End, which Hall said could threaten London’s ability to attract tourists.
Hall said that if she became mayor, she would “put more money into policing and put more frontline police on the streets.” Driving “rogue officers” out of the Metropolitan Police is another priority as 1,600 officers and staff face investigations over alleged abuse of women.
While Hall insisted police should focus on deterring and solving crime, she also announced she would ban police officers from publicly supporting the LGBT movement by wearing rainbow flag badges or making anti-racist gestures. “No rainbow, no kneeling,” she said.
A former beauty salon and hairdresser owner, she wants to help businesses large and small in the capital and is now in “listening mode” to better understand their needs.
Like other Conservatives, she has positioned herself as siding with motorists. Hall said she would review some of the 20mph speed zones that have spread across the capital.
“People are being fined left, right and center for speeding,” she said, adding: “That’s not the way to run a city. We need a city that moves.”
Hall remains staunchly opposed to Khan’s plans in August to expand the ultra-low emission zone, which imposes a £12.50 charge on highly polluting vehicles, and has vowed to reverse this.
It was the Tory’s vigorous opposition to the Ulayz expansion that propelled the party to a shock victory in July’s Uxbridge by-election and boosted Hall’s hopes of using the issue to win the council election .
Conservative officials also expect London’s adoption of the “first-past-the-post” model used in British general elections could help their prospects by splitting liberal and leftist votes as Khan seeks an unprecedented third term. Under the previous system, voters could indicate a preference for multiple candidates.
Hall insisted it was important to show personality in the London mayoral race, with past contests won by legends such as Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone.
But she admitted her views were divided: “I’m Marmite,” she said, adding: “Honey, women in politics have to be very strong.”
Recalling her first job, working in a garage owned by her late father, she said: “I was always in a man’s world – always. I think politics is hard in a way. “
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