Labour's Sadiq Khan has secured another term as mayor of London, following a contest which saw the Conservatives narrow the gap.

The election, involving 20 candidates, was at times closer than many commentators anticipated, with constituencies seeing Mr Khan and Tory candidate Shaun Bailey neck and neck.

Mr Khan took 1,206,034 votes after second preferences were taken into account, compared to Mr Bailey at 977,601.

Green Party co-leader Sian Berry came third with 197,976 first-choice votes, followed by the Liberal Democrats' Luisa Porritt with 111,716.

Romford Recorder: Labour's Sadiq Khan speaks after he was declared as the next Mayor of London at City HallLabour's Sadiq Khan speaks after he was declared as the next Mayor of London at City Hall (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

In his victory speech, Mr Khan pledged to build a “better and brighter future” for the capital following the coronavirus pandemic.

“I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said.

“I am deeply humbled by the trust Londoners have placed in me to continue leading the greatest city on earth.

“I promise to strain every sinew, help build a better and brighter future for London, after the dark days of the pandemic and to create a greener, fairer and safer city for all Londoners, to get the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.

“I am proud to have won an overwhelming mandate today.”

The result will be a glimmer of hope for the Labour Party, after it received a drubbing in local elections in England, losing control of a host of councils and a humiliating defeat in the Hartlepool by-election.

Romford Recorder: The Conservatives' Shaun Bailey speaks after Labour's Sadiq Khan was declared as the next mayor of LondonThe Conservatives' Shaun Bailey speaks after Labour's Sadiq Khan was declared as the next mayor of London (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Mr Bailey said in his speech that Londoners had not written him off.

He said: “As I went through these, for me what was two years of campaigning, one feeling felt familiar to me, one challenge had always felt the same.

“And that was the feeling of being written off – by pollsters, by journalists, by fellow politicians.

“But it’s no surprise to me that Londoners didn’t write me off.”

The Green Party was celebrating taking 8pc of the vote and Sian Berry said: “Londoners have sent a message loud and clear: London can be the greenest city in the world.

“This is the Green Party’s best ever result in an election to become mayor of London, and with the election of more Green Assembly Members, it is a serious mandate for the ideas we were putting in front of the public this campaign - rent controls, flat fares, and a higher living wage."

Mr Khan was first elected mayor of the capital in 2016 in a landslide victory, breaking the Conservatives’ eight-year hold on City Hall.

One of the final constituencies counted was Barnet & Camden, where Mr Khan won 67,610 (39pc) first preference votes, closely followed by Mr Bailey with 65,822 (38pc).

In Brent & Harrow Mr Bailey received 40pc of votes, and Mr Khan 38pc.

In Havering & Redbridge, the Conservatives received a majority, with 51pc, compared to Labour's 29pc.

In the North East constituency – Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest – Mr Khan won with 52pc, compared to Mr Bailey's 21pc.

Full results

Sadiq Khan, Labour: (first round) 1,013,721, (second round) 192,313 = (total) 1,206,034

Shaun Bailey, Conservative: (first round) 893,051 (second round) 84,550= (total) 977,601

Sian Berry, Green: 197,976

Luisa Porritt, Lib Dem: 111,716

Niko Omilana, Independent: 49,628

Laurence Fox, The Reclaim Party: 47,634

Brian Rose, London Real Party: 31,111

Richard Hewison, Rejoin EU: 28,012

Count Binface, Independent: 24,775

Mandu Reid, Women’s Equality Party: 21,182

Piers Corbyn, Let London Live: 20,604

Vanessa Helen Hudson, Animal Welfare: 16,826

Peter Gammons, UKIP: 14,393

Farah London, Independent: 11,869

David Kurten, Heritage Party: 11,025

Nims Obunge, Independent: 9,682

Steve Kelleher, Social Democratic Party: 8,764

Kam Balayev, Renew: 7,774

Max Fosh, Independent: 6,309

Valerie Brown, The Burning Pink Party: 5,305

Romford Recorder: Count Binface at City HallCount Binface at City Hall (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)