Sadiq Khan and Tory rival Susan Hall cast their votes in London mayor election - as she warns contest is 'last chance' to put someone who will 'get a grip on crime' in City Hall

Sadiq Khan and Tory rival Susan Hall voted today as the London mayoral battle races towards its conclusion.

The Labour incumbent, who is hoping for a third term, took his dog along as he cast his ballot alongside wife Saadiya.

Meanwhile, Ms Hall went to a polling station in Hatch End, as she warned Londoners it is their 'last chance to vote for a Mayor who will get a grip on crime and make people safe' and scrap ULEZ.

Polls have give Mr Khan a significant lead over his Tory challenger Hall despite a backlash on crime and policing issues. 

A final survey for Savanta yesterday indicated the gap was 10 points, while YouGov has put it as wide as 22 points.

However, many at Westminster expect the final result to be closer, as happened at the last elections three years ago.

Mr Khan has been facing intense scrutiny over his record on law and order, after a 14-year-old schoolboy become the latest victim of knife crime in the capital.

Daniel Anjorin was killed just moments after leaving his house when he was attacked in a sword rampage in Hainault that saw four other people, including two police officers, seriously wounded.

Home Secretary James Cleverly was among those slamming the Mayor's perceived failures, with calls for every front-line officer to be equipped with a Taser.

And Ms Hall told MailOnline today: 'This is Londoners' last chance to vote for a Mayor who will get a grip on crime and make people safe, stop the ULEZ expansion, halt Khan's plans for pay-per-mile and build more family homes that people can afford.' 

Rishi Sunak is braced for a moment of truth as voters deliver their verdict in the crucial local elections. 

Tories fear they could lose up to half of the council seats they are defending.

As rebels prepare a fresh coup bid, the PM is hoping that two mayors - Ben Houchen in Tees Valley and Andy Street in the West Mids - can hold on to give him positive news to trumpet. 

But the bleak wider picture was underlined today with a Westminster poll suggesting Labour has a massive 26 point lead, with the Tories on 18 per cent - just three points ahead of Reform UK. 

Most of the council seats up for re-election were last contested in 2021, at the peak of Boris Johnson's popularity as the Covid-19 vaccine was rolled out.

Although some council results and the by-election will declare in the early hours of the morning, most of the outcomes will not emerge until later.

The winner in London is not likely to become clear until Saturday afternoon. 

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt tried to manage expectations last night, insisting governments can get 'punished' in local votes.

He told Sky News' Politics Hub: 'Tony Blair easily lost those amounts of councillors. And, you know, David Cameron lost hundreds of councillors in the run up to the 2015 general election.

'So, you know, we are expecting to see significant losses. That often happens in local elections.

'But what we say to people is, look, this may be a moment when you want to express a view about the national picture but actually the local services you depend on will be decided by how you vote.'

Keir Starmer said Labour is 'hopeful' it will win the West Midlands contest in an interview with Sky News.

Wins for both Mr Street and Mr Houchen would offer the Tories a ray of light in what forecasts suggest could be a dismal set of results.

But experts warned the metro mayor races would be the 'least reliable indicator' of what could happen at a general election.

Polling guru Sir John Curtice told an Institute for Government event yesterday that the Conservative Party was emphasising the two contests because they can 'cover whatever disasters happen elsewhere'.

'Because of the personal votes of these two, (these contests are) going to be the least reliable indicator,' he said.

'Equally, conversely here in London, Sadiq Khan will not do as well as the Labour Party would do in a general election because Sadiq has a negative personal vote. But this city is now so strong Labour, he's going to win anyway,' he said.