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London mayoral candidate Sara Gezdari: Thatcher inspired me
Sara Gezdari is seeking the Conservative nomination for London mayor in 2028, competing with Sir James Cleverly and Festus Akinbusoye. She says her childhood in communist Albania shaped her politics and that Margaret Thatcher’s support for free markets, enterprise and the rule of law inspired her to pursue a political career in Britain.
A former general election candidate for the Liberal Democrats, Gezdari now works in investment advice and has campaigned for the Conservatives in south-west London. She criticises Mayor Sadiq Khan over accountability, spending and priorities, citing the £144 million Oxford Street pedestrianisation plan while Hammersmith Bridge repairs are estimated at £300 million; Khan has said bridge funding is a matter for local councils.
In short
- Sara Gezdari is seeking the Tory nomination for London mayor in 2028.
- She says Thatcher’s politics influenced her after growing up in Albania.
- She criticises Khan’s spending priorities, including Oxford Street’s £144m plan.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Gezdari’s admiration for Thatcher reflects a belief that free markets and private enterprise can expand opportunity, while a clear rule of law protects people from arbitrary power. Her experience growing up in communist Albania may make those principles especially meaningful to her, and she argues that London’s mayor should be held to account for spending choices and visible priorities.
The case against
Critics may argue that Thatcher’s economic legacy is contested, and that market-led policies can widen inequality or leave public needs insufficiently met. They could also say that comparing Oxford Street investment with Hammersmith Bridge repairs does not by itself show misplaced priorities, since the projects have different purposes and funding responsibilities, with Khan pointing to local councils’ role in the bridge repairs.
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