Sadiq Khan bids to unite warring party with rallying call to ‘put Labour back in power’

Mayor of London says Owen Smith leadership challenge should be the last

Sadiq Khan will address the Labour conference on Tuesday (EPA)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan will on Tuesday attempt to unite his party’s warring factions with a call for them to work together to “put Labour back in power”.

Labour's most senior elected official will use his conference speech to warn that continued bitter infighting will mean letting down “the people who need us the most”.

Mr Khan will also urge anti-Corbyn MPs to dismiss thoughts of another leadership challenge, saying: “After the election this summer, the leadership of our party is now decided.”

The Mayor, who took over running the capital in May, nominated Jeremy Corbyn in last year’s leadership race, but quickly distanced himself from the leader.

However, today he is expected to say that Labour’s entire focus should be on ending its exile from office, because “ Labour out of power will never, ever be good enough... The people who need us the most are those who suffer the most when Labour is not in power'”.

Mr Khan will say: “Conference, it’s time to put Labour back in power. It's time for a Labour Government. A Labour Prime Minister in Downing Street. A Labour Cabinet. Labour values put into action.”

He will add: “We have to start by winning the Mayoral elections next year, here in Liverpool, along the M62 in Manchester and down the M6 in Birmingham. Let's ensure Labour is in power in every great city in Britain.”

With victories in the big cities, “we can prove that we are ready for Government”, Mr Khan will argue.