Labour candidate for Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, visited our offices today to speak to Times and Independent Series and East London Guardian Series chief reporter Anna Slater ahead of the election in May. Here's what he had to say...

Sadiq on… housing

He believes the next election should coincide with a referendum on house prices, pointing out how people in top jobs are unable to afford to live in London.

Current Mayor of London Boris Johnson believes an affordable home is 80 per cent of market value.

But to afford this, one must be earning £77,000 a year and have a £98,000 deposit.

Mr Khan says answer is to set up a Homes for Londoners group made up of councillors, housing associations, housing experts and developers.

He also wants to introduce a London Living Rent which will be a third of all average local earnings.

Meanwhile, wants to see more shared ownership homes on the market built on Transport for London land, where buyers will only need around a £5,200 deposit, £400 per month in rent as well as a mortgage.

“I also want to stop the scandal of selling homes to investors in the Middle East and Asia before they have even been built. They end up sitting empty. We can’t allow investors to use our homes as gold bricks and Londoners should get first dibs.”

Those who have been renting for five years will be allowed to jump the queue and buy a shared ownership home.

Lastly, he also wants to introduce a London-wide not for profit letting agency where rent will only go up by inflation.

Sadiq on… where to build

“We must not build on green belt. There is so much land available in London. Public land such as ex-NHS land and former schools have been identified – public buildings we should be using.

“Brownfield sites that are ex industrial have good transport links to them. We can have good quality homes in London without building big tower blocks. We shouldn’t build units for the sake of it but we must build the right sort of homes.”

Sadiq on… libraries

Barnet and Harrow councils have chosen to cut library services to save money. In Redbridge, two libraries are closing and will be replaced but campaigners have raised concern that users with limited mobility will be unable to access the new sites.

“They are really important for our communities, they provide internet facilities, a place for people to meet and a community hub.

“In London, local authorities have lost 50 per cent of the money they get from central government since 2010 so we need to recognise who is responsible for those cuts.

“We need to turn libraries into 21st century community hubs, which include things like job clubs.

“I don’t want to see local authorities not consulting residents about what’s best for them.”

The alternative in Barnet is to create unstaffed libraries, but these will not include toilets. “If you have people willing to be volunteers that’s a good thing but basic things like toilets are important.”

Sadiq on…parking

“High streets are struggling because of the pressures bought by malls and hypermarkets. High street shoppers complain when they get tickets, so don’t come back.

“Shopkeepers work their socks off, we need to help them. They struggle and on top of that their customers are frightened because of overzealous traffic attendants.”

He praised Redbridge and Harrow who offer a free parking period because it makes it “easier for shoppers”.

“Do we want high streets that have shops which survive? We need to listen to the concerns shopkeepers have and get the balance right.

“Business rates are being devolved to London so that will give us an incentive. I want to be the most pro-business mayor London has ever had. Napoleon said we are related to shopkeepers – that’s a badge of bride.

Sadiq on…hospitals

The A&E at King George in Goodmayes is due to close when King George and Queens Hospital improve their service, while Chase Farm Hospital’s shut last year.

“I can’t reopen those that have closed down, but I can be a champion for London and to lobby the Prime Minister to do the right thing.”

“In 2010, 19 acute NHS Trusts had a surplus in their budgets but each one now has a deficit.

“Acute trusts are in crisis, waiting times are getting longer and there’s the outrage of A&E departments closing.”

Sadiq on…junior doctors and other healthcare professions

“When you speak to people who work in the NHS, they are demoralised. Rather than the government being on their side they seem to always be attacking them.

“They want someone who will fight their corner. I haven’t met a junior doctor who isn’t knackered – they do it because they have a passion for public services.”

Sadiq on…London City Airport

The flight paths have been changed, causing nose disruption for Waltham Forest residents which has sparked anger.

“Newham Council needs to listen to residents in adjoining boroughs to make sure their concerns are taken on board. It has never breached any air quality directives.

“It’s important they work with residents to make sure they aren’t inconvenienced.”

Sadiq on…Mini Holland

The Mini Holland cycle superhighway scheme has sparked controversy because in Waltham Forest, it the road closures have left people angry.

The scheme is currently being rolled out in Enfield where traders are concerned they will lose businesses and disabled people say parking spaces will be gone.

“We should be encouraging people to cycle. The idea is a good one but the way it has been rolled out has not been good. It caused problems and we need to learn lessons from it.

“The first phase has not been a huge success. We need to learn lessons from the pilot boroughs (Waltham Forest, Enfield and Kingston).

“There are some teething problems but if you’re inconvenienced, it’s more than a teething problem.”