Story of Sadiq Khan to Biteback

Biteback is to publish the story of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan's, "rise" to City Hall, entitled Sadiq: The Making of a Mayor and London’s Rebirth by political editor of the New Statesman, George Eaton.

Iain Dale, m.d. of Biteback Publishing, acquired world rights to the title.

According to the publisher: "When Sadiq Khan was elected London mayor, his victory immediately became a global phenomenon. As the first Muslim leader of a major western city, he symbolised the capital’s diversity and pluralism. For the bus driver’s son and council estate boy, it was the culmination of a remarkable journey."

The publisher added: "Throughout the mayoral campaign, Khan was attacked by his Conservative opponent Zac Goldsmith and prime minister David Cameron as an ally of Islamist extremists. Many believed that the Labour candidate would ultimately be defeated. But he withstood the charges to win by a landslide, achieving the largest personal mandate of any politician in UK history. Within days, he found himself at war with Donald Trump over his proposed ban on Muslims entering the US. The London mayor had become a truly international figure."

A year on from Khan’s election, this book will tell the story of his rise to City Hall. With "exclusive" access to the mayor, the book will chart Khan's "tough south London upbringing" and his ascent through the worlds of law and politics, exploring Khan’s values, faith and policies.

Eaton said: "The story of Sadiq Khan is one of the most fascinating and inspiring in British politics. It deserves to be told at length. I wrote several months before Khan's election that his victory would be an 'event of international significance' and so it proved. As the first Muslim leader of a major western city, he has already become a politician of global status."

Dale said: “Sadiq Khan’s decisive victory in the London Mayoral election is the latest episode in what has been a remarkable life and political career, and I’m delighted that Biteback will be publishing George Eaton’s account of his inspirational story.”

Sadiq will be published in May 2017 and supported by a "major" press campaign.