The Sadiq Khan show: How Mayor of London has used the NYE firework displays for his own political point-scoring, from tributes to BLM, pro-EU colours and attacks on Rishi Sunak and the Tories_Nhy
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has been accused of using the capital’s annual fireworks spectacular to score political points again this year – but it’s not the first time he has faced criticism for his involvement in the display.
The newly knighted Labour mayor was accused of poking fun at former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak‘s rain-sodden call for an election in July and harking back to the New Labour era with some of the soundtrack choices in last night’s display.
Among the song choices – which, by coincidence, were also chosen in July – were Travis’ Why Does It Always Rain On Me? followed by D:Ream hit Things Can Only Get Better, famously used by the 1997 Blair election campaign.
It was also blasted at top volume by the infamous ‘Stop Brexit‘ and anti-Tory campaigner Steve Bray by a loudspeaker through the gates of Number 10 as Rishi Sunak called for the election.
He would later quip that he was ‘not a fair weather politician’ after images of him standing in the rain without an umbrella became infamous on social media.
Lasting 11 minutes, the high-tech display featured a world-first ‘hologauze’ projection to depict Paddington Bear within the London Eye as the cuddly immigrant bear decreed that London was a place where ‘anyone can fit in’.
It also featured a voiceover saying: ‘Let’s take it back to 2024’, and the sound of rainfall, followed by clips noting that Britain had faced ‘one of the soggiest summers on record’ before launching into Travis.
Some took to social media to suggest the display was political in nature – a charge levied at Sir Sadiq in the past.
Sir Sadiq Khan has been accused of politicising the London fireworks display this year
2025: As in previous years, the display opened with ‘The Mayor of London presents…’ – a move he has previously been criticised
Song choices in the display are thought to have been a veiled swipe at Rishi Sunak’s sodden election call in July – including Why Does It Always Rain On Me? by Travis
Last year, the show was criticised for being an ‘ego trip’ – opening with a ‘Mayor of London presents’ message and a quote from King Charles hailing the Windrush generation as ‘collectively enrich(ing) the fabric of our national life’.
One viewer took issue with the ‘Place for Everyone’ title of the display, noting glibly on social media: ‘London, a place that isn’t safe for everyone more like. A violent crime epidemic.
‘Hate mobs on the streets. regular clashes between different communities. No thanks. London has been turned into a total dump.’
Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, a Conservative councillor for Hatch End in North West London, said: ‘They’re OUR fireworks Mr Mayor, not yours. Talk about an ego trip.’
And in 2021, the Mayor was criticised for including overt political references in the display, including lighting bridges in blue and yellow in an apparent reference to the European Union, just as the UK formally left the bloc.
That display, also featured drones that were synchronised to take the shape of a raised fist in reference to the Black Lives Matter movement, infuriating Conservatives and former UKIP leader Henry Bolton.
But the drones, which took flight over the O2, also took the shape of a turtle carrying the Earth on its back, a heart thanking the NHS, and lockdown icon Captain Sir Tom Moore.
Mr Khan defied his critics later that morning, sharing a MailOnline story on Twitter and writing: ‘Anyone else think it was pretty good?’
And he said of the BLM display: ‘Our New Year’s Eve show just sent a loud, proud message to the world: London stands together against racism – tonight and always.’
This year’s display also featured Things Can Only Get Better by D:Ream – a New Labour anthem that was blasted into Downing Street by Steve Bray in July
2025: An image of the sun projected onto the London Eye, with the song Things Can Only Get Better
2024: Last year’s fireworks show was slammed as the ‘Sadiq Khan show’ – once again putting the mayor at the centre of it all
2021: Fireworks are set off at Tower Bridge in a change to the usual proceedings after the coronavirus pandemic curtailed displays
2021: The display was criticised as being heavily political – with a drone display featuring a raised fist, synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement
In 2019, he made clear the display was a showing to Europeans that London remained ‘open-minded’ and ‘outward looking’ post-Brexit.
Speaking on New Year’s Eve 2018, he said: ‘One of the things which upset many, many Londoners and many people across our country and in Europe is the tone and language used by politicians in Westminster, giving the impression we’re insular, inward looking, not welcoming to Europeans.’
There was little criticism of the 2023 display, which paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II almost three months after her death at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
It also recognised Ukraine’s resistance against Russian invaders 10 months after the invasion began in February 2022, and 50 years of Pride celebrations.
And in January 2022, the harshest criticism directed at the display was simply that the fireworks, live poetry and drone display was a bit dull.
The event had been staged at several locations across London to prevent huge crowds from gathering in a single space at the peak of the pandemic.
Nevertheless, huge crowds turned out despite both Mr Khan and then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging people to stay home and watch coverage of the event on TV.
This year’s display featured special animations on the ‘hologauze’ display, including the Union flag in honour of the 80th anniversary of D-Day last year, Olympic medals to celebrate the success of Team GB at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, and a happy 25th birthday to the London Eye.
2021: The display also featured a tribute to the NHS for the efforts of health workers during the Covid pandemic
2019: Mr Khan made clear the display was a showing to Europeans that London remained ‘open-minded’ and ‘outward looking’ post-Brexit
It also featured a world-first special appearance from Paddington Bear sharing a message of hope and unity, and a reference to Charli XCX’s viral ‘brat summer’ movement.
The wide-ranging soundtrack included hits from Sabrina Carpenter, Natasha Bedingfield, Travis, Sir Elton John, One Direction, Dame Vera Lynn, Panjabi Hit Squad, Tems, and Shaboozey.
Voice clips included D-Day veterans, Dame Imelda Staunton, Sir Ian McKellen, Mawaan Rizwan, Carol Kirkwood, Alex Scott MBE, Ellie Simmonds OBE and Sir Sadiq.
A spokesperson from the mayor’s office said of last night: ‘The Mayor was delighted to welcome 2025 with our biggest and best-ever New Year’s Eve celebrations.
‘Around 100,000 Londoners and tourists joined together on the banks of the Thames for an unforgettable night of fireworks, lighting and music, while millions more watched all around the world.
‘This year’s soundtrack included a wide-range of recent hits and classics from all across the globe, including One Direction, Dame Vera Lynn, Natasha Bedingfield, Travis, Sir Elton John, Panjabi Hit Squad, Tems, and Shaboozey.
‘The Mayor is proud London sent out a message of hope and love to the world and showed once again why it’s the greatest city on earth.’
Many were also full of praise for elements of the show, including a segment that some One Direction fans interpreted as a tribute to Liam Payne following his death in October at the age of 31.
