Sadiq Khan plunged into race row after his official website publishes picture of white family and says they don’t ‘represent real Londoners’

Sadiq Khan got into a bitter row last night after his official website published a photo of a young white family with the words: ‘Does not represent actual Londoners’.

The mayor of Labor London received calls to apologize after the extraordinary message appeared in an official guide on how to portray the mayor and the Greater London Authority’s ‘brand’.

This despite the fact that the guide opened with the words: ‘A City For All Londoners’ and a promise to ‘approach everyone regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, disability or family composition’.

Last night, Mr Khan was forced to disown the caption for the photo, which shows a couple and their two children walking along the Thames, with Parliament in the background.

The mayor’s spokesman said: ‘The caption accompanying the photo was added in error by a staff member and does not reflect the views of the mayor or the Greater London Authority.’

A section in the guide goes into detail on the “best images of the mayor,” advising that the mayor “should be shown interacting in real and relatable settings.”

She added that the content is now “reviewed to ensure language and guidance are appropriate.”

The entire guide – titled ‘Look Book – Mayor of London Brand Guidelines’ – was also removed from the official website london.gov shortly after The Mail on Sunday contacted Mr Khan’s office.

Last night Susan Hall, the Tory candidate for next year’s London mayoral election, called on Khan to apologise.

She said: ‘All Londoners are real Londoners, regardless of their ethnicity, and Sadiq Khan should apologize and stop these desperate, politically motivated attempts to divide people.’

She also attacked the mayor of London for the amount of space given in the branding guidelines on how he should be portrayed.

One section goes into detail on the ‘best photos of the mayor’, including more than 20 photos of Mr Khan and advising that ‘photos of the mayor should be active and engaging.

“It must be shown interacting with real and recognizable environments.”

It also warns, “If you’re photographing the mayor, make sure his staff and well-known/political figures are out of the frame.”

It adds: ‘The photographs we use must reflect a recognisable, real and diverse London.’

And in a veiled reference to Mr Khan’s predecessor as mayor, Boris Johnson, photo editors are also warned: “Never use images from the previous administration, such as the ‘new bus to London'” – a project Mr Johnson spearheaded. advocated.

This photo of Sadiq Khan got the thumbs up in an official guide on how to portray the Mayor and Greater London Authority’s ‘brand’

‘Identifiable, real and diverse London’: This photo was given the green light in the guide