"In an opening salvo ahead of the US president's state visit, Sadiq Khan said he wanted to challenge the idea that London was in turmoil and said that more Americans than ever were seeking to make it their home. He said liberal Americans identified with London because of the city's fundamental values, like adhering to the rule of law, being proud of our diversity and championing the rights of minority communities."
"For many Americans I speak with, it's because of our values, he said. As well as being the UK's financial, legal and governmental centre, in London we offer an ecosystem that is unparalleled around the world, from our brilliant universities to our culture and our creative industries. But it's also our liberal values that make us stand out celebrating our diversity in London as a strength, not as a threat to society."
Record applications for British citizenship from US nationals rose sharply following Donald Trump's election, attributed to London's liberal values, rule of law, and embrace of diversity. Home Office figures show a 50% increase in American applications, with April–June recording 2,194 applications versus 1,465 the previous year, the highest since records began. Since the start of 2025, 4,125 applications have been submitted by US citizens. Tensions between London and the US administration have included disputes over the travel ban and public criticisms, while commentators question London crime rates and demographic diversity. London offers leading universities, culture, and creative industries and frames diversity as a strength.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]