Sadiq Khan
“British journalism has lost a talent,” Labour leader Keir Starmer tweeted.
Sources close to the London mayor now say he is "listening" in the wake of Labour's defeat in Uxbridge.
Danny Beales said it had "cut us off at the knees" as the Tories clung on by just 495 votes.
The results in Selby and Uxbridge threw up as many questions as answers for Labour.
Angela Rayner blamed the scheme for the Tory win but the mayor insisted it is "necessary to save the lives of young and vulnerable Londoners".
Tensions between the London mayor and Keir Starmer are set to increase after the Tory victory.
The former prime minister used to say the Ultra Low Emission Zone was "an essential measure to help improve air quality".
The Labour mayor warned the UK is not immune to similar “culture wars” tactics
Khan's predecessors Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson served two terms as mayor of London.
The mayor said as a person of colour he was "not surprised" by the damning Casey review.