Who Will Be London's Next Mayor? Meet The Candidates: Full Transcript

With less than month to go before London chooses its next Mayor, big promises are being made by the top candidates hoping to take over from Boris Johnson, who has held the post since 2008.

Zac Goldsmith is the Conservative party representative from Richmond. A billionaire politician, he is the son of the late financier Sir James Goldsmith. Sadiq Khan, the son of a bus driver is the Labour's candidate for the Mayoral post. Originally from Pakistan, Mr Khan is an MP from South London's Tooting, where he grew up in a council house.

Caroline Pidgeon of the Liberal Democrats and Sian Berry from the Green party are in the race too.

NDTV's Radhika Iyer interviews the two top contenders on the big issues that London will keep in mind before voting on May 5.

Q. Most working people today cannot afford a house in London. They work in London and travel in and out of it. What priority will you give to Housing if elected?

Zac Goldsmith: I will build on Boris' work so far. Housing is our utmost priority. I promise to give as many the keys to their first home in London. We want to make housing affordable. I promise to deliver 200,000 new homes in my first term as Mayor.

Sadiq Khan: The problem of Housing cannot be solved without a vision and planning. I am going to make housing affordable. A lot needs to be done for that. I will freeze transport fares for the next four years if elected, so people already paying a huge sum of money for commute will not pay more unlike the last few years. Homes need to be made a reality and I have a plan for that.

Q. What will change for London if you become the Mayor?

Mr Goldsmith: I will make London safe. I will ensure the quality of air we breathe is better by making London greener. I will give as many the keys to their first home in London. The Boris Johnson scheme has worked beautifully and I will work on that to make it better, more effective.

Mr Khan: My priorities are homes for Londoners, affordable transport system, more skilled jobs, a healthier and safer London.

Q. What is your USP? Why should one vote for you?

Mr Goldsmith: Being a good Mayor is about being able to get a good deal from the government. I, as MP of Richmond, have the track record of getting the biggest increase in revenue any MP has for my constituency. I make a promise and I deliver. I am a hard bargainer.

Mr Khan: I have experience. I have been a minister in the cabinet making those tough decisions. I have value, I have worked hard to be what I am and I have a vision for London. I have grown up in a council house and I know what it is to not have your own tiny home after a hard day's work.

Q. You have been campaigning hard in localities where the Indian community has a dominating presence. What is in store for them?

Mr Goldsmith: What is in store for all of London is what the Indian community gets too. We have seen how Boris had organised several cultural meets and festivals in the heart of London during Diwali and other big Indian festivals. I will continue to engage actively with the community and be there for them, like I will be for any Londoner.

Mr Khan: I will give all of London the same attention and not just some big influential pockets or boroughs of London more. When I say I will make London safe, I mean in every way for all communities. I have two young daughters and I care for safety on trains, I care about London being racism free. London is such a diverse city with about nearly 40 per cent being from the minority and migrant communities. Everyone contributes to make London what it is. And they will get their due.