Christian group calls for prayers for new Muslim London Mayor Sadiq Khan, newly elected UK leaders

A Christian group has made a call for prayer for the UK's newly elected political leaders following local elections held last week, including new London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who is the first Muslim to hold such an office in a major western capital city.

Local elections in the United Kingdom, held last week, saw Labour win 1,326 seats - a loss of 18 seats, while the Conservatives won 842 - a loss of 48. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat made a significant gain of 45 seats, giving them 378 in total.

A Christian group called the results a "mixed bag" and urged Christians to pray for the newly elected leaders. 

David Lindsay, Head of Operations of U.K. organization Christian Concern, said in an article that "Labour undoubtedly lost support as a result of the ongoing row about anti-Semitism," which indicates that secularism has increased.

The new mayor of London is Labour's Sadiq Khan, which makes him, the article says, the "most high-profile Muslim leader in the West." Just as Christians are being discriminated against and there is tension between those who have opposing views or religious beliefs, it asks how Khan would "frame London to the world."

"If there is a terrorist outrage committed by British Muslims, will Khan be harder on radical mosques – or at addressing their grievances, (while ignoring the identical grievances of other communities who live in similar circumstances)?" the article says.

In his first interview after being elected as London's mayor, Khan said that Labour's mission is to improve people's lives, and that is done by winning elections. According to The Independent, some are concerned that he is setting up to go against Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

"Success has many parents and I think what's important is the victory on Thursday was a victory for London," he said on "The Andrew Marr Show."  "My point is very simple, we've got to stop talking about ourselves and start talking to citizens about the issues that matter to them."

Christian Concern says that elections is a time for renewed hope, and it urges people to encourage the new representatives "to do good and to resist evil." It reminds everyone to pray for the councilors and other leaders, regardless of their faith or which party they belong to.

"Let us - and particularly those who live in London - pray for Sadiq Khan, as newly elected Mayor, and his incoming team of advisers," it says.