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Three years ago this week – after the Conservative Party ran one of the most negative and divisive political campaigns in our history – I was elected Mayor of London.

It was a day I will never forget.

Not just because of what it meant for me personally, but because of what it said about our capital city, about our values and about our vision for a brighter future.

Nothing can prepare you for a job like this and the challenges it brings.

And the last three years have brought some unexpected, and often extraordinarily difficult, times.

We have endured a series of terrible terrorist attacks and the tragedy of the horrific fire at Grenfell Tower. We have lived through the chaos, confusion and uncertainty of Brexit, which has left many unsettled and worried about their future.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

And we have seen the consequences of the Government’s punishing austerity programme go from bad to worse, with cuts to local authorities, youth services, welfare and the police creating a perfect storm that’s contributed towards an appalling rise in violent crime across the country.

For a large proportion of Londoners, and people across the country, the future doesn't look much brighter.

Many are struggling with the cost of living and the housing crisis, and austerity has seen wages fail to recover to 2008 pre-crash levels.

These problems confronting London and Britain have been decades in the making and will take time to solve.

However, despite the scale of the task ahead, I remain optimistic about the future.

This is an optimism fuelled by the power of great cities to deliver change in the 21st century and the energy, diversity, entrepreneurial spirit and outward-looking values of our people.

(Image: Jack Taylor)

Over the last three years as Mayor, I have seen how cities like London can really lead the way in building our future.

Our dynamism stands in stark contrast to the increasingly dysfunctional character of the Government in Westminster, which too often seems gripped by paralysis and out of touch with the people they represent.

The Brexit crisis has not only paralysed Parliament, but the whole Whitehall machine.

Since 2016, we have seen no national drive to improve our education system, no plans to reform health and social care, nor any new comprehensive efforts to tackle violent crime.

The essence of what national government exists to deliver - to make our country a better, fairer and safer place for everyone - has been sorely missing in Britain as Brexit has brought all the usual levers of power to a standstill.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

When was the last time we heard the Prime Minister say something new and interesting about improving our public services?

Or about the future jobs market, about how we can cope with a growing, aging population, or about how we can tackle the housing crisis?

The news and our political debates should be dominated by these issues.

Instead, all we seem to hear about is whether ministers support Theresa May’s Brexit deal or not.

The reality is that at the national level, there is now a vacuum where there should be leadership.

In contrast, cities like London have stepped up and we are doing all we can with limited powers and funding to tackle the major challenges that are defining this century.

Take housing. New figures released this week show that a record-breaking number of social-rented and genuinely affordable homes were started with City Hall’s support last year – including the highest number of new council homes in London since 1985.

(Image: Jack Taylor)

The new statistics show 14,544 affordable homes were started in the year 2018/19, which is more than double the number the previous mayor started in the final year of his term.

As well as building a record number of social homes, we are also making transport more affordable for millions of Londoners and delivering exciting initiatives that are providing more opportunities for people to reach their potential: from expanding access to culture, to establishing a new Young Londoners Fund to give those at risk of getting caught up in crime new opportunities to make the most of their lives.

In many areas, we are leading the world.

For example, we have the boldest plans in London to tackle air pollution of any major city - with the new Ultra-Low Emission Zone watched closely around the globe.

Air pollution and climate change is now a national emergency that, if left unaddressed, risks defining our long-term future in even greater ways than Brexit.

We’re doing all we can in London, but this is an issue we can’t tackle alone.

(Image: PA)

In recent weeks, we have had the Youth Climate Strikes and Extinction Rebellion protests, with frustration boiling over due to the complete lack of national action.

I disagree with the unlawful tactics employed by the protesters, but I share their passion about this vital issue, and I will continue to pressure the Government to step up.

Another area we have made a priority at City Hall is promoting social integration.

With some of the negative consequences of social media and disenchantment on the rise, people are becoming more susceptible to conspiracy theories and the politics of division.

That’s why proactively working to bring people together from different communities is more important than ever.

In London, we have adopted a pioneering approach in this relatively new area that aims to strengthen our communities by promoting greater interaction between those of different ethnicities, faiths, ages and backgrounds.

So it’s not been easy over the past three years, but I’m proud of what we have achieved.

I’m proud that we have stood up for Londoners’ values – whether campaigning against the Government’s chaotic handling of Brexit or calling out the rise of the far-right.

And I’m proud that we are laying the foundations for a better, fairer city that works for all.

However, there is still much left to do. With only one year remaining of this Mayoral term, I still wake up every day deeply humbled to serve the greatest city in the world.

And, even though national government has effectively ground to a halt, which is holding us all back, I will continue to do everything I can to fill the void and to ensure that everyone gets the opportunities that London gave to me and my family.