Sadiq Khan effigy chosen to burn on bonfire night gets town’s seal of approval as ‘brilliant choice because he’s a pillock’

• Edenbridge locals chose Sadiq Khan over Suella Braverman and Phillip Schofield

A giant effigy of Sadiq Khan is set to go up in flames at one of the UK’s most popular bonfire night festivals – and residents think the Mayor of London is a ‘brilliant choice’.

Every year since 1994, a 36ft tall celebrity effigy has been burnt as part of the annual November 5 celebrations in Edenbridge, Kent, about nine miles from the ULEZ Zone.

This year, a model of London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been chosen to be set alight as part of the display.

The Labour politician came under fire earlier this year over his controversial decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to include the greater London boroughs – charging residents with non-compliant cars £12.50 each day.

Locals in Edenbridge say they have been affected by the expansion and believe Sadiq was a ‘fair choice’ for this year’s effigy.

One grandfather-of-two, 74, who asked the remain anonymous, said residents chose Sadiq to be the effigy because he is ‘crippling’ families in London. 

He said: ‘It’s just a bit of fun, but I think Sadiq Khan was a brilliant choice because he’s a pillock.

‘I don’t know what he thinks he’s doing for London but it’s deteriorating. He doesn’t listen to the public.

‘He’s crippling the everyday family in London with ULEZ – the likes of teachers and carpenters and supermarket workers. It’s just a money-making scheme.’

Artist Andrea Deans puts the finishing touches to Edenbridge Bonfire Society’s latest celebrity guy, Sadiq Khan, at Breezehurst Farm Industrial Park, Edenbridge, November 1

The effigy shows Mr Khan holding a Ulez sign and £15-tickets for London New Year’s Eve fireworks event, with various traffic signs on his clothing

Mum-of-two Veronica Wright, 54, who has lived in the town for 14 years, said: We were spoilt for choice with options this year, but I think Sadiq Khan was a good one.

READ MORE: Nearly 1,000 Ulez cameras have been stolen or damaged in the last seven months – as two people charged with criminal damage

‘I’m not a fan of ULEZ at all. My son works up in Biggin Hill at the airport and his car isn’t ULEZ compliant.

‘Every time he needs to go to work he either has to borrow his brother’s car or pay £12.50 a day – which is more than a lot of people in that area get paid per hour.

‘Yet we can’t claim for the scrappage scheme because we’re not in the zone. But it affects us, business wise, every single day of our lives.

‘They’re making people spend millions for such an insignificant change to air quality. If you really want to make a difference to people’s lives, improve the accommodation they’re living in – get rid of the mould.

‘It’s a money-making scheme, because the benefit is insignificant in comparison to the amount of money they’ve made.’

Former recruitment consultant Veronica said she is concerned the ULEZ scheme will eventually expand to include areas outside of the M25 border, like Edenbridge.

She added: ‘I think if they had their way they’d like to do more of the south because it’s a perceived thought that there’s more money in the south.’

The 54-year-old said the effigy is a beloved tradition which brings business to Edenbridge.

She added: ‘It’s a good tradition to have in the town. It’s always good fun and it’s good for business in Edenbridge. It brings in a lot of revenue.’

Mr Khan’s (pictured in New York, September 18) effigy will be paraded through Edenbridge High Street in a torch-lit carnival procession involving 550 people

Margaret Fudge, 72, goes to the bonfire celebrations every year with her son and grandchildren.

The retired teacher, who has lived in Edenbridge for 48 years, said: ‘I think it’s a great tradition. People come from far and wide to see it.’

The grandmother-of-four said the London Mayor was a ‘good choice’ for the effigy – as she also fears ULEZ will expand to include Edenbridge.

She said: ‘Everyone was saying it was bound to be Sadiq Khan this year. I think he was a good choice.

‘I do feel sorry for people impacted by ULEZ. They’ve made so many millions from the charges already.

‘I worry for my family and children that it’s going to expand out of London. And if it comes to Edenbridge, it will affect me too.

‘But with all the stuff from the Covid inquiry in the last few days, it’s no wonder none of them were picked to burn at the stake.’

Retired GP Simon Morrison, 67, agreed that the annual bonfire night celebrations are a favourite for residents.

He said: ‘I think the bonfire effigy is great. I don’t think anybody takes it terribly seriously.’

The dad-of-two, who has lived in the town for 31 years, said his first choice for the effigy would’ve been Dominic Cummings, but he agrees that Sadiq Khan is hugely unpopular.

He added: ‘Sadiq Khan isn’t one I would’ve chosen, but I see their point of view. Lots of people round here are impacted by ULEZ.

‘He says only 10 per cent of cars aren’t compliant, but there’s a lot of that 10 per cent who are less well-off and who aren’t able to afford either the charges or to replace their cars.

‘So ‘just 10 per cent’ is actually quite a significant chunk of people.

‘I agree with drift of ULEZ but we need good public transport to be able to compensate for it. And the public transport round here is pretty atrocious.

‘With the ongoing Covid enquiry we had a wide choice for the effigy. I think I probably would’ve gone with Dominic Cummings, but there was a huge range.’

Mr Khan was chosen by popular demand over other 2023 contenders such as Suella Braverman, Russell Brand, Phillip Schofield and Harry and Meghan. 

Bill Cummings, chairman of Edenbridge Bonfire Society, said: ‘This year we have chosen Sadiq Khan, whose decision to extend the Ultra Low Emission Zone has affected many people living and working in our town.

‘Unlike those living inside the new extended zone, there is no support for people who live outside it but whose livelihoods and commitments have been greatly affected by this decision.’

On November 4, nearly 10,000 people are expected to travel from London, Surrey, Kent and Sussex to attend the biggest event in the Edenbridge calendar.

Mr Morrison said: ‘I think the bonfire effigy is great. I don’t think anybody takes it terribly seriously.’

Dominic Cummings, pictured leaving Dorland House after giving evidence in the Covid Inquiry on October 31, was the preferred effigy for retired GP Simon Morrison 

Mum-of-one Holly Dunn, 35, described it as ‘unnecessary’ and said it sends a ‘violent message’ to children. She said: ‘I’m a teacher, I don’t think it sends the right message to kids.

Pensioner Gerry Ryan, 88, agreed with the choice to burn a model of the London Mayor.

He said: ‘I agree with Sadiq Khan as the effigy this year.

‘ULEZ isn’t the way to go. The whole thing is just wrong.’

Christie Brown, 38, lives in Lewes, East Sussex, but works as a hairdresser in Edenbridge.

She said she had no strong opinions on Sadiq Khan and thinks the effigy is ‘just a bit of fun.’

Christie said: ‘The effigy is quite the talking point – you get lots of people complaining about it on social media. But it’s just a bit of fun. It’s not that serious.

‘It’s just a bit of cardboard, not a real person. People need to lighten up and find something to occupy themselves.’

Her colleague Danielle Preston, 26, added: ‘It’s great fun, I go every year. I predicted it would be Sadiq Khan this year.’

But not everyone agrees with the age-old tradition of burning celebrity effigies.

Mum-of-one Holly Dunn, 35, described it as ‘unnecessary’ and said it sends a ‘violent message’ to children.

She said: ‘I’m a teacher, I don’t think it sends the right message to kids.

‘Number one, because these are people that we probably should have some respect for – I don’t think we should be putting them on a bonfire.

‘I think it sends a bit of a violent message. It’s a bit unnecessary and a bit extreme.

‘I do see the community and tradition side of it, but how do you explain to a kid why you’re putting Sadiq Khan on a bonfire?’

But Holly, who works as a deputy headteacher at a school in Eltham, southeast London, said she understands people’s frustration with ULEZ.

She added: ‘My car is ULEZ complaint, but if it wasn’t I’d be affected on my commute.

‘And my partner’s mum’s car isn’t suitable for ULEZ, so it’s rubbish for her.

‘She’s older and she’s at the point where she doesn’t want to buy a new car, so she’s just not going to use it.

‘So maybe she would want Sadiq on the bonfire, I don’t know?

‘I do think it’s fairer to pick someone like Sadiq Khan, who has actually affected people, than the likes of Phillip Schofield or Russell Brand, who are innocent until proven guilty.

‘But even still, maybe we should just stick to Guy Fawkes.’

Gerry Ryan, 88, agreed with the choice to burn a model of the London Mayor. ‘ULEZ isn’t the way to go. The whole thing is just wrong.’

Christie Brown (left) said she had no strong opinions on Sadiq Khan and thinks the effigy is ‘just a bit of fun.’

Edenbridge Bonfire Society has been celebrating Bonfire Night for more than 90 years and has been known to feature more than 750 people in its torch-lit parade through the High Street.

The Edenbridge guy has become a highlight of the bonfire season with previous public figures chosen for ridicule including Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Harvey Weinstein, Donald Trump, Katie Hopkins, Russell Brand, Jonathan Ross, Katie Price, Lance Armstrong, Anne Robinson and Saddam Hussein.

Last year, an effigy of former Prime Minister Liz Truss was set alight – but the decision was controversial, with some people branding it ‘bullying’ and ‘barbaric’.

The politician was depicted holding a Guinness Book of World Records as the shortest-serving Prime Minister in the country’s history.

She also had a lettuce on her shoulder in a reference to the Daily Star’s live stream of an iceberg lettuce which outlasted her time at Number 10.

Videos shared on social media showed the crowds counting down till the moment the effigy’s head exploded and fireworks burst out from behind the wooden figure.

MailOnline has contacted the Mayor of London’s office for comment.  

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