Anti-Sadiq Khan protesters have been given permission to fly a giant balloon of the London mayor over Westminster this weekend.
The campaigners raised £58,182 for the 29ft-long “baby Khan” balloon, which will fly over Parliament Square on Saturday 1 September.
A crowdfunding campaign was launched following the giant Donald Trump baby balloon flown by protesters during the U.S. president’s visit last month.
Mr Khan said: “If people want to spend their Saturday looking at me in a yellow bikini they’re welcome to do so.
“I don’t really think yellow’s my colour though.”
The giant inflatable – imitating the “Beach Body Ready” advert Mayor Khan banned in 2016 – has been approved by City Hall, the police and air traffic controllers NATS.
The fundraising page for the balloon said: “In light of the Donald Trump ‘Baby Trump’ balloon being allowed to fly over London during his visit to the UK, let’s get a ‘baby Khan’ one and see if free speech applies to all.”
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It added: “Under Sadiq Khan, we have seen crime skyrocket to unprecedented levels. People in London don’t feel safe and they aren’t safe. […] Khan out.”
The page also stated that if the campaign raises any extra money it will be “used for a continuing campaign to remove Sadiq Khan from office” and “defending free speech”.
The Greater London Authority (GLA) city operations team gave permission for the blimp to fly over Parliament Square between 9:30am and 11:30am on this Saturday.
A spokesman for the mayor said: “As always, City Hall has been working in very close coordination with the Metropolitan Police and other key agencies to ensure this protest is able to be carried out in a safe and secure way.”
A NATS spokesperson said: “Following a thorough evaluation, we are satisfied that the balloon will have no impact on normal air traffic operations.
“The Met Police has also approved the flight and accordingly air traffic control permission has been granted.”
