THE 29-foot blimp of
Sadiq Khan wearing a yellow bikini took flight over
Parliament Square in
Westminster this morning.
The enormous inflatable of the
London Mayor depicts him laying on his side wearing a small triangle bikini while exposing his chest and and belly hair.
The blimp will be flown for two hours on Saturday morning in the exact same spot that Londoners could see the Trump Baby blimp fly in July.
A campaign was started by 28-year-old Londoner Yanny Bruere in response to Mr Khan approving permission for a the Trump baby blimp.
The London Mayor last month granted permission for a giant
balloon of Donald Trump in diapers to fly over the capital as part of the protest against Trump’s UK visit.
Mr Bruere claims to have raised £58,000 online to erect the balloon as part of his campaign “Make London Safe Again”.
Mr Bruere said he’s been furious by Mr Khan’s focus on scoring political points instead of solving the soaring London crime rates that have increased since the mayor was elected in 2016.
He told the Daily Star Online: “I started it because I was irritated that Khan was willing to mock a great ally like the US President- particularly at such an important time as Brexit.
“We thought it would be ironic and humorous if the situation was reversed and Khan had to submit himself to the same mockery in the name of free speech.
“Khan should be focusing on soaring crime levels in London, not point scoring with a great ally.”
Some members of the crowd seen chanting that is time for Sadiq Khan "to go" and there were clear shouts of "higher, higher, higher" as the blimp was raised higher in the sky.
Campaigners claim crime has risen sharply during Mr Khan's time in City Hall and some wore t-shirts saying: "Stop the Khanage" and "Make London safe again".
One spectator, Martin Daubney, 48, from South East London, said: "I think it's very funny, it deliberately subverts the beach body ready adverts that Sadiq was so keen to ban.
"I always expected the crowd to be smaller than the Trump crowds - this is a bit of fun. I think Sadiq Khan has been a terrible mayor for London.
"I've lived here for 25 years and the feeling of impending crime on the streets has never been worse."
One supporter, Gavin Leonard, 59, from East London, said: "I think it's very funny, it deliberately subverts the beach body ready adverts that Sadiq was so keen to ban.
"I always expected the crowd to be smaller than the Trump crowds - this is a bit of fun.
"I think Sadiq Khan has been a terrible mayor for London.
"I've lived here for 25 years and the feeling of impending crime on the streets has never been worse."
Augustine Chukwuma Obodo, 50, founder of Friends of Trump UK, said: "This reaffirms everything that Trump has been saying - this city has fallen to the liberals and has insecurity, killings and maiming.
"We are here today to tell the whole world that Sadiq Khan has failed and that everything Trump has been saying is happening here in the UK.
"And when he speaks they say he's a racist, I don't know why Trump is a racist - he speaks only truth."
People on Twitter shared their thoughts on the blimp and of Mr Khan.
@1Fubar tweeted: "If Sadiq Khan isn't embarrassed by his record as Mayor, that blimp won't bother him much."
@nefyn92 said: "I do love watching people who supported the Trump balloon tie themselves in knots over the Sadiq Khan one.
"Both are petty and childish. Both are also a little bit amusing. The overreaction from the opposing side is far funnier than the balloon itself."
The choice of the the yellow bikini was a direct link to an advert of a woman wearing a yellow bikini that Mr Khan refused to allow in 2016 because it could create body confidence issues.
The ad was for a protein shake and featured a model wearing a yellow bikni that asked: "Are you beach body ready?"
On Wednesday Mr Gruere confirmed on Twitter that the blimp would fly.
He said: “It’s OFFICIAL. The balloon WILL fly. Sadiq Khan had no choice in the end.”
In response to the blimp 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.”
In July the Trump Baby blimp flew above Parliament Square as protesters took to the streets against Mr Trump’s visit to London.
The balloon depicts the US president as an angry baby wearing a nappy and holding a mobile phone.
As it ascended the balloon leaned forward and managed to rise a mere 20ft above the ground. It appeared unstable as it wobbled over the crowd that had come out to see it.