Khan defends New Year light show tribute to NHS, Captain Tom and Black Lives Matter

Sadiq Khan has defended London’s New Year list show featuring tributes to the NHS, Captain Tom Moore and the Black Lives Matter movement after it was criticised for being “woke”.

London welcomed in 2021 with a stunning light and fireworks show on the Thames, with 300 drones showing images in the sky above the O2 Arena, one of which showed the NHS logo in a heart while a child said: “Thank you NHS heroes.”

A huge drone-formed outline of Capt Moore standing with his walking frame and giving a thumbs-up also shone over the arena. The captain raised £33m this year by walking in his back garden, and a chorus of voices called: “Thanks Captain Tom.”

There was also a joke about working from home during the “new normal” of 2020, with a mute symbol filling the sky along with the words: “No, you’re on mute.”