London Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched into a European love-in with a fresh anti-Brexit message on the fifth anniversary of leaving the EU.

Writing on social media this morning, Khan declared that "London is European" - and "European Londoners are valued and cherished".

The Remain-backing Mayor has previously called for Labour to sign up to the Brussels bloc's controversial youth mobility scheme.

Said scheme, according to European population data, would open Britain's doors to more than 70 million people.

Sadiq Khan was also a leading proponent of a second Brexit referendum - a position he later dialled back on

He was also a leading proponent of a second Brexit referendum - a position he later dialled back on.

And today, he vowed that "you are wanted here - and always will be".

Khan also shared an image of himself grinning beneath some text reading: "On the fifth anniversary of Brexit, I want all European Londoners to know that you are welcome and wanted in our city."

Alongside that, he wrote: "Five years on from Brexit, London remains a European city, where European Londoners are valued and cherished.

PICTURED: Sadiq Khan's Brexit message

"You are our neighbours, colleagues, friends and loved ones. Thank you for making London your home. You are wanted here - and always will be."

But in response, the Mayor took heavy flak from Reform UK's Rupert Lowe.

He said on social media: "Europeans aren't uneasy in London because of Brexit, they're uneasy because they don't feel safe.

"A rape is reported every hour. Murders, stabbings, theft are all rife. Moped gangs seem to own the streets. You're a disgrace to our capital city, Khan."

Reform MP Rupert Lowe labelled Sadiq Khan a 'disgrace'

Last summer, the Mayor had vowed that "in the medium to long term, there will need to be a conversation about whether we have a better future inside the EU or outside of it".

Though he admitted: "But it's not possible in the short term for us to rejoin the EU.

"I think referendums are once-in-a-generation issues."