Sadiq Khan has been slammed for giving London’s "night tsar" a huge pay rise, despite the "desperate state" of London’s nightlife.
Susan Hall, the Conservative candidate for City Hall, slammed the mayor for reappointing Amy Lame in the role, which carries the responsibility of helping London thrive as a 24-hour city and protecting nightclubs and bars in the capital.
Hall, who was beaten by Khan in the mayoral elections two weeks ago, slammed Lame’s salary 4.5 per cent increase, which will see her take home £132,000 a year.
"I am absolutely astonished that despite the desperate state of London’s nightlife, Sadiq Khan has not only reappointed Amy Lamé, but rewarded her with a substantial pay rise," Hall said.
Sadiq Khan blasted for giving mega raise to 'night tsar' despite 'desperate' state London nightlife
Getty/PA
"Every Londoner has their own experience of Amy Lamé’s appalling handiwork, leading to #LameLondon trending across social media.
"Over 1000 pubs and clubs have closed in London in the last three years. These venues desperately need the Mayor’s support and a Night Tsar who will actually do something to help London’s nightlife thrive."
Recent data published by the Night Time Industries Association shows that between March 2020 and December 2023, a total of 3,011 clubs and bars closed in London and its surrounding boroughs.
Michael Kill, the trade body’s chief executive, said the statistics "reflect the crisis gripping our sector".
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- Sadiq Khan could axe Boris Johnson's buses as London Mayor looks to promote electric and hydrogen vehicles
- WATCH: Sadiq Khan blasts Donald Trump as he claims London has 'slammed the door shut on hard right populism'
- Sadiq Khan re-elected as London mayor as Labour incumbent inflicts defeat on Tories' Susan Hall
Over 1000 pubs and clubs have closed in London in the last three years
Getty
A recent survey from Square-Up, a firm which processes payments for business, said that Liverpool and Birmingham have now overtaken London in the number of transactions undergone per night.
Earlier this year, Lame justified her current £120,000 salary, despite receiving criticism for City Hall-funded trips to Australia, Italy, and Spain.
Experts have questioned whether she is providing value for money amid the shocking nightlife figures.
Lamé, who is also a DJ on BBC Radio 6, said that she was appointed in 2016 "to help London thrive as a 24-hour city."
Kill said that while the "night tsar" is required to oversee all 32 boroughs of London - a job that is far greater than others in her position elsewhere - there are still questions that need answering.
"There is a big difference between signposting and virtue signalling and driving tangible change. We see a lot of announcements but not so many results," he told The Times.
He claimed: "The industry feels there hasn't been a strong enough voice for us."
