Sadiq Khan isn't interested in Londoners - all he cares about is political posturing, says Susan Hall
Susan Hall on why she wants to be London Mayor 120124
Sadiq Khan has splashed out on pre-election gimmicks and left crumbs for the police. It never ceases to amaze me how little the walking disaster that is Sadiq Khan cares about our safety.
Yet this week, his hubris was on full display when Sadiq Khan released the final draft of his budget. After splashing out half a billion quid on pre-election gimmicks, our mayor left mere crumbs for the Met Police – and then tried to argue it was someone else’s fault.
Londoners have been pleading with him for eight years to do something about soaring crime under his Mayoralty. But he won’t listen. Why?
Because he doesn’t care. And the people who are happiest of all about this are the criminals. Gangs are free to roam the streets with machetes, without fear of prosecution. Burglaries have become a part of daily life.
Susan Hall: 'Londoners have been pleading with Sadiq Khan for eight years to do something about soaring crime under his Mayoralty'
PA
Sadiq Khan has turned the other way, sat back as the Met Police fell into special measures and criminals have seized the opportunity to strike. 1,000 people have been killed in the streets of London since Sadiq Khan was elected eight long years ago.
Just imagine how many victims of crime could have been spared if the police had been led and funded properly by our Mayor.
The truth is Sadiq Khan has squirrelled away money for his own interests, while failing to give the police the resources they need.
He found £30 million down the back of the sofa to stop the trade unions from striking but can’t find the money to ensure our frontline police have knife detection wands.
He has wasted money left, right and centre. He’s prioritised holidays, beach parties and even a baffling £10 million on a ridiculous 'what colour is your personality' quiz for police officers.
The message couldn't be clearer: Sadiq Khan’s interests lie not with the safety of Londoners but with his own image and political posturing. But the tide is turning.
In May, we have a chance to right these wrongs with a robust plan that puts Londoners first.
I have pledged a £200 million investment into the Met Police, so we can get a grip of crime and make our streets safer.
Under my watch, we will see the deployment of knife detection wands to the front line – to ensure a less invasive form of stop and search can be deployed across our city.
We will set up a scheme to enable schools that want knife arches installed to get it done.
That way parents and grandparents will be able to rest easy knowing their loved ones can learn and play in a space free from knives.
I’ll also establish specialist units focused on rooting out burglaries, robberies, and thefts.
These are not ‘minor crimes.’ Our message will be unequivocal: crime has no place in our city, nor do criminals.
We will empower our police force, ensuring they are respected, well-equipped, and ready to defend law-abiding citizens.
Because I don’t accept Sadiq Khan’s logic that living in a major city means you have to put up with crime.
I disagree with his argument that crime has gone up because of the hot summers and therefore is because of climate change. That, like much of what he says, is nonsense.
We can make our city a safe place to live. And I will make it happen.
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I did it as leader of Harrow council when we rose up the ranks to become the safest borough in London.
I will do it again for every Londoner this May.
Susan Hall is the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London.