'Sack Sadiq!' London Mayor torn apart by Tory MP in furious PMQs attack

'Sack Sadiq!' London Mayor torn apart by Tory MP in furious PMQs attack

Tube strikes: 'Congratulate Sadiq Khan for being grown up' to stop 'MISERY'

GB NEWS
Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 20/03/2024

- 14:24

Updated: 20/03/2024

- 18:36

Andrew Rosindell described Sadiq Khan's time in office as 'catastrophic'

The London Mayor was criticised by Tory MP Andrew Rosindell at Prime Minister's Questions today, who called for Londoners to "sack Sadiq and elect Susan Hall".

He claimed that voters in Romford are "appalled by the catastrophic reign of the current Mayor of London".


This comes just days after Khan launched his election campaign ahead of the May 2 Mayoral elections.

Speaking in the Commons today, Rosindell said: "The Prime Minister should be aware that the people of Romford are appalled by the catastrophic reign of the current Mayor of London.

Sadiq Khan/Andrew Rosindell

The London Mayor was criticised by Tory MP Andrew Rosindell at Prime Minister's Questions today, who called for Londoners to "sack Sadiq and elect Susan Hall"

PA

"Does he agree that traditional boroughs like Havering should have more independence from City Hall, but in the meantime to save London should he sack Sadiq and elect Susan Hall as the next Mayor of our capital?"

Responding, the Prime Minister said: ā€œWhilst there aren't current plans to redraw the boundaries, I can understand his desire especially with London being run by the Labour Mayor, with nightlife being decimated, crime increasing and the Mayor raising taxes on hardworking people by over eight per cent, London can certainly do better and the only way for pride to be restored in London is with Susan Hall as its Mayor.ā€

The Mayor's campaign launch saw him unveil a fresh pledge to build 40,000 new council homes by the end of the decade. He promised to unleash ā€œthe greatest council housebuilding drive in a generationā€ and to double his previous goal to start building 20,000 council homes, which he hit last year.

Khan also used his speech to warn that the mayoral election on May 2 is a ā€œtwo-horse raceā€ between himself and the Conservativesā€™ Hall, who he claimed would ā€œtake our city backwardsā€.

Looking back at his time in office, the Mayor noted his success in achieving free school meals for primary school children, freezing Transport for London fares and putting 1,300 more police on the streets.

He said: ā€œAs Mayor, Iā€™ve also never stopped standing up for Londonā€™s values of openness, equality and inclusion. Striving to unite Londonā€™s communities, not divide them.

ā€œCelebrating our diversity, not denigrating it. Because let me be clear: Londonā€™s diversity isnā€™t a weakness, itā€™s a formidable strength. And it makes London not only special, but the greatest city on earth.ā€

Introducing the Mayor earlier this week, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Khan would be able to achieve more if there was a Labour government, saying all of the London Mayor's achievements had been ā€œin the teeth of a Tory governmentā€.

Starmer said the Mayor had spent eight years ā€œfighting for London with a government that is hostile to progress because of the Mayorā€.

With a general election later this year, the Labour leader continued: ā€œImagine the transformation if we had a Labour mayor in London, working alongside a Labour government, how much more we could do ā€“ at a much greater pace ā€“ for all of our communities.

Sadiq Khan

Khan launched his election campaign ahead of the May 2 Mayoral elections

PA


ā€œWe know that, nationally, the country wants change, you can feel it everywhere you go. Fourteen years of failure and the country wants the chance to say ā€˜letā€™s changeā€™.

ā€œThey know the Tories canā€™t deliver that change. Look around you, is there anything now working better than it did 14 years ago? The answer to that question is no.ā€

Khan echoed this, claiming London could have gone ā€œmuch further, much fasterā€ without a Tory government ā€œholding us backā€.

A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan said: ā€œSadiq will take no lessons on crime from a Tory Government that over 14 years has slashed policing and youth club budgets. Despite being held back by them, heā€™s being tough on crime and its causes - putting more police on Londonā€™s streets and investing in young people.ā€

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