Khan blasts Truss on ‘worst self-inflicted error since Brexit’
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London Mayor Sadiq Khan launched a brutal rant against Liz Truss’ government in a committee meeting today, before having his words used against himself by a councillor in a fierce argument over the possibility of an expanded ULEZ. Speaking at the London Assembly for Mayor’s Question Time, Mr Khan slammed government “incompetence” in their handling of the mini-budget which prompted a financial crisis. However, he soon found himself under fire as a Tory councillor demanded to know why he had not acted sooner on reported “failings” by the Met Police, as others attempted to pin Mr Khan down on whether he would go ahead with his controversial move to expand Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) in the capital. The discussion turned tense as the Mayor resorted to throwing out insults at the councillors questioning him, comparing one to a “lawyer” and then to fictional detective Colombo.
Mr Khan said the mini-budget was the “worst self-inflicted error since the last one, which was a hard Brexit.”
He added: “That was the worst self-inflicted error since the previous one before – having the referendum – which was the worst self-inflicted error since the austerity budgets from George Osborne. This party has a habit of self-harm.”
Asked about London’s ability to respond to climate emergencies, such as the widespread fires seen during this summer’s heatwave, Mr Khan blamed government “incompetence” for them not having the funds to borrow to afford a better response to climate emergencies. The market reaction to Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget led to the value of the pound plummeting, making government borrowing more expensive.
At the same time, the proposed tax cuts slashed government income. Mr Khan quipped: “This government claims to love the markets – but the markets don’t love this government.”
He added: “We desperately need proper investment in ordinary people to drive economic growth from the bottom up and middle out.”
However, Mr Khan faced heat when the subject of a report His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), which said the Metropolitan Police must make “urgent improvements” to address “failings” in multiple areas. The report particularly highlighted concerns with the way the Met responds to the public.
Mr Khan, who has been the elected Police and Crime Commissioner for six years, said the report was “no surprise to me” – prompting leader of the London Conservatives for the London Assembly, Susan Hall, to demand: “Why on earth didn’t you do something about it a lot earlier?”
The Mayor said he had “sought to address” many of the issues mentioned in the damning report, adding that they had invested £5 million in the issues that had been “subsequently” identified by the report.
Mr Khan found himself in further hot water from two Tory councillors over the proposed expansion of the ULEZ – designated areas of the city in which more polluting vehicles are charged a fee, with the aim to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution in the designated areas. The ULEZ has faced criticism for effectively acting as a tax on lower income households who cannot afford to switch out their car for a less polluting one, but who must drive through the zones regardless to attend school, work or hospital appointments.
Peter Fortune, Conservative councillor for Bexley and Bromley, attempted to pin Mr Khan down on whether he has had any involvement in Transport for London’s ongoing consultation into the possibility of expanding the ULEZ. The mayor responded that he was not and refused to speculate on the outcome of the consultation, stating that “providing a running commentary” would imply that he had already decided on the result. He insisted that he would instead wait on TfL, of which he is chair, to present him with the results.
However when Mr Fortune pushed Mr Khan with further questions, demanding clarity on any involvement he may have with the consultation, the Mayor appeared to get frustrated, describing the councillor as “like a poorly-paid lawyer”.
As Mr Fortune continued, Mr Khan interrupted, claiming he “sounds like Liz Truss now – worse than a lawyer”.
The councillor responded: “I’m getting somewhere when you’re resorting to insults.”
Mr Khan then compared him to fictional detective Colombo, prompting Mr Fortune to appeal to the chair of the meeting, saying: “Didn’t you send us a letter about maintaining a certain demeanour in meetings?”
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As the chair said it was more of a case of humour, Mr Khan interrupted by saying: “Could I apologise if my humour has upset his feelings.”
Mr Fortune said: “I will rise above it, because it’s pointless.”
Conservative councillor for Croydon and Sutton Neil Garratt then took aim the Mayor, accusing him of hypocrisy for criticising Ms Truss’ government’s lack of support for low income households at the same time as he considers introducing the ULEZ, a measure that he says would only increase daily costs for those families.
Mr Khan repeated that he would wait for the report from TfL to make his decision.
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