The statement made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 15 October 2021.
I am so deeply, deeply saddened by the tragic news that Sir David has passed away. He loved being an MP and was a great public servant. It is just awful. My thoughts and prayers, and those of all Londoners, are with David’s loved ones at this time of unimaginable grief.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 11 October 2021.
This half term, Pop-Up London offers a fantastic opportunity for families across Britain to visit the centre of our city and enjoy an incredible range of entertainment, for all ages, absolutely free of charge.
Freelance artists and performers are vital to the success of our world-renowned creative industries, but many have been out of work for months. As London continues to recover from this awful pandemic, Pop Up London will give creatives a platform to perform and give Londoners and visitors yet another reason to make the most of our capital this October.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 5 October 2021.
The horrific murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer has shattered public confidence in the police. That trust has been further eroded by the news of another officer being charged with rape as well as reports of sexism, misogyny, racism and homophobia amongst some groups of officers.
Over recent days, I’ve been in detailed discussions with the Home Secretary about how we must urgently do everything necessary to rebuild trust and confidence in the police – in London and across the country. We agreed that the gravity of the situation required no less than a proper inquiry.
This inquiry must leave no stone unturned to ensure that the failures that led to a serving police officer killing Sarah Everard can never happen again. And while I know the vast majority of officers are decent and dedicated public servants, the inquiry must also address reports of widespread cultural issues. All police officers must adhere to the highest possible standards, we must stamp out misogyny, sexism, racism and homophobia, root out those who abuse their trusted position as officers, and ensure that tackling violence against women and girls is treated with the highest priority.
There is no time to waste. So while this inquiry moves ahead, I’ll continue to hold the Met to account so that we start to see the changes we need right now – both to rebuild trust in the police and to make our country safer for women and girls.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 4 October 2021.
Toxic air pollution causes long-lasting harm and contributes to many thousands of premature deaths every year, so it is really encouraging to see businesses shifting to cleaner vehicles and 95 per cent of heavy goods vehicles now meeting the Low Emission Zone standards.
I’ve implemented the most ambitious plans to tackle air pollution of any major city in the world – showing what we can achieve together if we are bold enough. I am extending the ULEZ in October because we know it will bring significant health benefits to millions of Londoners and help tackle the climate emergency.
With the UK set to host COP26 in just a few weeks, the Government must match my ambition and help clean up OUR filthy air and reduce carbon emissions from transport across the country. This must include giving cities additional powers and creating a national Clean Air Fund to help people switch to cleaner, greener cars and more sustainable transport options.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 24 September 2021.
The Government’s decision to increase Universal Credit and Working Tax credits enabled many Londoners to make ends meet during this incredibly challenging period. Cutting this support now would have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of Londoners, on top of the forthcoming rise in fuel bills.
With so much talk about ‘levelling up’, we must not forget that our capital has some of the most deprived communities anywhere in the UK and ending the uplift will hit many Londoners hard.
I urge Ministers to do the right thing – to not only retain the uplift, but go further and remove the benefit cap to help cut poverty in London and across the country.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 23 September 2021.
In the year of COP26, London is at a crossroads. We either take bold action now or face the consequences – with catastrophic impacts on our environment, the air we breathe and the climate.
I’m determined for London to be a world leader in tackling the twin dangers of air pollution and the climate emergency so that we can deliver a brighter future for London – one that’s greener, fairer and more prosperous for everyone. That’s why I’ve committed to making London a zero-carbon city by 2030, faster than any comparable city, and it’s why we are delivering a climate action plan that is compatible with the highest ambition of the Paris Agreement. I also want London to be a zero-pollution city so that no child has to grow up in our city breathing toxic air. That’s why I’m expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone next month.
But I can’t do it all alone. That’s why today I’m launching my city-wide campaign to inspire all Londoners – individuals, businesses and communities – to take action. I also want to work with the Government to unlock the powers and funding needed to meet our targets, which will help deliver national targets too.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 22 September 2021.
London is and always will be open to business and innovation. In the face of Brexit and the global pandemic, our capital has proven itself to be one of the best global cities for tech.
The tech sector in London has a huge role to play in rebuilding a fairer city for everyone as we recover from the pandemic. My new Emerging Tech Charter will play a significant part in that recovery, making sure both Londoners and tech businesses are using data efficiently to get the most out of technological innovation.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 15 September 2021.
Four years on from the terrorist attack at Parsons Green Station, I want to pay tribute all those affected by this cowardly act and to thank our brave emergency services and the TfL staff who were first on the scene and ran towards danger, while directing others to safety.
London condemns those individuals who attempt to use terror to harm us and destroy our way of life. I’m proud of the way our city has responded in the face of horrific terrorist attacks: standing united in defiance and staying true to our values and way of life. As London has proven time and again, we will never be intimidated or defeated by terrorism.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 14 September 2021.
Many sectors that are important to our economic recovery, from hospitality to haulage, construction to culture are now under huge strain due the lack of EU workers and the Government’s immigration rules. We know there are countless struggling businesses across London that are working hard to get back on their feet, but are now simply unable to hire the staff they need.
Given the urgency and the scale of the challenge, I’m calling on the Government to change its immigration system so that it meets our economic needs and helps our businesses. This must include introducing a “Covid Recovery Visa” to help attract international workers into key roles to support our economic recovery. London has unique needs when it comes to attracting workers from around the world – and so a more tailored, dynamic approach is urgently required.
When it comes to immigration, many politicians seem to be too scared to argue for what they know is needed. The truth is that a flexible migration system that can attract talent from around the world will always be crucial to London’s competitiveness and our ongoing success.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 26 August 2021.
It has been devastating to watch the crisis unfold in Afghanistan and I’m determined to do everything in my power to support those escaping the country.
London has a proud history of providing sanctuary to those in need and by working together we can help these refugees find a welcoming home in our city.
That’s why I’m inviting borough councils to use my Right to Buy-back fund to acquire homes for refugees, as well as Londoners in housing need, and am urging housing associations to bid for funding to secure homes for these families. I will continue to call on Ministers to provide the further support needed to help them secure their long-term future in our city.