Onkar Sahota, left, with mayor Sadiq Khan on the launch of the primary Superloop bus route
/ Sadiq Khan Twitter/Xn ally of Sadiq Khan is vulnerable to shedding his £60,000-a-year Metropolis Corridor job due to his assist for the Ulez growth.
Onkar Sahota, a veteran member of the London Meeting, is going through a riot by some Labour activists against final month’s widening of the ultra-low emission zone to the Higher London boundary.
Dr Sahota, who can also be a GP in Hanwell and Southall, stated he believed “historical past will present” that the mayor was proper to broaden the clear air zone – however stated he would “reassess” his plans to face for re-election subsequent Might if he believed he had misplaced the assist of grassroots members in his west London constituency.
Dr Sahota, who has represented Ealing and Hillingdon on the meeting since 2012, informed the Commonplace: “I consider I’ve carefully served my constituents. I’ve accomplished one thing which I consciously consider in, and which I consider is within the pursuits of Londoners.
“I consider historical past will present it’s the suitable choice, and that I’ve accomplished the most effective factor for almost all of my constituents.”
All 25 seats on the London Meeting are up for re-election subsequent Might, similtaneously the mayoral elections. Meeting members earn £60,416 a yr and, just like the mayor, usually serve a four-year time period.
The riot is the newest controversy to hit Labour in west London. Occasion chief Sir Keir Starmer blamed the Ulez growth for Labour’s failure to win the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election – the parliamentary seat beforehand held by Boris Johnson – in July.
Labour candidate Danny Beales got here out in opposition to the Ulez growth through the marketing campaign – and later described it as “unhealthy coverage” and a “lifeless weight” to his hopes. Final yr the Labour group on Hillingdon council got here out in opposition to the Ulez growth.
The choice whether or not to “set off” a vote on Dr Sahota’s reselection, or enable him to face unopposed for the meeting subsequent Might, will probably be made by the Labour constituency associations and by affiliated organisations corresponding to commerce unions.
Nonetheless solely 5 of the six constituency associations are ready to participate as Ealing Southall affiliation stays suspended after voting in opposition to sitting Labour MP Virendra Sharma in 2019.
It’s understood that the Labour affiliation in Hayes and Harlington has despatched an electronic mail to members calling for the deselection of Dr Sahota.
Dr Sahota gained his meeting seat in 2012 from Richard Barnes, on the time a deputy mayor to Boris Johnson. He retained the seat in 2021 with an 8,242 majority over the Conservatives. He’s at present the Labour well being spokesman on the meeting.
