Sadiq Khan public meeting ‘to be moved from central London’ amid Ulez security concerns

The Metropolitan police is known to have suggested that the following Individuals’s Query Time (PQT) occasion shouldn’t go forward in Westminster in November as deliberate.

This follows ugly scenes at a PQT in March, when it was held at Ealing city corridor. Anti-Ulez protesters, a few of whom Mr Khan described as being far-Proper, gathered outdoors the assembly and there was a hostile ambiance inside.

Mr Khan is at present dealing with a Metropolis Corridor requirements investigation for saying on the Ealing assembly that Ulez opponents have been “holding fingers” with the far-Proper.

Two PQT occasions a yr need to be held by legislation. They’re held in several boroughs to allow as huge a collection of Londoners as potential to attend at the very least as soon as throughout every mayoral time period.

The Met has raised issues concerning the Mayor’s attendance at a serious occasion being publicised upfront, and has advised the November PQT be held on-line or at Metropolis Corridor in east London.

However this has been rejected by senior figures on the London Meeting, who say it’s important for Londoners to have the ability to maintain the mayor to account in public.

Tony Devenish, a Tory member of the London Meeting, mentioned: “Are the Met police actually saying they will’t shield the Mayor of London when he’s within the Metropolis of Westminster?

“All of us perceive if there’s a spike in safety issues or a particular risk, however a transfer like this simply damages democracy.”

Some meeting members consider that an overstretched Met could also be searching for to restrict attendance at public occasions to allow it to give attention to frontline crime.

Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley not too long ago appeared to counsel that he would seem much less incessantly earlier than the meeting to reply questions as a result of he can be required to attend the mayor’s new policing board, which meets for the primary time subsequent Tuesday.

A mayoral spokesman confirmed that safety issues had been raised however mentioned the occasion can be held in public, although probably outdoors Westminster.

Mr Khan sometimes travels in an armed police automobile when travelling round London, on police recommendation, however tries to make use of the Tube when potential.

In February, a Ulez protester was led away from a Metropolis Corridor occasion involving Mr Khan and the moneysaving skilled Martin Lewis.

A e book launch occasion on the South Financial institution in Might was additionally marred by anti-Ulez protests, with numerous folks escorted out of the constructing by safety employees after shouting profanities on the mayor.

The Met police has been approached for remark.