23 February 2025, 17:01

By Neil Garratt AM

In these uncertain economic times, we need to talk about Sir Sadiq Khan's latest budget proposals and how they reveal a concerning disconnect between City Hall's spending priorities and the real needs of Londoners.

While families across our city struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, the Mayor continues to channel precious resources into an expanding bureaucracy. As theft and burglary skyrocket, the Mayor chooses to spend money on hare-brained schemes that fail to deliver tangible benefits to our communities across the Capital.

The Mayor's office has become increasingly bloated under Khan's leadership.

Did you know he has nine Deputy Mayors, countless Press Officers, and ballooning costs for back-office staff who command sizeable salaries and costs?

It's creating a top-heavy structure that drains resources from essential services like our frontline police. This expanding hierarchy comes at a significant cost to London's taxpayers, yet the benefits remain unclear - the departure of the Night Czar late last year for example represented an investment of over a million pounds in a single position, and for no tangible boost to London's nightlife.

Even more troubling is the rapid growth of administrative costs at the Mayor's Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC).

While Khan repeatedly claims to prioritize public safety, MOPAC's office costs have increased at a higher rate than increases for front-line policing.

This imbalance is particularly concerning at a time when Londoners consistently rank crime and safety among........

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