Labour conference: Sadiq Khan slams May over cuts to emergency services and backs Jeremy Corbyn

Tom Powell25 September 2017
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Sadiq Khan said Theresa May should be “utterly ashamed” of cuts to the “heroic” emergency services in a powerful speech at the Labour party conference.

The mayor of London used his talk to praise the response of the emergency services to terrorist attacks in the capital and the Grenfell Tower disaster.

He also voiced his support for Jeremy Corbyn – who he has clashed with in the past – by stating that only the Labour leader will give emergency service workers the pay rise “they properly deserve”.

Mr Khan highlighted £1 billion of real-terms cuts to Scotland Yard between 2010 and 2021, adding that police funding for counter-terrorism is set to fall by 7 per cent over the next three years.

He said: “Theresa May should be utterly ashamed of her record.”

He added: “This isn’t the 1990s, this is now. It’s like Back to the Future but it isn’t funny. Police stations have been closed and neighbourhood policing is under attack.

“The same goes for our fire service. The same story is true in our NHS, our transport and in every one of our national services.”

The mayor - who was initially denied a speech at the gathering in Brighton before a late change of plan - urged the Government to increase overall police funding in real terms at the Budget in November.

He said: "The Tories used to describe themselves as the party of law and order... well that sounds like a bad joke today. And frankly, as a former home secretary, Theresa May should be utterly ashamed of her record."

Labour leader Mr Corbyn was notably absent when Mr Khan was inaugurated as London mayor in 2016 and backed Owen Smith's leadership challenge.

But at the conference the mayor said: "We made huge progress in the general election and the credit for that goes to one person - the leader of our party - Jeremy Corbyn."

Comparing Mrs May's administration to the Conservative infighting at the end of Margaret Thatcher's rule, he said: "This all feels very familiar - a weak and divided Tory Government refusing to face up to the challenges ahead.

"Bickering and infighting over Europe putting our jobs and economy at risk. Chronic underinvestment in public services causing a crisis in our schools and hospitals. And crime on the rise. But conference, this isn't the 1990, this is now. It's like Back to the Future, but it isn't funny."

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