Conservative assembly members slam Sadiq Khan for linked ULEZ protests to Nazis reports Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter

Sadiq Khan responds to Conservative assembly members – (Credit – London Assembly)

A row over comments made by London mayor Sadiq Khan about some Ulez protesters being “in coalition with the far right” resurfaced at a public meeting this week.

The Labour mayor was criticised by Conservative opponents at a People’s Question Time event in Ealing Town Hall earlier this month, after he said that some people outside the meeting – who were protesting his planned expansion of the Ultra low emission zone (Ulez) – were “joining hands with some of those outside, who are part of a far right group”.

Several of the protesters outside the town hall could be seen citing conspiracy theories about an “end of free movement” as a result of schemes like Ulez and a “UN agenda”. Other signs depicted the mayor with both a swastika and a hammer-and-sickle symbol.

When the mayor said that some of the protesters had “good reasons to oppose Ulez” but were “in coalition with the far right”, it sparked an angry backlash from much of the event’s audience.

The argument came up again this week after Conservative assembly member Nick Rogers said to the Mayor at a Thursday meeting: “[It’s] three weeks on now from People’s Question Time, hopefully you’ve had time to reflect.

“Do you now regret saying that those Londoners who are opposed to Ulez expansion are ‘in coalition with the far right’?”

The mayor replied: “That’s not what I said, what I said was quite clear… and I stand by what I saw.

“I’m surprised if anybody thinks a swastika isn’t far right. Anybody holding banners up with a swastika should be considered far right.

“There were people outside Ealing Town Hall, with banners with a swastika [on them] and I would hope the [Assembly] member would condemn that unequivocally.”

Nick Rogers responded: “You said those Londoners opposed to Ulez expansion are ‘in coalition with the far right’.

“I’m deeply disappointed that you think such inflammatory and demeaning language, directed at Londoners, directed at our constituents, is appropriate – will you apologise?”

The mayor said: “I gave an invitation to the member to condemn the Nazis. He refused to do so…

“I find it astonishing, the resistance to condemn the far right, who are latching onto genuine Londoners with concerns about Ulez, including genuine members of the Tory party, and they’re latching onto this campaign, as they often do.

“I don’t understand why they won’t condemn these far right racists.”

Nick Rogers repeated: “It’s deeply disappointing that you think this sort of language is appropriate.”

Later in the meeting, Labour AM Len Duvall brought the topic up again, when he said that he too could not understand why Conservative AMs were refusing to “condemn those small elements that are part of the campaign against Ulez, that is about you, that target you personally because you’re a Muslim, target you because they don’t like you.”

The mayor agreed, saying that the Conservatives were using “the same misinformation to give the impression I’m saying everyone who opposes Ulez is somehow part of the far right. That’s not what I said.”

In response, Susan Hall – Conservative group leader on the assembly – reminded the meeting that the session they were at, Mayor’s Question Time, was about holding the mayor to account.

She added: “I’d like to put this on record, Mr Mayor. We don’t dislike you. We actually don’t think you’re a very capable mayor.

“That’s why we ask you difficult questions and are continually appalled that you don’t know the answers…

“I think actually having a go at your colleagues is not fitting for where we are today, and I’m very offended, may I say, by some of those comments.”

Referring to the assembly member’s allocated minute of speaking time, Mr Khan replied: “One minute and no condemnation of the Nazis or the far right. There you go.”

Susan Hall later clarified that the Assembly’s Conservative group “clearly condemns the Nazis and the far right”.

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