City Hall Conservatives Accuse Mayor Of London Of Abdicating Duty During Tube Strikes.

City Hall Conservatives have accused Mayor Sadiq Khan of abdicating his fundamental duty to London during the capital’s worst transport crisis in years, with the Mayor maintaining a conspicuous silence while millions of commuters suffer through devastating Underground strikes.

As the five-day RMT strike action paralyses London from 7th to 11th September, bringing chaos to the transport network that affects millions of commuters, businesses, and visitors, Mayor Khan has been notably absent from public discourse on the crisis – despite being quick to weigh in on other issues, including his vocal opposition to the DSEI defence industry fair taking place at the ExCel this week.

The contrast is stark: while Khan readily offers commentary on international arms fairs and other political causes, he has said nothing publicly about the transport strikes that are crippling the city he was elected to lead. This deafening silence comes as the 149th strike to occur under his leadership since taking office in 2016 on a pledge of “zero strikes.”

City Hall Conservatives argue that Khan’s absence demonstrates a complete failure of leadership during a critical moment when London needs decisive action. The Mayor’s silence is particularly galling given his administration handed £30 million to the unions in 2024 in a failed attempt to prevent industrial action, followed by the Labour Government providing a further £30 million later that year – taxpayer funds that have clearly failed to resolve the underlying issues and left the Unions feeling that if they threaten to hold the City to ransom, they’ll be rewarded financially. 

Keith Prince AM, City Hall Conservatives Transport Spokesman, said:

“Where is Sadiq Khan? While millions of Londoners suffer through transport chaos, our Mayor has gone missing in action. He can find time to comment on arms fairs and international issues, but when it comes to the transport strikes bringing misery to his own city, Khan is nowhere to be seen.

“This is a complete abdication of duty. The Mayor’s deafening silence while London grinds to a halt shows he has completely lost control of the situation. If Khan can’t even be bothered to speak up during the worst transport crisis in years, what exactly is he doing as Mayor? Londoners deserve leadership, not empty silence from City Hall.

“Khan’s refusal to engage publicly with this crisis, despite his willingness to grandstand on other issues, shows his priorities are completely wrong. He should be leading from the front, not hiding away while the city he’s supposed to serve grinds to a halt.”

The Conservative group warns that Khan’s invisibility during the crisis undermines confidence in London’s leadership at a time when the capital’s economic performance is already under pressure. With events cancelled, including Coldplay’s September concerts, and bond market fears pushing borrowing costs to decades-long highs, the Mayor’s absence sends entirely the wrong message about London’s ability to manage its affairs.

The strikes represent the latest failure in Khan’s transport leadership, with his pattern of capitulation to union demands – backed by over £60 million in taxpayer payouts – creating an expectation that disruptive action will be rewarded rather than resolved through proper leadership.

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