Sadiq Khan accused of 'political games' with Metropolitan Police over Uxbridge police station closure
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has been accused of playing "political games" with the Metropolitan Police after he stepped in to save an under-threat police station in Boris Johnson's old constituency, just weeks before a by-election in the area.
The closure of Uxbridge police station had become a major issue for voters in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, and the Labour party had been campaigning to keep it open.
In a letter to the Met Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, Khan said the station should remain open, citing the need for the police to retain more of their buildings to improve relationships with communities.
However, the Tory party claimed that Khan's intervention showed that Labour was "terrified" of losing the by-election, which was called after Johnson resigned over a scandal involving party financing.
Susan Hall, a Tory candidate for the London mayoralty, accused Khan of "using the Met Police as a toy" and "U-turning" only because of pressure on Labour's prospects in the by-election.
The by-election was held on July 20 and was won by the Labour candidate, Danny Beales.
In a letter to the Met Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, Khan said the station should remain open, citing the need for the police to retain more of their buildings to improve relationships with communities.
However, the Tory party claimed that Khan's intervention showed that Labour was "terrified" of losing the by-election, which was called after Johnson resigned over a scandal involving party financing.
Susan Hall, a Tory candidate for the London mayoralty, accused Khan of "using the Met Police as a toy" and "U-turning" only because of pressure on Labour's prospects in the by-election.
The by-election was held on July 20 and was won by the Labour candidate, Danny Beales.
