London Assembly Member Susan Hall has launched a scathing attack on Mayor Sadiq Khan, accusing him of being "very dismissive" in his responses about grooming gangs in the capital.
Speaking to GB News, Hall criticised Khan's handling of her questions during Thursday's Mayor's Question Time.
"Most Londoners want to know, have we got these grooming gangs in London? My job as an Assembly member is to scrutinise the Mayor and ask him questions. And as usual, he was very dismissive and he didn't want to answer," she said.
The former Tory mayoral candidate made nine successive attempts to question Khan about whether such gangs were operating in London.
"He just gets away with it," Hall told GB News, expressing frustration at what she described as Khan's evasive responses.
During Mayor's Question Time, Hall repeatedly pressed Khan about the existence of "rape gangs" that prey on girls and young women.
Khan consistently asked Hall to clarify what she meant by grooming gangs, stating: "I'm not clear what she means."
"I'm talking about rape gangs. I'm not talking about [county] lines," Hall specified, referencing cases in Rotherham and Bradford.
Hall revealed she had previously raised the issue at a budget meeting, where Khan also refused to provide answers.
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"I asked him last week in a budget meeting, and he wouldn't answer then either," she told GB News.
She suggested media reluctance had contributed to the issue, though praised journalist Charlie Peters for his coverage.
Hall claimed Khan's tactics typically involved deflecting criticism through accusations of racism.
"If he was expecting me to say what everybody thinks he was, he would then scream racist at me, because that's what he's used to doing," she said.
She referenced campaign leaflets that had been distributed across London with "racist" written across her face.
"Up until now, the way Labour get rid of right wing or those of us on the right of centre, is to accuse us of being racist," Hall stated.
Hall warned that London faces significant policing challenges under Khan's leadership. "We're going to lose at least 1,800 police off our streets. We can't afford to do that," she said.
She emphasised Khan's responsibility as police and crime commissioner for London's nine million residents. "He should damn well answer the questions that are put to him," Hall stated firmly.
The Assembly Member called for a change in political discourse, saying, "we've all had enough of this now."
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Speaking to GB News, Hall criticised Khan's handling of her questions during Thursday's Mayor's Question Time.
"Most Londoners want to know, have we got these grooming gangs in London? My job as an Assembly member is to scrutinise the Mayor and ask him questions. And as usual, he was very dismissive and he didn't want to answer," she said.
The former Tory mayoral candidate made nine successive attempts to question Khan about whether such gangs were operating in London.
"He just gets away with it," Hall told GB News, expressing frustration at what she described as Khan's evasive responses.
During Mayor's Question Time, Hall repeatedly pressed Khan about the existence of "rape gangs" that prey on girls and young women.
Khan consistently asked Hall to clarify what she meant by grooming gangs, stating: "I'm not clear what she means."
"I'm talking about rape gangs. I'm not talking about [county] lines," Hall specified, referencing cases in Rotherham and Bradford.
Hall revealed she had previously raised the issue at a budget meeting, where Khan also refused to provide answers.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
"I asked him last week in a budget meeting, and he wouldn't answer then either," she told GB News.
She suggested media reluctance had contributed to the issue, though praised journalist Charlie Peters for his coverage.
Hall claimed Khan's tactics typically involved deflecting criticism through accusations of racism.
"If he was expecting me to say what everybody thinks he was, he would then scream racist at me, because that's what he's used to doing," she said.
She referenced campaign leaflets that had been distributed across London with "racist" written across her face.
"Up until now, the way Labour get rid of right wing or those of us on the right of centre, is to accuse us of being racist," Hall stated.
Hall warned that London faces significant policing challenges under Khan's leadership. "We're going to lose at least 1,800 police off our streets. We can't afford to do that," she said.
She emphasised Khan's responsibility as police and crime commissioner for London's nine million residents. "He should damn well answer the questions that are put to him," Hall stated firmly.
The Assembly Member called for a change in political discourse, saying, "we've all had enough of this now."
Find Out More...