• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS

Tories attack Khan over vow to use Mayor’s office to promote union membership

January 13, 2016 by Martin Hoscik

sadiq_conferenceSadiq Khan’s unions links have come under renewed attack by London Tories after it emerged that he’s promised to use taxpayer money and resources “to promote” union membership.

The Labour mayoral hopeful made the pledge during last summer’s contest to pick a Labour mayoral candidate.

In a pitch designed to secure the backing of the Unison union, Mr Khan said he would “work with trade unions to promote workers’ rights and union membership by establishing a dedicated team in my office.”

The pledge was part of a wider commitment to campaign for workplace rights, including promoting the London Living Wage, and to oppose “Tory government cuts” in local government and the NHS.

However London MP Bob Neill says plans to use the Mayor’s office to promote union membership “raises serious questions about the undue influence unions would have” over a Khan administration.

Earlier this week Mr Khan declined to condemn a series of strikes planned by Tube unions in their ongoing row over the introduction of the Night Tube service.

Neill, a former minister and London Assembly member, said delivering on Khan’s vow would “would bring the unions into the heart of decision making at City Hall meaning no night tube and agreement to union demands for more money.
 
“Just like the hard-left has infiltrated Labour, Khan will bring the unions into City Hall – and Londoners will pay the price.”

His comments come just days after outgoing mayor Boris Johnson branded Khan “a tool” of the Tube unions, some of which have backed his mayoral bid.

Asked to comment on his pledge, a spokesperson for Mr Khan’s campaign said: “The evidence shows there have been more than twice as many strikes under the Tory Mayor than during the previous eight years.

“The Tories are more interested in using strikes as a political football than helping Londoners avoid disruption by stopping strikes – and it will be exactly the same under Zac Goldsmith.”

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Filed Under: 2016 London Elections Tagged With: 2016 London Elections

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

Copyright © 2025 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy