Ulez hecklers force Khan to move mayoral Q&A online

SADIQ KHAN has moved his mayoral question time online citing safety concerns after he was heckled by anti-ulez protesters at a previous event.

City Hall said behaviour at the last People’s Question Time (PQT) was “threatening” and put the safety of participants at risk.

The mayor was heckled on Nov 9 by audience members opposed to his expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) to all London boroughs.

Some were threatened with being kicked out of the event if they continued heckling but none were removed.

Mr Khan has now come in for criticism from Conservatives after announcing the upcoming session on Feb 29, nine weeks before the mayoral election, will not have an in-person audience.

A spokesman for the Greater London Authority said: “Unacceptable behaviour at the last PQT meeting disrupted the event and put the safety of all those attending and staffing the event at risk.

“People’s Question Time is a key opportunity for Londoners to engage directly with the mayor and London Assembly members to discuss the issues they care about, in a safe environment.

“The decision has therefore been taken to host February’s PQT online, allowing the event to go ahead safely so that Londoners can pose their questions to the mayor and assembly members.”

Neil Garratt, the leader of the Conservative group on the assembly, accused the mayor of hiding online.

“Sadiq Khan is running scared of scrutiny,” Mr Garratt told the BBC. “Twice in January he announced policies straight after London Assembly meetings because he knew his halfbaked plans would not stand up to our questioning.

“Now he’s dodging Londoners’ questions as well, banning the people from People’s Question Time so he can hide online.

PQT is held twice annually, and allows members of the public to ask the mayor and members of the London Assembly questions about issues such as transport, policing and housing.

‘Sadiq Khan is running scared… He knew his half-baked plans would not stand up to questioning’