Sadiq Khan chuckles at a petition urging against his knighthood, dismissing the challenge from a Tory councillor during a public event.
London: So, Sadiq Khan had a good laugh recently when a Tory councillor brought up a petition against him getting a knighthood. Can you believe it? Over 175,000 people signed it!
During a public Q&A session, the councillor, Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, asked Khan if he was a “knight-mare.” The crowd got a kick out of it, but the event chair quickly shut it down, saying it wasn’t relevant to the economy, which was the topic of the night.
When asked about the petition the next day, Khan shrugged it off, saying he’s too busy being the Mayor of London to worry about that stuff. He told everyone to wait for the official announcement from the Cabinet Office and the King in January.
Khan didn’t hold back when responding to the councillor’s jab. He pointed out that the Tories have been losing elections left and right, and he hopes it stays that way. It’s clear he’s not too worried about the petition.
The councillor also blamed Khan for the rising cost of living in London, saying council tax has shot up and businesses are closing. He even mentioned the Ulez expansion and housing issues, claiming only a tiny fraction of housing targets have been met.
Khan, with a cheeky grin, got the councillor to admit he lives in Harrow, suggesting that if he can afford it, others can too. He also reminded everyone that the councillor is a Conservative, which adds a bit of spice to the whole debate.
As for the housing situation, the mayor’s affordable homes program aims to kick off construction on nearly 24,000 new homes by 2026, but they’ve only started a small number so far. It’s a work in progress, for sure.
The event took place at Battersea Arts Centre, and they tried to keep the location under wraps to avoid disruptions. But, surprise surprise, someone still managed to cause a scene at the end, shouting about a group of protesters who had been fined for bothering Khan at his home.
It’s been quite the rollercoaster for Khan lately, but he seems to be handling it all with a sense of humor.