London Mayor Explains Undisclosed Venue for Public Q&A

An upcoming event, where the public can pose questions to the Mayor of London regarding his policies, will be held in-person for the first time since March 2023. However, its exact location will only be disclosed a few days before the scheduled date. Sadiq Khan is slated to attend People’s Question Time in Wandsworth on Thursday 12 December, with ticket holders receiving the address on Monday 9 December. The Greater London Authority (GLA) stated that this measure is intended to ensure the session can take place “safely and securely in-person for attendees and participants.” Conversely, the leader of the Conservatives at City Hall voiced opposition to these changes, claiming they were “clearly intended to chip away at public scrutiny.” People’s Question Time typically occurs approximately every six months in various London boroughs. Nevertheless, the two most recent sessions were conducted with heightened security at City Hall in east London, prompted by worries regarding the mayor’s safety. During these gatherings, the mayor and London assembly members respond to inquiries from the audience concerning policy domains under their purview, such as the city’s transport, policing, and housing. The event’s last occurrence outside City Hall was in March 2023 in Ealing. The subsequent session, initially planned for November 2023 in Westminster, was relocated to City Hall due to escalating concerns about the mayor’s security. The following session, scheduled for February 2024 in Richmond, was instead held virtually, preventing any in-person audience attendance. The mayor, instead, responded to questions remotely from his office via video link. Throughout his tenure as mayor, Khan has necessitated police protection and encountered death threats. In the revised version of his book, Breathe, he disclosed that during the peak of demonstrations concerning the ultra-low emissions zone expansion, he was sent a bullet through the mail. The GLA stated that the method for announcing the venue’s location was altered “for the benefit of all involved, following disruption at previous events.” Neil Garratt AM, who serves as the assembly member for Croydon and Sutton and leads the City Hall Conservatives, commented that although “reasonable security measures are prudent, we must not set up a process to vet or deter Londoners from seeing and challenging their mayor, nor make it difficult to attend by concealing the location.” He further remarked that Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson “faced tough questions as mayor, but neither shied away from their duty to be publicly accountable to Londoners and Sadiq should meet the same standard.” Garratt also stated: “He seemed to enjoy playing to the gallery when he thought people were all on his side, but now that people ask difficult questions about his track record, he wants to hide.” The website for ticket registration advises that individuals “considered to be a threat to good order” will be denied entry, and any acts of intimidation, assault on staff, aggressive behaviour, or offensive, threatening, or abusive language or gestures “will not be tolerated” and will result in police reporting. For more, tune into the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds, and connect with BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.