Sadiq Khan has come under fire after saying London’s biggest arms fair offends asylum seekers.
A spokesman for the Mayor said he was “completely opposed” to the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) and said it was “inappropriate” for the city to act as a market stall for weapons.
But his shocking intervention drew a furious response from Conservative Leader, Susan Hall, who accused him of ignoring Londoners.
She demanded: “Whose side are you on?” and warned the Mayor to “start looking after the majority” in a video blasting Khan on social media.
Ms Hall told the Express that she felt Londoners “were sick and tired of the Mayor posturing on stuff that’s nothing to do with him, when he’s failing to tackle crime and transport chaos at home.”
The criticism comes as RMT Union workers on the London Underground threaten strike action next week.
But Khan’s spokesman defended the Mayor saying: “The Mayor is completely opposed to this event taking place in London and is appalled that the capital is being used as a marketplace for those who wish to trade in weapons.
“The Mayor has previously written to both the organisers and ExCel, to remind them that London is home to thousands of people who have fled conflict and suffered as a result of weapons like those exhibited at this event, and continues to urge them to reconsider hosting the fair in London in the future.”
The DSEI event, due to run from September 9 to 12 at the ExCel Centre, is Britain’s biggest weapons fair.
Defence companies from all over the world come there every two years to show off their latest gear, with government and industry bosses striking deals worth billions.
Organisers insisted the show is vital for supporting allies such as Ukraine, where Western weapons are used to resist Russian aggression.
And industry insiders, speaking to the Mail, dismissed the Mayor as political grandstanding, warning that he’s ignoring the reality of the threats facing the west.