Sadiq Khan has been branded a “walking disaster” by the Conservative candidate for this year’s London mayoral election.
And Susan Hall argued instead of virtue-signalling, whoever emerged triumphant in the spring needed to “roll their sleeves up” and get on with the job.
Ms Hall tore into the Labour incumbent after the New Year’s Eve fireworks display, which was teed up with a large illuminated sign proclaiming: “The Mayor of London presents…”
Some critics were also unimpressed by Mr Khan’s social media posts during the event, which referenced subjects including climate change and the legalisation of same-sex marriage a decade ago, with Brexiteer Paul Embery suggesting they had politicised the event.
Ms Hall, a member of the London Assembly, was in no doubt about what she called Mr Khan’s “virtue-signalling”.
She said: “Everything he does is about himself.
“He’s always on an ego trip. Some of these tweets are going on about, ‘we need to breathe in clean air etc’.”
Speaking the day after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Primrose Hill just minutes before midnight on New Year’s Eve, she continued: “He completely ignores the fact that crime is in such a state in London.”
Ms Hall, a fierce critic of the Mayor’s ULEZ scheme, added: “The man is a walking disaster quite frankly and I think he’s getting ever more desperate because he knows Londoners are sick to death of him and want a change.
“London deserves better and please God they get that on May 2.
“We need somebody to roll their sleeves up and get things sorted, which is exactly what I want to do.”
Prior to the start of the display, Mr Khan posted: “As the sun sets on 2023, I am humbled by the things we’ve achieved together. It’s my privilege to be Mayor of this incredible city.”
He followed that up with another in which he said: “As this year draws to a close, there’s no better time to reflect on some of the things we have achieved together for our great city, and for generations of Londoners to come.”
In response to the various criticism, a spokeswoman for the Mayor of London’s Office told Express.co.uk: “The Mayor was delighted that Londoners and visitors to the capital joined together on the banks of the River Thames to welcome in the new year with our best ever celebration.
“Tens of millions from around the world also watched our unique show, which brought together fireworks, drones, lighting and music to celebrate the New Year and remember key moments in 2023.
“The Mayor is proud to have sent a message of unity – showing why London is the greatest city in the world.”
Mr Khan has been London Mayor since 2016, taking 56.8 percent of the vote in the process, and beating Tory Zac Goldsmith, on 43.2 percent.
In 2021, in an poll which had been postponed from a year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, he was re-elected, taking 55.2 percent of the vote, ahead of Tory Shaun Bailey, on 44.8 percent.
However, the issue of ULEZ, rolled out across the capital in August, is widely tipped to make this year’s contest a more competitive one.
