Police station saved amid by-election battle in Boris Johnson’s previous seat
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n under-threat police station in Boris Johnson’s previous constituency is ready to stay open, after London Mayor Sadiq Khan intervened to reserve it weeks earlier than a crunch by-election.
Local campaigners have lengthy opposed the potential closure of the police station, with the previous prime minister utilizing a uncommon Commons look final November to lift the problem on behalf of his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituents.
Mr Khan, in a letter to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, mentioned that the station ought to now stay open.
The Labour native politician mentioned that he had listened to the issues of native residents and that it was in the very best pursuits of the neighborhood for the station to stay open.
He mentioned that there was a “strong” case for retaining stations throughout London, after the extremely important overview of the Met by Baroness Louise Casey.
Mr Khan mentioned: “Huge Government cuts over the last decade have forced the Met to make extremely difficult decisions about where they allocate resources.
“I’m proud that thanks to our extra investment from City Hall we’re once again restoring neighbourhood policing to our local communities.
“And I’ve also been listening to local residents and campaigners in places like Uxbridge who have been telling me how having a local police station in their area makes them feel much safer.
“As we continue to rebuild neighbourhood policing and restore confidence after the Casey Review, I’ve written to the Met Commissioner saying that the case for now retaining more police station sites across the capital is strong, and would be an important part of our work ensuring the force delivers everything that Londoners need and expect.”
Both Labour and the Conservatives are campaigning within the constituency forward of polling day on July 20, after Mr Johnson stop the Commons.
Sir Keir Starmer’s get together, properly forward of the Tories within the ballot, is believed to be assured Labour can take the seat.
Labour’s candidate Danny Beales mentioned he was “delighted” with the choice.
“Today’s success clearly shows what we can achieve when we work together.
“This is just the start of what I want to deliver as a strong, local voice for the people of Uxbridge & South Ruislip,” he mentioned.
The Conservative candidate for Mr Johnson’s previous seat is Steve Tuckwell.
Susan Hall, who’s working to grow to be the Tory mayoral candidate in London, accused Mr Khan of u-turning and taking part in “political games” with the Met.
“The Met Police is not a toy that Sadiq Khan can use for his political games,” she mentioned.
“Residents in Uxbridge are seriously concerned about his appalling decision to close the station, and he has now u-turned only because his disastrous Ulez expansion is threatening Labour’s prospects of winning the by-election.”