A heated exchange took place during a London Assembly committee meeting as Mayor Sadiq Khan faced tough questions over his decision to fund free school meals using money from the Greater London Authority’s reserves. The confrontation highlighted ongoing tensions between the Mayor and opposition assembly members ahead of the May 2024 mayoral election.

The Dispute Over Free School Meals Funding

The discussion centred on how the Mayor was able to announce funding for free school meals despite earlier claims that the GLA could not afford it. An assembly member pointed out that 85.7% of the funding had come from reserves that were already in place by December 2023.

She argued that this money had been available for some time and questioned why the Mayor had previously said he could not afford the policy, only to find the funds shortly before the election.

Accusations of Electioneering

The assembly member accused Khan of being dishonest with Londoners. She suggested that announcing the funding at this stage looked like a political move designed to win votes, comparing it to previous instances where he had proposed bus cuts only to later claim he had saved the routes.

She pressed the Mayor on transparency, asking whether it was fair to tell Londoners that he had no money while holding substantial reserves that could be used for popular policies at short notice.

Khan’s Defence

Mayor Khan pushed back, explaining that key government funding settlements for policing, local government, and Transport for London were only published in mid-December 2023. He said there had not been enough time to include the additional funding in the original consultation budget.

Sharp Personal Exchanges

The tone of the meeting became increasingly confrontational. The assembly member accused Khan of being “about as transparent as a brick wall” and claimed he had squirrelled away over £500 million to spend in an election year.

This exchange reflects the increasingly sharp political atmosphere in London as the mayoral election approaches. Free school meals have become a key battleground issue, with both sides seeking to present themselves as the more responsible stewards of public money.

While Khan maintains that he is stepping in to support families where central government has not, his opponents argue that the timing of the announcement raises questions about political motivation rather than genuine financial planning.

The debate is likely to continue in the run-up to polling day, with both the Mayor and his challengers using issues like free school meals, transport, and policing to appeal to voters.