London Mayor Sadiq Khan appears to have signalled the start of the 2024 race for City Hall.
The mayor’s promised free school meals for all primary school children in the capital to continue if he wins a third mayoral term
Khan’s £140 million flagship policy promise has been echoed by his Conservative rival Susan Hall.
He says ensuring free school meals for youngsters in the capital is one of his proudest moments as mayor, helping parents struggling with the cost of living crisis. The mayor himself was a recipient of free school meals as a boy in Tooting.
It marks the countdown to May’s mayoral elections, which includes voters also electing London Assembly members.
The announcement came after a week of Tube strikes by the RMT union in a pay dispute was narrowly averted on Sunday after £30 million was found - but there’s been few straight answers so far on which financial kitty the money’s come from.
Now, there’s concerns that the pay-off could set a precedent for other union demands - with Aslef already balloting members on industrial action.
For the latest on May’s race for London mayor, we’re joined by the Standard’s City Hall editor, Ross Lydall.
Plus, local democracy reporter Noah Vickers questions Khan on both his free school meals funding and the mystery source of his strike-busting £30 million during the mayor’s visit to a Lewisham primary school.
Listen above, or wherever you find your podcasts.
