Under-pressure Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was last night booed after enjoying his latest freebie – this time to the NME Awards – on the eve of the Tube’s latest crippling transport strikes.
Mr Khan, who is chair of TfL, was heckled as he took to the stage over the chaos happening under his watch this week on the transport network.
It prompted utter disbelief from London commuters, who questioned why he had chosen to rub shoulders with celebrities when he could have been negotiating with striking union bosses.
Around 10,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union have walked out in a row over jobs, pensions and conditions.
Mr Khan – who promised ‘zero days of strikes’ when he ran for Mayor – had been invited to the O2 Academy Brixton event to present a prize for Best Solo Act From the UK.
It is not known how he travelled to the ceremony, but he does live in nearby Tooting.
On taking to the stage he was booed but went on to reference the partygate scandal, telling the audience ‘This is how you have a safe and legal party’.
Later punk-grime duo Bob Vylan, who were there to present the award for Best Festival in the UK, spoke for most in London on stage when they said: ‘Sadiq Khan is in the house you know? Sadiq you need to sort these trains out.
‘Do you understand? You have to keep this city moving bro because people need to get to work you understand? Come on we’ve gotta do better.’
Londoners greeted news of his appearance hours before RMT’s latest strikes with disappointment.
Adam Carradus wrote on his public Twitter page: ‘Nice to completely miss the mark and have Sadiq Khan at the NME awards f**ting around and trying to take the p** out of Boris Johnson’s party at a party, when he could be sorting out the tube strike mess.
Mr Khan on stage at the NME Awards where he was booed after the strikes ravaging London
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and YouTuber and journalist Amelia Dimoldenberg at the awards
Commuters look for alternative transport at Victoria Station as the second day of strike action in a week by RMT members
Commuters told how Mr Khan had been booed at the ceremony held in Brixton last night
‘Instead people who have to work in the morning get sc***** over by strike.’
Greenapplelondon tweeted: ‘NME awards tonight was painful.
‘Best part was when Sadiq Khan got huge boos.’
Josh added: ‘Sadiq Khan actually presented an award and everyone booed him lol.’
Mr Khan has come under criticism over the number of freebies he has enjoyed as Mayor.
On February 19 he was pictured watching Liverpool beat Norwich 3-1 at Anfield.
Hours later, he was seen watching the blockbuster welterweight bout between Amir Khan and Kell Brook at the AO Arena in Manchester.
Sadiq Khan at the AO Arena, Manchester, watching Amir Khan take on Kell Brook at the boxing
Mr Khan watching from the stands during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Norwich City at Anfield on February 19
The six months of freebies enjoyed by Mr Khan, which included Euros tickets and Wimbledon
It came after MailOnline revealed Mr Khan scored 34 free tickets in just six months to some of the capital’s most prestigious events, worth over £17,000.
His office insisted at the time: ‘As Mayor of a host city for the Euros, Sadiq had an important role attending the tournament and welcoming key stakeholders from around the world to Wembley.
‘It is absolutely right that the Mayor is a champion of the capital’s creative and sporting sectors.
‘They have been devastated by the pandemic and it is a key part of the job of the Mayor to attend a range of events to support these vital sectors and the economic recovery of our city.’
Commuters cram onto a bus at Liverpool Street station this morning as London continues to be crippled by the tube strike
Commuters at Paddington Station in London during a strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT)
Commuters board buses outside Stratford tube station in London, as services remain disrupted following a strike by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on Thursday
Commuters raged at TfL over a lack of buses this morning as thousands faced another nightmare journey to work in a third day of disruption on the Tube.
Picket lines were mounted outside Tube stations and the union said its members were solidly supporting the industrial action.
Almost all London Underground lines were completely suspended as of around 7am on Thursday morning, with only the Central line running a partial service. The Docklands Light Railway was also part-suspended and the London Overground was operating a reduced service, according to Transport for London’s website.
In a blow to fed-up travellers, it emerged yesterday that there had been no last-minute talks between TfL or the RMT to delay the walkout, while further knock-on disruption is expected again tomorrow, even though no official strike action is scheduled.
There were huge queues at bus and taxi ranks this morning as people switched to other forms of public transport to get to work – though there was some at least some respite in that Thursday did not bring pouring rain as was seen on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Commentators suggested awareness of this week’s action was possibly the lowest seen in recent years, despite TfL’s efforts to communicate via the usual channels. Hybrid working and media focus on the war in Ukraine were suggested as reasons why news of the strike did not ‘cut through’.
