Sadiq Khan accused of 'utter hypocrisy' after urging Londoners back into the office

The mayor told an lawsuit past week that London “cannot afford” to go a metropolis wherever “the centre has been hollowed out”, and warned companies to deliberation “very carefully” earlier deciding to trim their bureau space.

But the Tories accidental that Sir Sadiq has played his ain portion successful “hollowing out” London by relocating City Hall, successful 2021, from its purpose-built office adjacent Tower Bridge to a smaller premises successful the Royal Docks. The determination was taken arsenic a cost-cutting measure, with the mayor’s squad saying it volition prevention the Greater London Authority (GLA) £58m implicit 5 years.

However, the existent office cannot accommodate each unit astatine the aforesaid time, meaning that City Hall employees typically walk 2 oregon adjacent 3 days a week distant from the bureau - an statement defended by Sir Sadiq’s squad arsenic being bully for unit “productivity and well-being”.

Speaking astatine an lawsuit hosted by the consultancy steadfast Project Leaders past week, the politician said helium was acrophobic astir young graduates who, owed to their deficiency of office-working, whitethorn neglect to onslaught up connections with their colleagues, oregon get definite skills successful their archetypal jobs.

In a connection to the capital’s concern community, Sir Sadiq urged employers to promote their unit backmost into the office, though helium besides suggested companies should find ways to marque the bureau situation much charismatic for workers successful the archetypal place.

Neil Garratt, person of City Hall Conservatives, said: “If he’s moaning astir businesses successful London not getting radical backmost successful the office, possibly helium should explicate wherefore he’s sticking with his program of having astir of his ain City Hall unit working from home astir of the time.”

Tory assembly subordinate Susan Hall, who stood against Sir Sadiq successful past year’s mayoral election, called him an “utter hypocrite” and said his remarks past week were “another lawsuit of bash arsenic I say, not arsenic I do”.

A GLA spokesperson said: “The determination to the caller City Hall is redeeming £58m implicit 5 years to put successful captious services and stimulate economical maturation crossed the capital. The caller gathering is proving to beryllium hugely fashionable with some unit and Londoners - and a engaged and vibrant location for London government.

“The politician believes that flexible moving is important for galore workers, concern and organisations and of people determination are advantages to location working, but spending clip successful the workplace and engaging face-to-face with colleagues is besides important – not lone for idiosyncratic improvement and teamwork, but to marque the astir of each the civilization and leisure facilities our large metropolis has to offer.”