Why George Osborne thinks Zac Goldsmith, not Sadiq Khan, can deliver the best deal for London
George Osborne has urged Londoners to vote for fellow Conservative Zac Goldsmith in the London mayoral election on Thursday to help the government deliver “the best possible deal for London”.
Writing in Morning Wire, the chancellor said he wants a mayor “who wants to work with me to get things done” and questioned what sort of a relationship Labour's candidate Sadiq Khan could have with the government.
Osborne said: “You cannot deliver for London if you’re not prepared to talk to the Conservative government.”
He also questioned the pro-business credentials of Khan and his pledge to freeze Transport for London (TfL) fares.
Read more: Zac Goldsmith seems to have found his mojo: But is it too late?
Osborne added: “I’ve seen his manifesto, and I know he’s proposing to blow a £1.9bn black hole in TfL’s finances. This will mean either scrapping vital investment on our tube and buses, or hitting Londoners with higher council tax. That’s just not an agenda I’m prepared to sign up to.”
The chancellor also backed Goldsmith to secure half-a-million new jobs for the capital, adding: “Government and mayor have got to pull together so we can build the homes that London needs, create the jobs Londoners want, invest in transport Londoners use, and back our police to keep London safe. Zac has a fully-funded plan to do just that.”
On Tuesday night, Goldsmith began a 24-hour tour to raise the importance of London's night-time economy, visiting early morning food markets, a supermarket delivery hub, a railway depot as well as other businesses.
Read more: Who would be better for business, Zac Goldsmith or Sadiq Khan?
The tour began with Goldsmith sharing a stage with Prime Minister David Cameron and current London mayor Boris Johnson.
Cameron said: “Only Zac can secure the success we’ve seen under Boris over the last eight years. His action plan will deliver for all Londoners – the houses you want, the transport you need, the safer streets and greener environment we all want. And he’ll protect family finances by freezing mayoral council tax. This election really matters – it’s a clear choice and it’s in your hands. If Zac wins, London wins.”