The Mayor’s Budget for 2025-26

By the standards of capical cities London has fallen behind many around the world . Sorry i don't want to come off very rude but for gods sake Jakarta which is a country in asia has overtaken UK. Istanbul as well. Even African cities are catching up with Cairo, lagos, Nairobi and Joburg not far off. Lol by the end of SK mayorship they probably definitely be better than us in every way shape or form . We will be the laughing stock of the world

While surveys and consultations are useful for gauging public sentiment and gathering data, they alone will not resolve the systemic issues we face. Without implementing significant structural reforms, the situation will continue to worsen, I suspect.

Neoliberal policies have demonstrably failed, as even institutions like the IMF have begun to question their efficacy. That said, addressing this failure is beyond the remit of the Mayor of London. However, there are critical issues within the Mayor's control (at least to some degree) that demand urgent action, particularly housing.

Housing is a fundamental concern for most Londoners, yet progress remains slow, regardless of the administration's political affiliation. The need for affordable housing is pressing. London should consider adopting a housing model similar to Austria's, where rents are regulated to ensure that no household spends more than 20-25% of its income on housing. In stark contrast, Londoners are often spending between 50% and 100% of their income on rent. Last I read, the average rent in London was £3000 - this is simply not sustainable.

Solutions exist, and it's really the time to act. Measures like rent control, expanded social housing, and tenant protections must be prioritized. Organizations like the London Renters Union are already advocating for these changes, and I encourage more to look into their proposals and try to support their efforts by becoming members if possible. Structural change starts with collective action.

1. The Justice System needs an entire overall and keep these murders, rapists & paedophiles (Sorry you MPs) in prison and find alternative ways to punish financial crime, offending emails and protesters. Thank you Mayor for giving these criminals electric bikes to roam the city!
2. 3 men followed a woman and raped her multiple times with violence - 1 got a few months, the other 2 years and 1, 5 years out in 2. What's wrong with our society that this can happen???
3. Whilst I have nothing against legal immigrants, why do we put legal and illegal immigrants before your own people??? - We have families of 4,5,6 in 1 bedroom flats for gods sake.
4. There are enough derelict / poor condition / empty properties that could easily relieve the strain with housing but this is totally ignored by Govt., the Councils and the Mayor - Are we completely stupid!
5. Why is the tube system dangerous - Euston tube last week was dangerously overcrowded and aggressive - Too many issues on the lines, too many closures the weekend, stations closed as no staff and for gods sake sort out your signals.
6. When someone gets arrested for stabbing someone with a knife why do I hear that they have been arrested for suspected affray or GBH - If you start on the right foot we may get there
7. Mark Rowley states that the budget will result with 2300 experienced police going and every single day police are in the files for dismissal for matters ranging from dishonesty to rape to  paedophile offences. Rank and File believe that termination or early retirement is good enough.???
8. Changing line names is all well and good in your own mind but please sort out your priorities first. 

Why is london falling behind every other city in every area. It should be the best city in Europe. It once was, but not anymore. Reached its pinnacle in the 2012 olympics. Since then, there's been a steep downhill in London in every aspect. This is why everyone's moving to Manchester. GROWTH FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!

Tbh i think  the mayors got a very hard job in where to alocate for. 

FOR YOUNG PEOPLE:

1. More growth
2. Urgent housing
3. Better transport

FOR ELDERLY:

1. Greener infrastricture
2. Crime
3. Transport

I think we do not celebrate what works and is working, always too quick to complain. We also do not learn from other countries, so why aren't all new builds sustainable, with recycled e.g. water, solar panels installed in all new and exisiting buildings. Why are commercial properties in the cities so beautiful but sky rises in e.g. Lewisham lacking beauty and sustainability? I think developers are greedy and not encouraged to do the best for the customers.

London has the best transport and I hope this continues for ever! Also lots of parks and green spaces, some hardly used.

Encourage those with gardens to give their space to neighbours if they are not interested in gardening, waiting list for allotments yet so MUCH unused green space and gardens.

There is the need for more open spaces and other areas for young children to spend time in, rather than in some kind of gang. And also something has to be done about these beggars who come up to you and hassle you for money, especially in the centre of London. They are put there by gangs of immigrants

I live in Tottenham the high road as to much crime and homelessness is to much this needs addressing, the area as to many junk food outlets and betting shops which is fueling crime in the area. The only time you see police in the area is on match days which is shocking

The mayors idea of housing is to create HUGE tower blocks in suburban areas with flats only big enough to house 1-2 people. Reinvesting in central London and demanding that empty homes homes cannot remain empty is the way to go. Also, STOP ALLOW MORE AND MORE GIANT EMPTY OFFICE BLOCKS TO BE BUILT!

Houses for local people,  not for those who just arrived in the country and contribute nothing

As a Croydon resident, I am greatly concerned by the level of homelessness in the area and the existence of large, empty office blocks. Whilst I am sure there are arguments against converting these buildings to homes, I am sure that many could be used albeit on a temporary basis to house a large number of people who are in desperate need.

Whenever I move about the city, whether walking, cycling, driving or using a bus, one of the main things I notice is the rapidly deteriorating quality of the roads and pavements. 

The main roads which, thanks to the closure of many minor routes, now take the vast bulk of traffic seem to have become a playground for utility companies intent on constantly digging another new hole. This creates traffic hold-ups, and the potholes caused by shoddy repair work make bus journeys in particular unpleasant, and sometimes downright dangerous. 

The pavements in our area are poor, with numerous uneven sections and raised slabs that present one trip hazard after another. This is odd given that we're meant to be encouraging people to walk. 

I would suggest that the Mayor and his team seriously focus on the admittedly dull (but hugely important task) of properly maintaining and improving the city's basic infrastructure – it has a daily impact on people's lives.   

More efforts to curb through traffic and rat runs around Greenwich, the introduction of road pricing with exemptions.

We should give more priority to pedestrians and cyclists, with instant traffic light changes for pedestrian crossings rather than waiting several minutes next to polluted roads for access to train stations and cycle routes.  Updating/maintaining of cycle route signage is lacking.

Modernising the DLR at Cutty Sark Gardens. This is a disgrace to our incoming tourism industry and to local residents and workers. Lifts tiny, stairs ancient, dangerous, impossible for the elderly and disabled and those with breathing issues, and overcrowded with escalators more often out of action than in.  The confirmation of a new franchise for the spring of 2025 to current operators is not a good sign, as the current state of play is a local joke and embarrassment in front of international visitors.

Urgent action is needed to regain the purpose and quality of London's many High Streets (and Nationally), to make them an attraction, not a deterrent for an area.

Too many new shops:

• Have shopfronts that are aesthetically devastating to a High Street.
• Add to the National obesity / ill heath epidemic. 
• Are evidently a front for money laundering. 

The 'Vacant to Vibrant' scheme in Belfast is a possible solution to Point 1, with matched contribution grants and dedicated expertise from the 'Town Architect', available to places wishing to upgrade their premises. If not this, a stricter input / approval process should be implemented by Councils, on a shop-by-shop basis. 

For Point 2, more widespread action is needed from the Government, but suggest a scaled business rate / tax system could be in place, with a premium to be paid by those shops creating the ill-health problem, and very preferential rates / taxes / grants to the remaining shops that will reinvigorate the High Street. It must be much harder for fast food franchises taking up 90%+ of the Street, and they must be held to account for the cost they cause in the future. 

Point 3, is one for an expert.....

Requests have been made to the Parliament, House of Lords, White House, police, and the European Court of Human Rights to investigate the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for alleged hate crimes and the dissemination of disinformation against President Elect Trump after Mr. Khans accusations of "racism, sexism, misogyny, and homophobia" against Mr. Trump.

These accusations have also been seen as insults to 75 million Americans who voted for president Trump,  including Muslims, Latinos, Jews, Africans, and other non-white voters.

Mr. Khan's accusations of racism against Mr. Trump are disinformation because Mr. Trump nominated a Black man for the position of Secretary of Housing  and Kash Patel, Indian Hindu, for FBI Director, Vivek Ramaswamy, a non-white person of Indian origin and practicing Hindu, to a significant role.

In reality, it Mr. Khan's office has exhibited intolerance and racism towards white Londoners with the statement "White people do not represent Londoners" whereas Mr. Trump has not made any statements claiming that Muslims or Black people do not represent America.

In fact, it is Mr. Khan who has implemented anti-British policies because he has banned the display of British flag logos at London cabs while allowing the display of dangerous Islamic preacher at London transport. 

Mr. Khan's claims that Mr. Trump is a misogynist are also another disinformation, considering the record number of women who served in Congress in 2019 during Mr. Trump's final term. Mr. Khan's accusations of misogyny are false because Mr. Trump has appointed more than ten women to his future cabinet 2025, including a Hindu woman as the Head of US Intelligence and Pam Bondi as the Florida Attorney General.

Mr. Khan, with his hateful rhetoric against Mr. Trump does NOT represents British people. America is our biggest alley and insulting President Elect Trump is the direct insult to the 75 millions of Americans who voted for him. Mr. Khan should apologise to Mr. Trump for his hateful lies

There was no mention of health improvements. It has long been documented that poor health and deprivation (pollution and lack of nutritious diet) can lead to increased criminal behaviours. Seems little point throwing money at the end result without doing anything to avoid anxiety, depression and poor behaviours that can be mitigated by improving the diet of those suffering.

My tuppence worth: Many of us love London and all it offers and stands for but!
There is an issue around happiness, it might sound daft but it is real and might even be an elephant in the room 'of London'. How do we measure our quality/well being of life; by our bank accounts, by the air quality, safety, cost of living is a factor etc. However a lot of Londoner's operate on a lower level of existence than many a professional well paid or medium paid Londoner. The Mayor's budget "draft" at the moment, will be welcome, but we've had the government's budget a couple of months ago, I didn't see the level of happiness go up after that. The happiness factor needs a different approach and it is important how we feel about our lives not only based on what the government, the mayor or councils can do for us or for that matter how our football team is doing. Many lives, too many lives seemed to be precariously based on a series of external factors that hopefully won't fall apart and I would want them to. But! there is something more to know, learn and feel within ourselves; tackle that and we could see London be a beacon, if we don't the same thing ie 'something's not quite right' will keep repeating itself eg more laws will be passed to deal with this, that and the other. There is a solution closer to us than we realise, it's not a magic bullet of course but it could make a sizeable difference if we or the Mayor and his team stopped and considered a trial possibly. In my opinion this needs to be part of the budget along with all the other serious matters at hand.
 Wallee Mc Donnell
 

Reduce the cost of public transport

Cost has driven people to cycle and an over emphasis on cycling has crippled the capitals road network….including bus lanes which are frequently blocked by slow moving cyclists. Cyclists and cycle lanes have kept congestion and pollution artificially elevated. Cheap effective public transport would be one way to reduce this and car use. One way to fund this might be to transfer maintenance costs in LTNs to the home owners in the area. Given that non residents can effectively not use these roads they are effectively private and should not be maintained by local councils or taxpayers.