Sadiq Khan warns London could lose almost 13,000 police officers under Tory spending plans

Pic:Sadiq Khan and Cressida Dick
Political reporter(wp/es):
Sadiq Khan has issued a stark warning that London will lose thousands of frontline police officers under Conservative spending plans.

The Labour Mayor said the Metropolitan Police could lose as many as 12,800 constables – a reduction in its strength of up to 40 per cent – as it seeks to slash at least £400 million from its budget.

Scotland Yard has already had to make savings of £600m since 2010, with more cuts to come.

Mr Khan said that on top of the £400m, the Met could also face a further loss of up to £700m a year under Tory plans to change the formula for determining police funding.

"Our city has suffered two awful terrorist attacks since I was elected as mayor - and we must do everything possible to stop there being any more," said Mr Khan, who praised emergency services after seven people were killed in Saturday night’s London Bridge attack. 

"Police officers in our communities act as the eyes and ears of the security services, providing the intelligence and information that allows us to disrupt attempted terrorist attacks.

"Cuts on this scale would make it harder to foil future terrorist attacks on our city - and as the mayor of London I'm simply not willing to stand by and let that happen."

The warning comes as Theresa May faces growing pressure over police cuts after presiding over a loss of almost 20,000 officers during her time as Home Secretary between 2010 and 2016.

Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick asked for extra resources after the third terror attack in 10 weeks hit Britain at the weekend.

“In the face of this changing and changed threat, absolutely I will be seeking for London and for policing generally more resourcing obviously," she said on Monday.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for Theresa May to resign over policing cuts, but the Prime Minister insisted she had protected numbers of counter-terror officers.

Hundreds of furious voters left without postal ballot papers days before the Election

Staff reporter(wp/es):

Hundreds of furious voters in Plymouth have been left without postal voting forms just days before the General Election.

Plymouth City Council says it has reissued "around 370 replacement ballot packs" to those who have contacted them, and urged anyone whose remain missing to call their offices.

The local authority claimed it had sent out all the forms in accordance with the regulations, adding that this had been "confirmed by our printers". Both it and Royal Mail are now investigating.

Those who applied before the May 23 deadline and have not yet received them can order replacement packs via special delivery, go in to the council offices or nominate someone to collect it for them.

Elliot Phillips, 25, who is due to go on holiday before election day, described the problems as "an absolute joke", saying: "People are essentially being robbed of their right to vote."

Mr Phillips said: "I'm lucky as the only reason I requested a postal vote is because I'm going on holiday later today. My boss let me out of work early so I can go and vote before I leave.

"I know some people now won't get the chance which is unacceptable and blaming it on the Royal Mail is utter b******,*."

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "We are aware that a number of postal votes in Plymouth have not arrived with recipients.

"Royal Mail takes its responsibility of delivering election information very seriously and is investigating this matter urgently.

"We are currently working closely with the council to organise specific deliveries so that the individuals affected receive their ballot packs as soon as possible."