EXCLUSIVE: The Mayor of London’s office responded to local anger by defending the capital’s diversity, despite outrage about the encampment.
Mr Khan’s office offered no criticism of the encampment (Image: Jeremy Selwyn / PA)
Sadiq Khan has broken his silence on the new migrant encampment on Park Lane, sparking fury as tent-based residents defecate on the street and drink in public. In correspondence seen by the Express, the Mayor’s office responded to local concern about the encampment by defending migration as a “huge strength” of the capital.
Mr Khan was responding to correspondence by a concerned Londoner, who complained that their son had complained about the camp while being driven to and from school. The Londoner asked the Mayor: “The question we want to ask you is what is the Mayor and London Assembly able to do to clean up this London landmark? In addition to being unsightly, it is unhygienic and unsafe. How can London stand by and allow this?”
Migrants pitched up in one of London’s wealthiest neighbourhoods (Image: Jeremy Selwyn)
Far from sympathising with Londoners and the concerned schoolchild, Mr Khan’s rough sleeping team voiced sympathy for those squatting in ‘Millionaire’s row’ and insisted that London will continue to welcome migrants “and provide sanctity to those who need it”.
Astonishingly, the mayor’s office replied to the individual: “Migrants and refugee communities face specific barriers to participating in and contributing to life in London, including accessing employment and housing opportunities.”
“The Mayor’s position is that London has always been a city that welcomes migrants and provides sanctuary to those who need it. The Mayor is clear that we draw huge strength from the contribution of migrants and refugees who make London their home.
“They enrich our society, communities, culture and economy in myriad ways, making London a welcoming, diverse and truly global city and bringing cultural energy to Londoners’ ever-evolving shared identity.”
The Mayor’s office added that Mr Khan is “doing everything in his power to end rough sleeping in London by 2030”, and encouraged people who spot rough sleeping to report it to StreetLink.org.uk.
The camp is at the heart of London’s ‘millionaire row’ (Image: Jeremy Selwyn)
However this response has been slammed by the Tories, with London leader Susan Hall saying the fact Labour isn’t acting on the encampment “beggars belief”.
She told the Express: “I don’t think pooing in the street is the sort of contribution Londoners expect migrants to be making to our city, and I am shocked by the gall of this man to somehow play down the antisocial behaviour gripping Park Lane as ‘enrichment’.”
“It’s disgusting, it’s illegal, and above all else it is not what taxpayers expect to see in the centre of our city. The fact that Sadiq Khan can’t see that speaks volumes about his priorities.
“I’ve visited the site with Westminster Conservatives Leader Paul Swaddle and that the Labour Council isn’t acting on this either beggars belief. We can’t keep on with Labour authorities passing the buck back and forth whilst residents have to suffer the consequences.”
London Tory leader Susan Hall slammed the Mayor’s response (Image: Getty)
The Express visited the site last week, and counted around 19 tents pitched up on the luxury spot in central London, in front of five-star restaurants and luxury car garages.
The group – who say they came from Italy but originally hail from Romania – admit they don’t work, yet remain camped on public land while police do nothing.
Migrants in the camp have been pictured hanging up their laundry, cooking and eating off tables pitched up on the green, while one witness told Express: “I go past here each morning on my way to work and I’ve seen them drinking bottles of vodka at around six in the morning”.
In one grim snap, a woman at the camp can be seen exposing herself in public and pooing on the grass. When the Daily Express first approached the camp, residents begged for money – asking for £50 by bank transfer.
One resident of the encampment claimed TfL police officers visit daily and do nothing to move them on.
