Sadiq Khan visits Yorkshire to ‘build bridges’ between London and the rest of the country

By Joe Talora, local democracy reporter

Sadiq Khan today visited Yorkshire as he doubled down on his pledge to “build bridges” between London and the rest of the country.

The Mayor of London visited electric bus manufacturer Switch Mobility with the newly elected Labour Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin as he made the case for how London can lead the national recovery.

Switch Mobility has provided 67 electric buses to London and is in the process of providing 30 more as TfL looks to achieve a zero-emission bus fleet by 2030.

Speaking today, Sadiq Khan said that the factory based in Yorkshire “shows how investment in our capital can help create quality green jobs across the country”.

Mr Khan said: “When I was signed-in for my second term I pledged to build bridges between London and the rest of our country and to showcase how London can help the national recovery and the levelling up agenda.

“Too often the need to ‘level up’ cities and regions across the UK is wrongly presented as a need to ‘level down’ other parts of the country, such as London – but that is in nobody’s interest.

“When London succeeds, the UK succeeds and vice versa. London is ready and willing to play its part in ensuring a strong and green national recovery from this terrible pandemic.”

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson today outlined plans to invest £860 million in 57 areas across the UK, including the relocation of more than 3,000 civil service jobs outside of London by 2025.

The Government is also still yet to agree a long-term funding deal with Transport for London, after yesterday announcing that the existing emergency package would be extended by 10 days while discussions continue.

Sadiq Khan has continually called on the Government to treat London fairly and has insisted that “there can be no UK recovery without a London recovery”.