London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan faced criticism, being called “co-sick” for avoiding a discussion with British leader Nigel Farage about crime in the capital. With the growing concerns around multicultural cities and a rise in knife crime, Farage challenged Khan to a televised debate. He accused the mayor of failing to address the increasing crime rates in London.
The mayor’s office promptly rejected the challenge, labeling it a “political stunt.” They argued that Khan was “too busy” dealing with crime to engage in such a debate – though it might seem he has enough time to assist socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani in the upcoming November elections.
In reaction to the mayor’s refusal, Farage expressed his disbelief, stating, “It’s just extraordinary, and everyone knows London is suffering. What is Khan afraid of? I won’t bite.”
Richard Tice, the leader of the Reform party, echoed calls for Khan to accept the debate. According to government figures, shoplifting in London surged by 53% up until March, and knife crime incidents rose by 9%, totalling 16,344 cases, accounting for about a third of all UK crime.
Reports indicate that during Khan’s time in office, violent crimes increased from 190,000 to 250,000 incidents compared to last year. Khan’s office defended him by noting a decrease in teenage murderers to levels last seen in 2003, and a drop in crimes among individuals under 25 to rates from 2013.
Earlier this month, Farage initiated a campaign called “UK is Lawless,” raising alarms over the diminishing trust in government to tackle crime. He lamented that Britain resembles “more than just social disruption” and advocated for a stricter approach, similar to the policing strategies of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, to combat the rising crime wave.
As part of a five-year strategy to reduce crime, Farage proposed hiring an additional 30,000 police officers and constructing new temporary prisons on military land. His party also vowed to deport over 10,000 foreign criminals currently in British prisons.
Additionally, they suggested implementing a three-strike law ensuring that repeat offenders face life imprisonment, while calling for an end to early release policies for serious crimes, including sex offenses. For the most dangerous criminals, Farage mentioned the potential of a deal with El Salvador to transfer these individuals there.
