Sadiq Khan to share platform with David Cameron for EU Remain campaign
'Is it in London's interest for me to hold grudges? Is it in London's interests for the mayor of London to be at permanent war with the Conservative prime minister?'
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Your support makes all the difference.London Mayor Sadiq Khan is to put his differences with David Cameron aside and campaign to keep Britain in the European Union alongside the Prime Minister.
It comes just weeks after Labour MPs shouted Mr Cameron down as “racist” in the Commons for his attacks on the winner of the race for City Hall. The unlikely political allies will jointly launch a Britain Stronger In Europe battle bus, despite Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn refusing to engage in joint appearances with Mr Cameron.
Speaking on ITV’s Peston on Sunday, Mr Khan said: “Is it in London's interest for me to hold grudges? Is it in London's interests for the mayor of London to be at permanent war with the Conservative prime minister?”
“We're never going to be best friends, but what is important is that the mayor of London argues the case for London and for Londoners to remain in the European Union. This debate is far more important than David Cameron or me. It's about our city's future and country's future,” he added.
The Conservative election tactics during the mayoral race – and their candidate Zac Goldsmith – have been condemned by senior party members for harming community relations after Mr Khan swept to victory in early May.
Sayeeda Warsi, the former co-chairwoman of the Tory party, said the campaign was “appalling” while Andrew Boff, the party’s leader on the Greater London Assembly launched a devastating attack on the way the campaign was run. He said it had “done real damage” and “blown up” bridges the Tories had built with Muslim communities.
Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman, and ex Cabinet minister Tessa Jowell, have appeared with the Prime Minister, but head of the party's Remain push, and former home secretary, Alan Johnson, has joined Mr Corbyn in refusing to be seen campaigning with Mr Cameron.
Mr Khan also had warm words for Chancellor George Osborne, saying: "George Osborne, from the meetings I've had with him, and the conversations we've had, understands why it's in the country's interests for London to do well.
"He cares about devolving power away from Whitehall, and to give him credit he's given more power to SNP Scotland, more power to Labour Wales, more power to a Labour Greater Manchester and I believe genuinely he'll give more power to London as well."
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