Over 40,000 individuals have signed a petition urging London Mayor Sadiq Khan to resign due to his management of grooming gangs in the capital. The document heads to City Hall, where Reform UK London Assembly member Keith Prince will present it formally.
Campaign Targets Mayor’s Inquiry Stance
The CitizenGo advocacy group drives the effort to highlight grooming gangs operating in London and spotlight the Mayor’s refusal to launch an inquiry. Organizers seek urgent action on the issue.
Khan Faces Repeated Questions
In January 2025, Khan dodged questions nine times about whether rape gangs operated in London, past or present. He claimed uncertainty about the queries. Even after references to documented cases in Rotherham and Bradford, he stated he remained unclear. Previously, Khan asserted no evidence of grooming gangs in London matching the scale in Rochdale or Rotherham.
Whistleblower Raises Alarms
Former Metropolitan Police officer and whistleblower Jon Wedger describes Khan as “beyond redemption” on the topic. Wedger alleges superiors pressured him to drop investigations into 50 child abuse cases, threatening his home, job, and family. He claims officials warned that findings would severely damage the force.
Investigations Expose Gang Activities
Recent probes confirm young girls fell victim to grooming gangs across London, contradicting earlier denials. Detective Sergeant John Knox, head of the Met’s child exploitation unit for Lambeth and Southwark, notes that girls and young women rank at the “lowest rung” in gang structures.
Baroness Casey’s review of group-based child sexual exploitation identifies flaws in Metropolitan Police logging practices, questioning if the problem’s full extent was ever recorded.
Campaigner Demands Accountability
CitizenGO UK campaigner Zuzana Revayova labels Khan’s tenure a “catastrophic failure” and criticizes his leadership—or lack thereof. She states: “While the Mayor focuses on divisive ideological agendas, the safety of London’s most vulnerable children is being compromised. The tens of thousands of people who signed this petition are demanding accountability and real action.”
Mayor’s Office Responds
Khan’s team emphasizes that protecting Londoners remains his utmost priority, especially safeguarding children. They highlight a £15.6 million Violence and Exploitation Support Service aiding young people in criminal networks. Officials affirm Khan’s dedication to shielding children from organized crime and sexual exploitation while pursuing justice for perpetrators. London continues efforts to combat all forms of child abuse, violence, and exploitation.
