Labour Councillors Rebel Against Sadiq Khan’s Police Cuts 2026

Key Points

• Labour councillors in Lambeth have launched a petition rebelling against London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan’s policing cuts, which have broken his 2024 re-election pledge to maintain a 24-hour police front counter in every borough.
• The Metropolitan Police (Met) agreed a new plan in October to address a £260 million budget shortfall, resulting in the closure of 18 police station front desks entirely, with only 20 remaining open and just two operating 24 hours.
• Lambeth’s Labour group described Brixton Police Station’s front desk as ‘vital in keeping our borough safe’ and criticised the Met’s decision as sending the ‘wrong message’, taken without proper consultation with residents, the council, or local stakeholders.
• Sir Sadiq Khan’s 2024 manifesto explicitly stated: ‘I’ll continue to ensure the Met is able to effectively respond to the public, including maintaining a 24-hour police front office counter in every borough.’
• Under the Met’s plans, Brixton Police Station’s front desk would operate from 10am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 7pm on weekends, rather than 24 hours.

Lambeth (South London News) February 14, 2026 – Labour councillors in Lambeth have launched a fierce rebellion against London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan’s policing cuts, accusing him of shattering a key election pledge to keep police station front counters open around the clock in every borough. The move follows the Metropolitan Police’s decision to slash front desk services amid a £260 million budget crisis, leaving just two stations with 24-hour access across the capital. Local leaders warn this will undermine public safety in areas like Brixton, where residents rely on these hubs for urgent support.

Why Are Labour Councillors Rebelling Against Sadiq Khan’s Police Cuts?

Lambeth’s Labour group initiated a petition specifically to save Brixton Police Station’s front desk, branding it ‘vital in keeping our borough safe’. As reported in the Daily Mail, the councillors argued that the cuts send the ‘wrong message’ at a time when community policing is under strain. They highlighted that the decision was made by the Met ‘without proper consultation with residents, the council or local stakeholders’, raising questions about transparency in City Hall’s oversight of the force.

The rebellion marks a rare public fracture within Labour ranks in London, traditionally aligned with Khan’s mayoralty. Councillors emphasised that reduced hours—from 24/7 to limited daytime and evening slots—could deter vulnerable residents from reporting crimes promptly. Under the Met’s blueprint, Brixton would see its desk open 10am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 7pm at weekends, a sharp downgrade from the promised continuous service.

What Was Sadiq Khan’s Original Pledge on Police Front Counters?

During his second re-election campaign in 2024, Sir Sadiq Khan made a clear commitment in his manifesto: ‘I’ll continue to ensure the Met is able to effectively respond to the public, including maintaining a 24-hour police front office counter in every borough.’ This vow was positioned as a cornerstone of his ‘backing the blue’ agenda, aimed at reassuring Londoners amid rising concerns over knife crime and burglaries.

The pledge resonated in boroughs like Lambeth, where Brixton has long served as a frontline access point for policing services. Khan’s words underscored a continuity from his previous terms, framing 24-hour counters as essential for round-the-clock public engagement. However, the subsequent budget pressures have rendered this promise untenable, prompting accusations of betrayal from within his own party.

What Changes Did the Met Police Implement in October?

In October, the Met Police finalised a plan to balance its £260 million shortfall, as detailed in a Daily Mail gallery article on the force’s money-saving measures. This included axing 18 police station front desks completely, with only 20 surviving in reduced form and a mere two retaining full 24-hour operations. The overhaul was necessitated by ongoing financial strains, including inflation and national funding shortfalls passed down from central government.

The Met’s strategy prioritised core operational needs over public-facing counters, redirecting resources to frontline officers and technology like online reporting portals. Stations like Brixton faced partial retention but with curtailed hours, reflecting a broader shift away from physical 24/7 presence. Critics, including Lambeth councillors, contend this prioritises accounting over accessibility, especially in diverse, high-crime areas of South London.

How Has This Affected Brixton Police Station Specifically?

Brixton Police Station, a fixture in Lambeth’s policing landscape, stands at the heart of the controversy. The petition by local Labour figures seeks to reverse the desk’s downgrade to 10am-10pm weekdays and 9am-7pm weekends. They argue this timing fails night-shift workers, late-night incident reporters, and those in immediate distress, potentially exacerbating response delays.

Lambeth’s Labour group has framed the station as indispensable for community trust-building, particularly in a borough grappling with gang-related violence and antisocial behaviour. The lack of consultation has fuelled local outrage, with calls for Khan to intervene directly with Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. Residents have echoed these concerns, viewing the cuts as a symptom of wider underinvestment in neighbourhood policing.

What Broader Impact Are These Cuts Having Across London?

City Hall’s oversight of the Met has come under fire as just two stations—unnamed in initial reports—will offer true 24-hour front desks, a far cry from Khan’s borough-by-borough guarantee. This collapse affects all 32 London boroughs plus the City of London, with many losing counters entirely. South London areas like Lambeth, Croydon, and Southwark face acute pressure, where public reliance on stations remains high despite digital alternatives.

The Met’s £260 million gap stems from a mix of austerity legacies, post-pandemic costs, and unfunded pay rises. Front desks, once symbols of accessibility, are now deemed ‘non-essential’ in the savings drive. Labour councillors warn this erodes the ‘effective response’ Khan pledged, potentially straining emergency calls and victim support services.

Why Did the Met Police Face a £260 Million Budget Shortfall?

The Met’s financial woes trace back to chronic underfunding, compounded by operational demands like counter-terrorism and the 2011 riots’ aftermath. October’s plan, as covered by the Daily Mail, slashed non-core services to protect officer numbers, which Khan has championed. However, this has pitted public access against fiscal reality, with no additional City Hall bailouts forthcoming.

Khan’s office has pointed to national government constraints under the previous administration, though his Labour affiliation amplifies internal tensions. The shortfall equates to roughly £30 per Londoner, highlighting the scale of the challenge in a city of nine million.

What Is the Political Fallout for Sadiq Khan?

As a Labour standard-bearer, Khan faces embarrassment from his own councillors’ revolt, the first major rebellion since his 2024 victory. Lambeth’s petition could inspire similar actions in other boroughs, testing his grip on the party’s London machine. Opposition figures, including Conservatives, have seized on the saga to question his law-and-order credentials.

Khan’s team defends the Met’s autonomy in operational decisions, stressing investments in 1,300 extra neighbourhood officers since 2016. Yet the optics of a broken pledge—direct from his manifesto—undermine this narrative, especially with local elections looming.

Have Residents and Stakeholders Been Consulted?

Lambeth Labour explicitly criticised the ‘without proper consultation’ aspect, claiming residents, councils, and stakeholders were sidelined. The Met’s process involved internal reviews but limited borough input, per reports. This has sparked demands for public forums and impact assessments before final implementation.

In Brixton, community groups have rallied behind the petition, citing disproportionate effects on BAME communities who may distrust online reporting. Khan’s policing deputy, Labour’s Claire Weiss, has not yet commented publicly.

What Happens Next for London’s Police Front Desks?

The Lambeth petition aims to pressure the Met and City Hall for a reversal, potentially escalating to a full council motion. With the Met’s plan already in motion, short-term reinstatement seems unlikely without fresh funding. Khan could pledge compensatory measures, like mobile reporting units, to mitigate backlash.

Longer-term, national policing settlements post-2024 election will dictate sustainability. For now, South London’s Labour rebels embody a grassroots pushback against top-down cuts, challenging Khan to reconcile his pledges with fiscal prudence.