Mayor Sadiq Khan asks for extra funding for police, transport and housing

Mayor Sadiq Khan told the Standard that he has presented three budget asks to Chancellor John Healey after a meeting with Mayor Andy Burnham, and that he will raise them again before the fiscal statement on 28 October. The asks focus on additional cash for the Metropolitan Police, more funding for Transport for London and measures to boost house building and curb rough sleeping.

Scale of homelessness in the capital

Read Next in News London3 min read

MOPAC blocks £50m Palantir contract, Met job cuts likely for London residents

The mayor's policing office halted a two‑year AI software deal, raising concerns over 500 potential police posts being lost as the Met trims its 2026‑27 budget.

Trust for London reported that 13,000 people were seen sleeping on the streets in 2025/26, a level three times higher than 15 years earlier, as reported by the Standard. London Councils estimated that 210,000 Londoners are currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation. Khan linked the housing ask to these figures, saying the capital needs resources to prevent people from ending up on the streets.

Mayor's specific requests

Khan said the city requires more devolution of powers and resources, as reported by the Standard. He explained that the police service, Transport for London and housing programmes all depend on stable funding streams. "We need more devolution to London, more powers and resources given to London," he told the Standard. He added that the mayor hopes for announcements on investment to reduce rough sleeping by Christmas.

Related Borough Coverage3 min read

Tory hopeful Alex Challoner proposes scrapping housing quotas

Businessman Alex Challoner claims his plans could unlock land for 300,000 new homes across London.

We need more devolution to London, more powers and resources given to London.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

Business community response

John Dickie, chief executive of BusinessLDN, argued that greater devolution of financial powers would allow the city to retain more locally raised tax revenues, as reported by the Standard. He said the ability to borrow against future transport revenue could accelerate projects such as the Bakerloo line extension and West London Orbital. Dickie described the proposal as a way to improve delivery of public services and support local growth.

What happens next

Khan is scheduled to meet Chancellor John Healey before the fiscal statement on 28 October. The meeting will be the final opportunity for the mayor to press his three asks before the budget is set. If the Chancellor agrees to the requests, the city could see increased allocations for policing, transport operations and housing programmes aimed at reducing rough sleeping.