The new Conservative leader of Westminster City Council has been accused of performing a U-turn on plans to legally challenge Mayor Sadiq Khan over the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street. Councillor Paul Swaddle announced that a judicial review is now “simply impossible at this late stage”, despite his party's manifesto pledge to establish a legal fight fund to challenge the Mayor in court.
Manifesto Promise vs. Reality
In their recent local election manifesto, the Tories promised to “set up a legal fight fund to challenge Sadiq Khan in the courts and force him to listen to local people.” However, just two weeks after taking office, Cllr Swaddle confirmed that legal advice indicated a Judicial Review is no longer viable. On Tuesday, May 26, he posted on X: “We worked through the weekend with legal counsel to explore all options. After months of Labour inaction, the advice is that a successful Judicial Review is simply impossible at this late stage.”
The new Conservative administration says it will continue to explore every possible legal avenue to fight for local residents. But the announcement has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Westminster Labour group, which called it “the first U-turn of the administration.”
Labour’s Response
Westminster Labour stated that it had always been clear there was no realistic prospect of stopping the Mayor from pushing through the pedestrianisation. Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Labour spokesperson for economic development, said: “The Conservatives misled voters with their spurious promise of a legal challenge. This was never a realistic prospect, and they knew it. The new leadership of Westminster City Council now needs to stop grandstanding and start working constructively with all parties.”
He added that Oxford Street will go traffic-free this summer, and all parts of the public sector should focus on making it a success for residents, businesses, and visitors, rather than fighting each other to score political points.
Labour explained that they chose to work constructively with the Greater London Authority (GLA), Transport for London (TfL), and the new Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to secure the best outcome. This approach led to a reduction in the area covered by the MDC, a commitment to maintain free-flowing traffic at the eastern end of Oxford Street, and Westminster retaining its share of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 funding from future development.
Conservative Leader Defends Position
Westminster City Council Leader Paul Swaddle defended his position, stating: “Westminster Conservatives are the only party holding Sadiq Khan to account on Oxford Street. Labour had three months to mount a legal challenge. They didn't. Conservative councillors in opposition proposed a fighting fund to take Sadiq Khan to court. Labour blocked it. We brought motion after motion. Labour voted us down. Their collusion and capitulation allowed the judicial review deadline to pass.”
He continued: “Now Labour say they 'chose to work with the Mayor.' That is not a defence. It is an admission that a Labour Council, a Labour Mayor and a Labour Government were working hand in glove the whole time, and that they were never going to stand up to City Hall for Westminster residents.”
Swaddle added that his administration was elected on May 7 to put things right. He has already commissioned formal advice from King's Counsel and will continue to explore every legal option still available. He also plans to fight the scheme through the Traffic Management Order consultation, where Westminster is a statutory consultee. He has written to Sadiq Khan inviting a meeting but has not yet received a reply.
Mayor’s Office Responds
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor is moving ahead rapidly with the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street and hopes to see the first section going traffic free by the end of this summer. He looks forward to continuing to work closely with all stakeholders on these plans to create a beautiful pedestrian-friendly public space that will restore the nation's high street to its former glory, making Oxford Street a place for all.”
Plans to make the busy London thoroughfare vehicle-free were pushed through by Sadiq Khan under the previous Labour-run Westminster Council via a Mayoral Development Corporation. The new Conservative Council says it will continue to fight for local people through all available legal means.
