The Tory candidate suggests a lower salary for the role but hasn’t committed to replacing the current Night Czar, Amy Lamé.

Conservative London mayoral candidate Susan Hall has said she is still “considering” whether to appoint a new Night Czar if she wins the election, despite being critical of the current incumbent, Amy Lamé. With just ten days until Londoners head to the polls, Hall has made it clear that while she intends to remove Lamé, her manifesto remains ambiguous about whether she would abolish the position or replace her.

Hall has long condemned Lamé as the epitome of “chumocracy” under Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan’s administration, labelling her appointment as one based on political connections. However, while Hall is yet to clarify the future of the role, she has confirmed that any new appointee would receive a lower salary than the current £117,000 annually.

“This is taxpayers’ money,” Hall stated. “It’s Londoners’ money, and it’s disgraceful to throw it at friends for a position like this.”

Last month, Hall criticised Lamé’s appointment as “nepotism” in an article for the Standard, citing her close ties to Khan. She also pointed to the example of Manchester’s Night Czar, who performs the same role without payment, as a more cost-effective approach.

On the possibility of appointing a “chum” herself, Hall responded firmly, saying, “I don’t have any political chums – absolutely not.” She continued, “I’ll appoint people who are experts, not my friends, because I’m serious about getting things right in London.”

Khan, however, has defended Lamé’s role, rejecting any suggestion of nepotism. He argued that Lamé was appointed through a fair and transparent process and that her work has been valuable in supporting the city’s vibrant night-time economy.

Hall’s campaign focuses on improving London’s nightlife and safety. She has pledged to extend the Night Tube to the Hammersmith and City line and beyond, believing this will greatly benefit the capital’s night-time economy. At the same time, she has emphasised the need for safer streets, noting that “if people witness nothing but gangs and violence, they won’t return.”

Hall has been a vocal critic of Khan’s handling of both the night economy and crime. She stated, “Sadiq Khan is getting everything wrong right now, and it’s affecting businesses across London.” Khan, on the other hand, has defended his record, stating that crime in London has decreased since 2016, despite population growth, and blamed national cuts for worsening crime across the country.

London’s mayoral election is scheduled for Thursday, May 2, alongside elections for the London Assembly.