'Just calm down': Sadiq Khan in angry row with Conservative over Palestine march policing

Sadiq Khan was embroiled an extraordinary row at City Hall as he was grilled by a Tory assembly member about a march where Hezbollah flags were seen.

During a testy exchange with Andrew Boff, the Mayor told the Conservative to “calm down”, leading to a series of angry comments between the pair.

The Mayor was being asked about the difficulties of policing the Al Quds Day march on June 18, a demonstration held in central London during which flags for the Lebanese terror group were carried.

During Mayor’s Question Time on Thursday, Mr Boff repeatedly asked if Mr Khan would write to the Home Secretary for clarification on what is a banned organisation to assist the police in dealing with such events.

The mayor would not give a yes or no answer but asked an exasperated Mr Boff to join him in asking the Government for more police officers instead.

“I will join you when you start doing your job Mr Mayor, thank you very much for those answers,” Mr Boff said.

“I’m sure Londoners will be fascinated with your lack of willingness to address this problem.”

The Mayor fired back: “Can I congratulate you on your pre-written rant from you. It’s appreciated.”

“You show me your briefing, I’ll show you mine,” said Mr Boff waving his notes.

“Calm down, just calm down,” the Mayor told him, leading to a rebuke from the meeting’s chairwoman.

Mr Boff muttered the Mayor had provided “the most particulary useless answer that I’ve ever seen in this assembly.”

“Sorry did you say something? I didn’t hear you,” replied Mr Khan.

The full exchange was captured on a City Hall webcast of the meeting.

More than 24,000 had called for the Al Quds Day march, which is held annually in opposition to Jerusalem Day and in support of Palestine, to be banned.

It is claimed one speaker at the event blamed the Grenfell Tower fire on “Zionists”.