Sadiq Khan cuts 'Brexit tour' of EU capitals short after London terror attack

Sadiq Khan has cut short his ‘Brexit tour’ of European Union capitals this week in the wake of the Westminster terrorist attack.

The Mayor dropped Berlin, Madrid and Warsaw from his itinerary and is concentrating on just Brussels and Paris instead.

Security co-operation has been pushed up the agenda on the 48-hour trip which comes just days after Wednesday’s horrific incident.

Mr Khan will hold high-level talks with security officials in the Belgian and French capitals, which have both been hit by terrorist attacks in the last 18 months.

He will meet EU security chief Sir Julian King in Brussels and the following day has talks with French interior minister Matthias Fekl.

City Hall aides have agonised over whether to press ahead with the trip, torn between the Mayor’s wish not to be away from London and the need to fight the capital’s corner ahead of the Brexit negotiations.

Brexit remains the main focus of the trip as the Mayor bids to strengthen London’s economic and business ties as Theresa May triggers Article 50 this week.

In Brussels, Mr Khan will hold talks with Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who has claimed that Britain needs to pay a £50 billion divorce bill from the EU.

In a major speech in the Belgian capital tomorrow, he will insist that London will remain open to business, investment and talent even after leaving the EU.

The Mayor has already urged Mrs May to give an immediate cast-iron guarantee to the 3.3 million EU nationals in the UK that they can stay after Brexit.

His visit to Paris will include a joint announcement of a major new air quality initiative with his Parisian counterpart mayor Anne Hidalgo.

Mr Khan said: “This will be a vital chance to strengthen London’s ties still further with Paris and Brussels.

“I will be meeting politicians, officials and business leaders, and I look forward to discussing a variety of key issues with them – ranging from Brexit and expanding London’s economy, to air quality, social integration – and security.

“Both Brussels and Paris have, of course, been the victim of recent terror atrocities. In the wake of the horrific attack in Westminster last week it will be an opportunity to learn from each other and to show solidarity in the face of this evil assault on our shared values and way of life.

“Like the people of Brussels, and Parisians, Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism.”

The Mayor hopes to visit Berlin, where he has been forced to cancel meetings with German ministers, at a later date. The Madrid leg of the tour was expected to include a security announcement.

Mr Khan laid a wreath in memory of those who died in the Westminster terror attacks ahead of last night’s England World Cup qualifying match against Lithuania. The Mayor paid his respects among the crowd at Wembley in a minute’s silence before the fixture.