‘Has he no shame?’ Sadiq Khan blasted for b-day bash on moguls yacht | Politics | News
Sadiq Khan has been accused of ‘floating in luxury’ after it was revealed he held his birthday party on a foreign billionaire’s £268 million luxury cruise ship.
The Mayor of London partied in central London on the 122-metre superyacht Kismet, owned by sports mogul Shahid Khan.
One of the most luxurious yachts in the world, this yacht features a helipad, on-board nightclub, full-service spa and swimming pool. It was designed by Lürssen Yachts in Germany and is adorned with a jaguar statue on the bow, a tribute to the owner’s Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team.
But the Mayor’s critics said the party was in poor taste; Conservative Councilor Neil Garratt said the Mayor was “rubbing shoulders with billionaires on yachts” as Londoners “watch our economy decimate under Labour’s disastrous management of our finances and the cost of living become increasingly difficult as we head into winter.”
Mr Garratt added: “It’s the same with socialism; party officials luxuriate in luxury while the workers they claim to represent make their lives worse. Has he no shame? And what does his billionaire friend expect in return?”
Shahid Khan, 75, has an estimated fortune of $13.3bn (£10.9bn) and he also owns Fulham Football Club, whose Craven Cottage stadium is located on the banks of the River Thames.
A spokesman for the Mayor said: “Sadiq attended a private event hosted by his friend Shad” and confirmed that any hospitality received would be disclosed transparently.
The yacht is expected to remain moored near London Bridge, just a short walk from the Mayor’s old City Hall base, nicknamed the “Glass Onion”; Renovations are currently underway following the office’s move downriver to The Crystal at Royal Victoria Dock.
Mr Khan’s appearance on one of the world’s most extravagant superyachts attracted the attention of City Hall critics, with one insider suggesting it was inappropriate.
But the Mayor’s allies insist the event was a private gathering, noting that the Mayor has long supported London’s role as a global sporting capital; It’s a goal he shares with his billionaire host.
Mr Khan has publicly defended the NFL’s presence in London, backing regular matches at Wembley Stadium. He even called for the Super Bowl to be held in the capital, saying it would cement London as the sports capital of the world.
Shahid Khan’s Jaguars will take on the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley on Saturday, October 19, with tickets starting from £90.
