Sadiq Khan failed to issue an apology to victims of grooming gangs in London during a tense clash in the London Assembly with Conservative GLA member Susan Hall. When he was pressed to issue an apology, the London Mayor said he was "thinking about the victims and survivors who have been treated appallingly over many, many years, particularly the northern towns." He added: "And what they want is two things. One is support, and it's important we give them a support I'll set up shortly some of the support we've given to victims of violence and child exploitation. "But secondly, justice to be done as well, which is incredibly important, and I've led efforts to strengthen the protection of children and those women exploited by abuse and exploitation." Ms Hall reiterated : "Would you just like to apologise to them for pretending you didn't know what these rape gangs were?" Sir Sadiq replied: "It is really important, we're talking about incredibly serious and emotive issues, to actually clarify what is meant when it comes to grooming gangs." The former Mayoral candidate for Kemi Badenoch's party said: "You're not doing yourself any favours here.

"Everybody knows what I was talking about, except you, it would appear, and since you're the Police and Crime Commission, that's very embarrassing for you. I didn't stop asking questions. I asked your Deputy Mayor, and never, ever got an answer, of course, from her. In the meantime, Yvette Cooper was asking all police forces in Britain to identify cases.

"On June 19, you said: 'I choose my words carefully. There are no reported cases, and also no indication of the grooming gangs that she is concerned about.'"

Sir Sadiq insisted: "It's because of my concern about people being exploited sexually that the Met Police Service embedded all the recommendations made by HMI. It has a child-first approach. We've had tens of thousands of officers and staff trained on this very issue."

In a damning rebuttal, Ms Hall hit back: "You're not doing very well on this though are you? You haven't apologised yet, unless I've missed that, on the first of July, you tell the London Assembly, none of the cases mentioned by Cooper are in London." What is Khan hiding?  Why won't he apologise?