Westminster stands firm as Sadiq Khan calls for licensing rethinkLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan has written to Westminster City Council urging it to rethink proposed changes to licensing policy in the West End, arguing the approach treats London's nightlife as a "luxury" rather than the asset it is.
Westminster City Council's Conservative-led administration marks 100 days in office this week, publishing a “Promises Made, Promises Kept” record of delivery across Safe Streets, A Clean City and Value for Money.On day one, Cllr Caroline Sargent was appointed Westminster's first-ever Cabinet Member
Cllr Paul Swaddle, Leader of Westminster City Council, argues the policy takes too blunt an approach to wealth. "High property values do not always translate into high household incomes," he said, warning that residents whose homes have simply risen in value over time, without any change to their actual earnings, could be unfairly caught out.
There is no plan to ban standing drinking in Westminster. We spoke to Cllr Paul Swaddle, the Leader of Westminster City Council, to find out moreThe last 24 hours have seen a wave of confusing and misleading stories about our licensing policy.
Asked whether the council was trying to ban vertical drinking, Cllr Barnes was clear:
"No, of course not. That would be a silly thing to do. It would be completely against everything that we have publicly said we're setting out to do... There isn't, there never was, there never will be a plan to ban standing up in a pub in Westminster to have a drink."
Cllr Tim Barnes explains to The Londoner that the wording being quoted in headlines is not a new Westminster policy at all, but language carried over almost word-for-word from licensing guidelines first published back in 2021. Crucially, he confirmed it has no bearing whatsoever on venues that already hold a licence, telling the publication, "we couldn't change that if you wanted to," and stressing the council has no power to retroactively alter existing licensing terms even if it wanted to.
Writing in the Westminster Extra, Cllr Fisher said the national Labour government is cutting £100 million in funding from Westminster City Council, calling it "a direct attack on the services Westminster residents rely on every day." That comes on top of what he describes as the financial legacy left by the previous Labour administration locally, including £27 million wasted on the Geoffrey Osborne contractor failure, a £3 million overspend on a Church Street demolition contract, and a £19 million council tax freeze he called "an election gimmick that stored up pain for residents."
"Westminster is famous for its fantastic bars & clubs - and we’re consulting on how we can ensure as many people as possible enjoy our nightlife in safety ", says the Council. "Ignore nonsense headlines about us banning “vertical” drinking - we love our visitors if they are standing or sitting!”
Asked directly by BBC London's Tolu Adeoye whether the council was trying to ban people from standing up to have a drink, Cllr Barnes was unequivocal:
"Absolutely not. We are strongly in favour of people who want to come out and enjoy Soho and the rest of the West End's pubs, bars, restaurants, standing, sitting, whatever's best for them."
"We haven't been banning people from standing up in pubs over the last ten years, and we have no plan on doing it in the future" says Westminster Councillor Tim Barnes
