Rachel Reeves denies telling Sadiq Khan to 'get out of my office' after mayor asked for more cash for London
It was reported that the Chancellor cut short a recent meeting with the Mayor after they argued in her office
Rachel Reeves has denied telling Sir Sadiq Khan to "get out of my office" and kicking him out after the pair allegedly clashed over funding for London.
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The Chancellor allegedly cut short a scheduled meeting with the Mayor of London after they argued about cash spending in the capital.
But speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, Ms Reeves played down the rumours and said the pair had a "great relationship."
Nick asked Ms Reeves: "Talking about disagreements, tell us about the bust up with London Mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan. What went on in your office?"
Read more: Reeves insists tax on working people kept at ‘absolute minimum’ at Budget
Appearing live from Coventry, the Chancellor replied: "I don't recognise that.
"In the Budget, we've put in money for the lower Thames Crossing which eases congestion within London, and also the DLR extension out to Thamesmead.
"And in London, kids are going to be lifted out of poverty from this budget and are going to have £150 off."
Nick then said: "I wasn't referring to yesterday. I was referring to a report started by the New Statesman, picked up by the Standard.
"You told Sir Sadiq earlier to, quote, get out of my office, as he tried to negotiate more funding for the capital. What more can you tell us about this, Chancellor?"
Ms Reeves responded: "I don't recognise that characterisation. I've got a great relationship with Sadiq and I saw him just a couple of weeks ago [at] Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph."
The row was said to have happened earlier this year as the Mayor tried to lobby for more money for London and transport projects, according to the New Statesman.
"In private, she had heated, bitter disagreements with cabinet colleagues over squeezed budgets for their departments. 'Get out of my office,' she told the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, as he tried to negotiate more funding for the capital" the magazine reported.
Earlier in the interview, Ms Reeves refused to rule out more tax rises in next year's Budget.
Asked by Nick whether there would be "no more tax increases as when you present next year’s Budget,' she said: "No chancellor can predict the future or write next year’s Budget.'
She added: "I made my choices yesterday" and "Chancellors have to respond to events."