The Deputy Mayor of Baked Beans

Howard Dawber, London’s £147,770-per-year Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, had some wise words to say about cafes

I thought taxpayers might like to hear the wise words of Howard Dawber, London’s Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, who posted about cafes today:

Let's hear it for the traditional London caf. Not pretentious, not your global coffee chain. This is your honest to goodness family-run local breakfast place. They sometimes get called greasy spoons, but they aren't greasy at all. Every table's cleaned to an inch of its life... I love the sound of the sizzle on the grill, the frothing of the coffee machine, the whistle of the tea. I love the menus with their endless different combinations. Egg, sausage, beans, bubble, bacon, or is it two eggs, sausage, bacon, beans, bubble and tomato, all with thick toast. Golden with melted butter and a cup of tea that will keep any builder going for the rest of the day. So if the students are up all night studying or partying, the night workers on their way home; the day workers on their way in; mums and dads after the school run, or even deputy mayors on their tour of local businesses, let's hear it for the London caf. There's nothing quite like it's on earth.

Amazing words! How can anyone be concerned about the economy when there’s an egg on the stove (or is that two eggs…)

You will be especially delighted to know that Danbar, who was appointed in December 2023, is paid £147,770 per year. It sure pays well working for Sadiq Khan!

And while we’re at it, I thought you might like to see the other salaries of Khan’s top team which add up to approximately £2,533,458 (excluding Khan’s own salary of £165,001 per year).

• Joanne McCartney, Statutory Deputy Mayor | Deputy Mayor for Children and Families - £114,461 pa

• Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor, Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service - £147,770 pa

• Justine Simons, OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries - £147,770 pa

• Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor, Communities and Social Justice - £147,770

• Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development - £147,770

• Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor, Transport and Deputy Chair, Transport for London - £147,770

• Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy - £147,770 pa

• Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime - £147,770 pa

• David Bellamy, Chief of Staff - £155,928

• Richard Watts, Deputy Chief of Staff - £151,849

• Felicity Appleby, Mayoral Director, Political and Public Affairs - £147,770

• Sarah Brown, Mayoral Director, Communications - £147,770

• Ali Picton, Mayoral Director, Operations - £147,770

• Dr. Will Norman, Walking and Cycling Commissioner - salary absent from his profile but said to be £110,000 - £114,999 (as of 2023)

• Claire Waxman OBE, Victims Commissioner - salary absent from her profile but said to be £110,000 - £114,999 (as of 2023)

• Theo Blackwell MBE, Chief Digital Officer - £135,503

• Lib Peck, Director of the Violence Reduction Unit - £130,248