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Sadiq Khan was today criticised by a senior Cabinet minister for jetting off on a mini-break to Morocco less than a day after the murder of Jodie Chesney.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was “surprised” the Mayor had not cancelled the trip with his wife Saadiya to oversee the response to the 17-year-old’s fatal stabbing on Friday night.

Asked his view of the Mayor going on holiday, Mr Hancock told LBC radio: “To tell you the truth, I’m pretty surprised. Politicians do need to have holidays, that is true. There are also moments of crisis when if you are in a big job with key responsibilities, there are times when you need to be there. I think there is an awful lot that Sadiq Khan needs to be doing with knife crime here in London to keep people safe.

“We should see it first and foremost as a matter of criminality. If you try to say it’s a public health issue, that implies it’s nobody’s fault. The criminals are the murderers. It’s their fault. That has got to be the starting point. You have got to start from the point of the perpetrator being brought to justice.”

A spokesman for Mr Khan said he would be back at work tomorrow. “Sadiq is on a short break with his wife and is in touch with Met Police Commissioner and City Hall at all times,” the spokesman said.

Former Met commissioner Lord Hogan-Howe today backed Mr Khan’s decision to go on holiday.

“I’m sure he [had the] holiday planned. I would never criticise anybody for taking a break. You need them with these big jobs. Otherwise you are less effective.”