Wednesday briefing: The bizarre Tory attack on Sadiq Khan – and what the London mayoral race might bring

In today’s newsletter: Inside the buildup to the 2 May vote, and what the result might mean for Labour at the general election

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Good morning.

The streets of London are riddled with “crime and desperation”. “Ulez enforcers dressed in black faces covered with masks” terrorise the city “at the beck and call of their Labour mayor master”. Campaign ads don’t get much more deranged than the one released by the Conservative party on Twitter/X to attack Sadiq Khan, in an attempt to bolster support for Susan Hall’s run at the capital’s mayoralty. An initial upload was taken down because it used footage of a panicked crowd in a New York City subway station to criticise Khan’s record on crime. (For a more nuanced analysis on crime figures in London, read this Guardian fact check.) The bizarre narration in an American accent is still present and correct.

Conservatives | Two Tory ministers have quit the government in a double blow to Rishi Sunak. Robert Halfon unexpectedly announced he would step down as education minister and would be leaving the Commons at the next general election. The armed forces minister James Heappey confirmed he had left his role at the Ministry of Defence in advance of standing down. Sunak carried out a mini-reshuffle of the junior ministerial ranks as a result of the departures.

US news | At least six people were confirmed dead after the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland snapped and collapsed when a container ship hit one of its pylons. Officials said up to 20 people and several vehicles had fallen into the river. The US president, Joe Biden, said all indications were of a “terrible accident”.

Israel-Gaza war | 130 parliamentarians have signed a letter to the foreign secretary, David Cameron, to ban arms sales to Israel, amid signs that the Netanyahu government intends to ignore the UN security council resolution passed on Monday calling on all sides to commit to a ceasefire.

Water industry | More than 4m hours of raw sewage discharges poured into rivers and seas last year, a 129% increase on the previous 12 months, new figures are expected to reveal.

NHS | Public satisfaction with the NHS has fallen to its lowest ever level, with long delays to access care the biggest source of deepening frustration, a study has shown. Just 24% of people across England, Scotland and Wales are satisfied with the health service.