HISTORIC VOTE AT LONDON ASSEMBLY REJECTS LIVINGSTONE BUDGET FOR LONDON

6.09.16pm GMT Wed 26th Jan 2005

For the first time in the history of the London Assembly, members from a four party coalition today voted to reject Ken Livingstone's budget for the capital.

The coalition of Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green and UKIP members, voted for a joint motion that refused to accept the proposed 7.2% increase in Ken Livingstone's share of Council Tax.

The vote will set up a showdown between the Mayor and the London Assembly on 14th February 2005, when a two-thirds majority would see Ken Livingstone's rise in Council Tax thrown out.

Leader of the London Assembly Liberal Democrats, Graham Tope said:-

"This vote sends a clear warning message to the Mayor that Londoners will not put up with further tax rises above the inflation. Unless Ken Livingstone brings his tax rise down, he will be in real danger of his budget becoming a corpse in a Valentine's Day massacre."

ENDS

Notes to editor

Contact details:

The final budget will be debated on 14th February 2005

The motion passed today by 2/3rds of the London Assembly reads:

"That this Assembly, by a majority of more than two-thirds, calls on the Mayor to produce a final budget which significantly reduces the Mayor's proposed rate of increase in the GLA precept including these measures:

Saving money by scrapping the Londoner;

Cutting expenditure on the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge project in the light of the delay due to the public inquiry;

Recognition that bus fares are likely to generate significantly more income than projected;

Cracking down on fare evasion.

The Assembly also calls on the Mayor to instruct the LDA to reconfigure their budget to deliver the Green Grid and other major environmental improvements.

That the MPA must spend its dedicated monies on road safety programmes.

The Assembly fully supports the overall MPA budget.

Proposed by: Bob Neill, Graham Tope, Damian Hockney and Darren Johnson"