KEN'S PLEDGES TO LONDONERS ARE NOTHING BUT HOT AIR - TUFFREY

11.50.26am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th Jun 2006

In the week Ken Livingstone marks his seventh year in power, the Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly question how he has faired on the promises he has made to Londoners.

Commenting on the findings, Liberal Democrat Leader in the London Assembly, Mike Tuffrey said:

"The figures we have discovered are frightening. Ken Livingstone has either missed, backtracked or not delivered on 8 major pledges he has made to Londoners since becoming Mayor.

'Labour's Mayor excels in making arrogant comments, spending tax payers' money publicising himself and doubling his share of Londoners' council tax. But when it comes to addressing the major issues concerning Londoners such as crime, transport or affordable housing, Ken Livingstone has failed on every account to deliver for London."

KEN LIVINGSTONE'S RECORD:

· CRIME

Reducing crime: MISSED

THE PLEDGE

January 2004: Ken Livingstone pledged "I'll cut crime in the capital by half in four years". This was contingent on him getting 30,000 police officers. However Met figures show that in 2002/3 police strength was already up to 30,164, including police officers and PCSOs.

THE OUTCOME

June 2006: Ken Livingstone is on track to miss his target by 35.5% or by almost 380,000 crimes per year

· TRANSPORT

Congestion Charge: U-TURN

THE PLEDGE:

February 2003: Ken Livingstone said "It won't now be necessary. It's now quite clear that £5 was enough. I can't conceive of any circumstances in the foreseeable future where we would want to change the charge, although perhaps 10 years down the line it may be necessary."

THE OUTCOME:

July 2005: merely 18 months after its introduction and the Mayor's pledge not to raise fares for at least a decade, Congestion Charge rises to £8

May 2006: Mayor breaks his pledge again as he pledges to raise congestion charge to £10 if re-elected in 2008

Cashless Buses: NOT DONE

THE PLEDGE

May 2004: "We will take cash off the buses by the beginning of 2006"

THE OUTCOME

June 2006: no action

Roadworks: NOT DONE

THE PLEDGE

May 2004: Ken Livingstone: "We will work with the government and the boroughs to introduce a permit system to enforce strictly the proper planning and co-ordination of roadworks throughout London"

THE OUTCOME

June 2006: no action

· HOUSING

Affordable Housing: MISSED

THE PLEDGE

May 2004: Ken Livingstone pledged to build "30,000 new homes a year with 50% to be low cost and affordable"

THE OUTCOME

June 2006: The Mayor's delivery of affordable housing in London for 2004/05 is a mere 28% (Delivering Increased Housing Output, April 2006)

· ENVIRONMENT

Water for the Olympics: U-TURN

THE PLEDGE

November 2004: Mayor backs the bid for London as candidate city in which the Beckton plant is presented as a done deal:

'Due to increasing demand for water and the predicted impacts of climate change, innovative sustainable solutions are being put in place to ensure continued safe and reliable water supplies. One example is the planned 150 megalitres per day desalination plant to treat brackish water from the Thames estuary at Beckton, close to the Lea Valley. This is a first in the UK and will be operational from 2007' London 2012 Candidate File (Vol. 1,pg.71)

THE OUTCOME

April 2006: Mayor sets out case against a desalination plant for London:

'The proposals for a desalination plant are akin to pouring water into a sieve. I want to send out a clear message that as Mayor of London, I will not back new developments which contribute further to the problem of climate change.'

Household waste: MISSED

THE PLEDGE

September 2003: "to exceed the household waste recycling targets set by government; to recycle or compost at least of 25% of household waste by 2005"

THE OUTCOME

June 2006: DEFRA figures for 2004/05 show that residents in London have only recycled 17% of all household waste in London, missing the Mayor's targets by 8%

· CULTURE

London Culture Card: NOT DONE

THE PLEDGE

May 2004: Ken Livingstone pledged "London is one of the greatest centres of entertainment, creativity and culture in the world. We will establish a London Culture Card building on the success of the new Oyster travel-card."

THE OUTCOME

June 2006: no action