"MAYOR'S OLYMPIC COST U-TURNS ARE DAMAGING PUBLIC SUPPORT"- DOOCEY

11.14.37am GMT Wed 7th Feb 2007

Commenting on Ken Livingstone's U-turn today that he now stood by Tessa Jowell's announcement given to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee in November that the cost of the Games had overrun by £900m, Liberal Democrat Olympics Spokesperson on the London Assembly, Dee Doocey, said:

"The Mayor's claims about Olympic costs are just empty spin. Four months ago and wearing his populist hat, he dismissed Tessa Jowell's announcement that the Games would cost an extra £900 million and said this was for regeneration. Today he changed his tune yet again and now wants us to believe that Tessa was right all along.

"Unless this drip feed of misinformation stops, Londoners will turn against the whole concept of the Games. The Mayor, the Government and the Olympic authorities must stop squabbling over figures and publish the final budget immediately." ENDS