OUTRAGEOUS TAX GRAB BY MAYOR ON LONDONERS CONDEMNED BY LIB DEMS

12.00.00am GMT Thu 13th Feb 2003

The London Assembly Liberal Democrats have condemned Mayor Ken Livingstone's 2003/4 budget, passed today thanks to the complicit support of the London Assembly Labour Group.

Graham Tope, Lib Dem Group Leader, said after today's Assembly meeting on the Mayor's budget:

'This is an outrageous tax-grab by the Mayor on Londoners. For the third year running, he has demanded an inflation-busting increase from council tax payers. This year the typical GLA precept will rise by an unacceptable 97p per week.

'Since he took office, his demand on the precept has doubled, but there are no clear signs that he has delivered value for this extra money.

Londoners must receive the public services they have been promised and what they pay for. The extra police officers must begin to have an effect on overall crime and to make London a safer place.

There must be continued improvement in London's public transport services. The Mayor will be held to account: we will expect to see results.'

Lord Tope also criticised the Labour Group for their complacency and compliancy over the Mayor's council tax demand:

'Nicky Gavron admitted in today's debate that this is a 'Labour budget'! This so-called opposition party are feathering their own nests: they know they won't win the next election with Ms Gavron as their candidate, so they are instead trying to stay in Ken Livingstone's favour by supporting his ever-increasing spending demands.'