Mayor Fritters £5k On National 'Banner & Route Decoration' Ad

10.44.51am GMT Tue 2nd Mar 2004

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes accused the Mayor of excessive waste of taxpayers' money after a quarter page advert was placed in today's Media Guardian for a 'Schools Banner and Route Decoration Project Organiser'.

The advert asks for tenders to 'devise, co-ordinate and manage a schools' arts and banner making project to involve children and young people in the decoration of the Olympic Torch Relay route.'

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes

Simon said:- "Of course the Olympic torch relay is a vital part of the PR to establish the London bid as a front runner for the 2012 Olympics. But to spend thousands of pounds on an advert in a national newspaper to hire a project organiser for 'the decoration of the Olympic Relay route' simply shows the extent to which the Mayor is prepared to blow taxpayers' money."

"In each and every local authority across London there are experts who could co-ordinate and promote this type of project. It does not need £5,000 to be spent looking for one. I have been the chair of the extremely successful Thames festival for many years and we have never had to spend this sort of money on hiring professionals."

"The Mayor's chunk of Council Tax has doubled since he came to power and yet he continues to fritter away money. It is this very type of waste that demonstrates the disregard of the Mayor for getting real value for money for the taxpayers' of London."

ENDS

Notes to editor

The advert can be found on Page 36 of Monday 1st March 2004 Guardian Media Section. A quarter page advert will cost over £5,500.