JOKER LIVINGSTONE MUST STOP 'ROBIN' LONDONERS BLIND

6.27.00pm GMT Wed 28th Jan 2004

Ken Livingstone plans to double Council Tax

Commenting on the Mayor's budget speech in which Mr Livingstone is expected to outline his proposals to increase Council Tax by 9.9% and therefore double Londoners Council Tax bills in his term of office, Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes MP said:-

"Londoner's Council Tax has doubled with the Mayor's 'I spend now, you pay later' policies. We must now ask if we are getting value for money from Mr Livingstone.

"Unlike the Mayor, the Liberal Democrats proposals would actually increase front line police while slashing the money spent on the Mayor's office in self promotion, advertising and spin.

"Ken 'The Joker' Livingstone thinks he is living in the fantasy world of Gotham City. Yet even Batman couldn't help the Mayor cut crime by 50% in four years. Now 'The Joker' is planning on 'Robin' Londoners blind to pay for more of his cartoon capers."

ENDS