Blair's Mayor is taking the biscuit - says Tottenham's William MacDougall 16/07/04

The Conservatives' Parliamentary candidate for Tottenham has thrown down the gauntlet to Ken Livingstone after the Mayor unveiled extravagant spending plans akin to the notorious binges of the old GLC era.

Since his re-election in June, the Labour boss of the capital has reported to the London Assembly that he has funded a CND conference and paid a joining fee for the Association of Nuclear Free Authorities. In addition, he has spent thousands of pounds on promoting himself by putting his 'mug' on all GLA/TfL literature.

Mayor Livingstone has also stated that if Michael Moore's propaganda film 'Farenheit 9/11 - criticising the Bush administration, its links to the oil industry, and the US decision to go to war with Iraq - had not gained distribution rights in the UK, he would have bought cinema space for Londoners to go and see it.

Criticising this extraordinary extravagance with taxpayer's money, William MacDougall, the Tory candidate for Tottenham said:

"The Mayor doubled Haringey's precept in his first four years and with this attitude he will double it again in his second term."

William added:

"I'm sure Tottenham residents can think of better ways to spend their taxes than a return to the old GLC policies of supporting any cause that is currently fashionable in left-wing circles. When public money and resources are being used, there must be more objective criteria than the Mayor's political views. Livingstone is up to his old tricks, but the cost is being met by Tottenham tax-payers. Livingstone is taking the buscuit!"

William MacDougall promised that his Conservative colleagues in the Greater London Assembly (GLA) would keep a close on eye on the Mayor's activities and spending plans - "and they will challenge him on his profligacy when necessary."

ENDS.