Boris’ budget slammed by east London Assembly member

The London Assembly Member for Newham and Tower Hamlets slammed Boris Johnson’s draft budget as an “insult to hard-working Londoners” on Monday (Jan 7).

John Biggs, who represents both boroughs along with Barking and Dagenham in his City and East Labour constituency, criticised the capital’s mayor following last week’s release of the figures for the 2013/14 financial year.

The budget would see a 1.2 per cent cut to band D council tax, but a hike in travel card prices and cuts to the emergency services’ coffers.

Mr Biggs said: “Wages for the majority of workers are barely rising and Londoners are really struggling more then elsewhere in the UK.

“It is scandalous that Boris has not used his power to curb fare rises, and an insult to hard-working Londoners that he’s claiming credit for saving households 7 pence a week.”

But the Tory mayor defended the budget, pointing out his council tax cuts are in contrast to previous Labour mayor Ken Livingstone’s successive rises.