Boris gets his �14bn London budget through without change
BORIS Johnson managed to push his tough �14 billion budget through the London Assembly yesterday by the skin of his teeth—with no amendments. He actually lost the tally by two votes, 11 for and 13 against
BORIS Johnson managed to push his tough �14 billion budget through the London Assembly yesterday by the skin of his teeth—with no amendments.
He actually lost the tally by two votes, 11 for and 13 against, after fierce criticism over bus and Tube fare rises and cuts in police numbers in the face of rising crime.
But the budget was approved because it can only be altered if there is a two-thirds majority calling for it.
A spokesman at the Mayor’s Office explained: “It is confusing, but the Mayor doesn’t actually need the Assembly to vote in favour—he just needs amendments to fail to get a two thirds majority, which means 17 votes if all 25 Assembly Members are voting.”
You may also want to watch:
So the lean and mean’ budget goes ahead, despite protests at fare rises—single bus journeys up 20 per cent—and cuts in police numbers.
On the day snow fell again in London, Boris has frozen the GLA’s precept it takes from the 32 London boroughs for the second year running.
Most Read
- 1 Luxury Canary Wharf flats going for lower rent set by the council
- 2 Driver, 18, wanted for driving wrong way through Blackwall Tunnel
- 3 Liverpool Street to Shenfield line suspended as person hit by train
- 4 Fines totalling £361k handed to East End landlords and agents
- 5 Building new tower block starts on Limehouse Triangle 'wildlife site'
- 6 Capacity at West Ham's London stadium to increase to 62,500
- 7 Isle of Dogs man who murdered teenager at Crossharbour DLR sentenced to 27 years
- 8 14 charged with alleged drug dealing and money laundering offences
- 9 19 arrested and cash seized in East End dawn drug raids
- 10 Man charged after triple stabbing on night bus in Mile End
This brings relief to families faced with rising council tax bills, especially in areas like the East End, one of London’s most socially-deprived corners.
Boris promised the East End’s 96,000 households: “I am once again freezing what City Hall takes from Tower Hamlets council taxpayers.
“Londoners suffered from outrageous increases in the GLA precept of 153 per cent over the eight years of the previous administration.”
His get tough’ fiscal diet includes plans for �500m more cuts next year and a total of �2.4 billion over the coming three years “in recognition of severe public spending constraints facing the country.”
