1. TFL have reported that there were severe delays on the following lines this morning:

* Circle – Severe delays.
* Hammersmith & City – Severe delays.
* Jubilee – Severe delays.
* Metropolitan – Severe delays.

2. Last weekend Boris Johnson boasted: “Across all our roads and rails, hundreds of workers are on standby to ensure that, should we receive a mega deposit of snow, we are in a position to keep the capital moving.”

“I’ll tell you what makes me angry – lefty crap,” he thunders in response. Like? “Well, like spending £20,000 on a dinner at the Dorchester for Sinn Fein!” – Boris Johnson, New Statesman interview with Jemima Khan.

Key points:

* This was in fact the annual St Patrick’s Day Gala dinner.

* The annual St Patrick’s Day dinner was instituted at the request of the Irish community and sponsored by the Irish Post, and a range of business sponsors particularly in the construction industry.

* It was organised on a basis of no net cost to the public purse. Each year it not only covered costs from sponsorship and ticket sales but made a donation to an Irish community charity in London and also towards the costs of the St Patrick’s Day parade and festival.

* All the main Irish political parties north and south were invited and the Irish ambassador, representatives from many Irish parties attended.

* Prominent attendees at the annual St Patrick’s Day Gala Dinner included Dermot O’Leary, Bob Geldof, Pauline McLynn (from Father Ted) and Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners.

* The sponsorship of the dinner expressed the support from Irish and Irish diaspora business for the celebration of the contribution of the Irish community to London, and was attended by representatives of all sections of the London Irish community.

* Despite it paying for itself, Boris Johnson withdrew support from the dinner when he was elected.

Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Vernon Coaker MP, said: “Irish Londoners have made a huge contribution to the peace process in Northern Ireland, and to building positive relations between the UK and Ireland. The St Patrick’s Day celebrations and all the work that Ken Livingstone did as Mayor played an important role in that. Boris Johnson’s comments are ill-judged, inaccurate and offensive.”

“Unlike many in the Conservative Party he has fought for equality for LGBT rights throughout his life including when it was highly controversial. He established Britain’s first civil partnership register, fought Clause 28 and backed LGBT Pride.

“Ken will reinstate London’s LGBT Pride annual reception at City Hall, put the Greater London Authority back into the Stonewall Employer’s Index and oppose government cuts to LGBT organisations.”

This morning Ken Livingstone launched a new hard-hitting video about reality of crime in London. You can view the video here.

In the last year Ken has visited every London borough, spending a full day meeting residents and listening to their concerns. The video reflects the concerns of the Londoners we have have met on high streets and in community meetings about crime and Ken’s commitment to get to make their streets safer and provide more support for the victims of crime.

Last year Ken announced that if elected he would create the first ever Victims of Crime Commissioner for London – powerful new position who would work to improve support for the victims of crime.

On Tuesday this week Ken launched his policing pledge promising to reverse Boris Johnson’s cuts to 1,700 police officers and reinstate sergeants to all 600 Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

1. Reverse Boris Johnson’s cuts to 1,700 police officers;

2. Reinstate sergeants to all 600 Safer Neighbourhood Teams, more of which will be beefed up to a minimum of nine officers, reversing the Tory Mayor’s cut to 300 sergeants in 2011.

According to the Metropolitan Police violent crimes such as robbery, residential burglary and rape have all risen while police has been cut. Knife crime has risen every year under Boris Johnson.

Police officer numbers peaked in 2010 at 33,260 officers. According to the Metropolitan Police there are currently just 31,657 officers in London. On Tuesday 24th January 2012 Boris Johnson admitted cutting 1,700 police officers on LBC.

Ken Livingstone said; “Boris Johnson has admitted cutting 1,700 police officers. If I am elected, I will reverse his cuts. And I will reinstate sergeants to all 600 Safer Neighbourhood Teams, more of which will be beefed up to a minimum of nine officers.

“At a time when violent crimes including robbery, knife crime and rape are all rising in London it’s time to reverse the Tory Mayor’s cuts to the police and make the streets safer.

Labour’s London Assembly transport spokesperson, Joanne McCartney AM said; “Londoners across the capital have been appalled by Boris Johnson’s police cuts. It’s essential that there is a visible policing presence on our streets.

“Boris Johnson’s decision to cut 1,700 police officers, including 300 experienced local police team sergeants shows why he is increasingly known as a Mayor who is completely out of touch.”

In the report (Operational and Financial performance and investment programme reports – third quarter 2011/12) TfL predicts an annual operating surplus of £338 million by the end of the financial year.

TfL’s operating surplus is money which is over and above budgeted income. The huge surplus has been amassed as a result of higher than expected passenger numbers and rising fare levels.

The financial report (see page 19 of this pdf document) will be discussed by the TFL board today.

Ken Livingstone said; “This financial report is the latest document from TfL which confirms a fare cut is both affordable and necessary. The combination of rising fares and rising passenger numbers has meant TfL have got hundreds of millions of surplus income which they had not budgeted for.

“I believe after four long years of rising fares under London’s Tory Mayor it’s time to use TfL’s huge operating surplus to cut the fares and save the average Londoner £1,000 over four years.

“Out of a transport budget of £9 billion if you can’t find money to fund a fare cut there is something wrong.”

The Tories falsely claim they are using the operating surplus for investment in transport infrastructure. But TfL’s figures reveal that it is also forecast to underspend it’s capital budget by £257 million (see document copied below and attached), clearly showing that there is room for it both to cut fares and an increase in investment in infrastructure.

The figures, which come from written answers from the Mayor of London, show sanction detection rates of murder and attempted murder in London have fallen by 10% in just six months. Detection of firearm offences, knife crime offences, rape and trafficking for sexual exploitation have all also fallen in the last six months. Overall, less than a third of violent crimes are now ending in prosecution, with sanction detection rates for violent crimes falling by 1.9% to 32.7%.

The new figures follow Tory mayor Boris Johnson’s admission on LBC last week that 1,700 London police officer posts have been cut in the last 18 months. According to the Metropolitan Police the number of police officers has fallen from a peak of 33,260 officers in March 2010 to just 31,478 officers in October 2011.

Ken Livingstone, Labour’s candidate for London mayor said: “It is deeply worrying that the percentage of murders, rape, firearm offences and knife crimes that result in a charge, summons or other formal sanction is actually falling. The Mayor’s cut the number of police in London could not be more poorly timed or threaten such serious consequences for the police and their ability to keep Londoners safe.

“Victims of crime must be given greater priority in our criminal justice system, but that means defending the capacity of the police to do their job. London needs more, not fewer police on the streets.”

The London Labour party have named Christine Quigley as their newest candidate for the 2012 London elections. Christine, originally from Dublin is Vice-Chair of the Labour Party Irish Society and a former chair of London Young Labour.

Christine was selected as a reserve by the London regional board in 2011 and takes the list place previously held by Seema Malhotra. Seema is stepping dowe from the list to concentrate on her new role as parliament’s newest MP, following her election to the Feltham & Heston seat in December 2011.

Labour’s 2012 London Assembly team is one of the strongest and most diverse ever fielded in London, including 14 women and 10 Black and Ethnic Minority candidates. In contrast, not one of the eight Conservative Assembly constituency candidates is a woman.

Christine Quigley said: “I am delighted to join the Labour slate for London 2012. Young Londoners have been hit hard by Tory policies and cuts, and I feel passionately about the issues that affect my generation and my community. After four years of a Tory Mayor who represents the 1% it’s time we returned a Labour team to City Hall who will ensure that the interests of ordinary Londoners are always put first.”

Ken Livingstone said: “In stark contrast to the Tory list, Labour can boast a list line up which is truly representative of the diversity of London, and the addition of this bright young Irish Londoner only enhances this further.

Having campaigned alongside Christine for many years I know what a fantastic addition to the Labour team she will be. I look forward to working with her over the coming months on Labour’s campaign and wish Seema the best of luck in parliament.”

Labour’s London Assembly constituency and list candidates:
1. Jennette Arnold AM (North East) *
2. John Biggs AM (City and East)*
3. Len Duvall AM (Greenwich and Lewisham)*
4. Navin Shah AM (Brent and Harrow)*
5. Val Shawcross AM (Lambeth and Southwark)*
6. Joanne McCartney AM (Enfield and Haringey)*
7. Lisa Homan (South West)
8. Josie Channer (Bexley and Bromley)
9. Leonie Cooper (Merton and Wandsworth)
10. Louisa Woodley (Croydon and Sutton)
11. Mandy Richards (Havering and Redbridge)
12. Andrew Dismore (Barnet and Camden)
13. Onkar Sahota (Ealing and Hillingdon)
14. Todd Foreman (West Central)

Labour London Assembly list members / candidates:
1.Nicky Gavron AM *
2.Murad Qureshi AM *
3.Fiona Twycross
4.Tom Copley
5.Florence Nosegbe
6.Unmesh Desai
7.Kirsten Hearn
8.Liquat Ali
9.Mabel McKeown
10.Kevin McGrath
11.Christine Quigley

(* = current AM)

Today Tory Mayor Boris Johnson has announced a 1 per cent cut in the Mayor’s share of council tax.

This will save Band D taxpayers in London just £3.10 a year.

Ken Livingstone said; “This is just £3.10 a year, whereas I will save Londoners on average £1,000 over four years by cutting the fares on October 7th this year.

“I believe in tough times Londoners need a Mayor who will cut the cost of living. Boris Johnson’s announcement today would hardly pay for a single tube journey.”

Ken Livingstone has announced the date for his ‘Fare Deal’ fares cut. The Labour candidate for Mayor of London revealed today that the fares will be cut on the first Sunday in October – October 7th 2012. He also said he would resign if he did not do it on or before that date.

Ken Livingstone said: “Fares will be cut and today I’m setting the date for London’s liberation from the high fares of the current mayor.

“Politics should be about making a difference, and just as I cut fares before, I will cut them now because the tough times we’re going through demand a fairer fares policy. If I am elected in a few short months there will be real change for the better.

“There could not be a clearer choice. Boris Johnson raised your fares for the fourth time this January, but on October 7th 2012 I will cut them, saving the average Londoner £1000 over four years.

“By setting the date for the fares cut I’m showing that politics is about change and about doing something real for the majority, not just a privileged few.

“My commitment to carrying out this cut is such that I give my word that if I do not cut the fares on or by October 7th I will resign the office of Mayor immediately and cause a by-election.

“As with my fares cuts at the Greater London Council, my role in introducing the Freedom Pass, and my abolition of bus and tram fares for under-18s, I will make Londoners’ transport fairer, and improve their quality of life.

“Fares will be cut by 7 per cent on October 7th, wiping out the increase Boris Johnson imposed on ordinary Londoners this January. I will also cut the bus fare by even more, back to £1.20 from £1.35, because a single bus fare has risen by fifty per cent under a Tory Mayor.

“The present course is a disaster – cutting investment by ending schemes including the Croydon Tramlink extension, the Thames Gateway Bridge and extending the DLR to Dagenham Dock, yet all the while whacking up Londoners’ fares in the toughest economic times in decades. The Tory Mayor even broke his clear pledge not raise the congestion charge above £8.”

Ken Livingstone’s running mate, Val Shawcross AM, said: “Under a Tory Mayor fares have been raised more than necessary, causing an unplanned operating surplus of more than £700 million last year, and an unplanned surplus of £206 million in the last six months according to TfL. This is because Boris Johnson annually underestimates the amount of revenue he gets from his fare rises. It’s time to change the balance in favour of ordinary Londoners.”