News from London Assembly Labour

Len Duvall: Mayor’s do nothing attitude not the answer

The Labour group on the London Assembly today responded to Boris Johnson’s attack on Prime Minister Gordon Brown, saying that his do nothing approach was not the answer to London’s problems.

Leader of the Labour group on the London Assembly Len Duvall said: “While the rest of the world is taking co-ordinated action to tackle the economic difficulties ahead, Boris Johnson advocates a return to the ‘do nothing’ attitude of the 1980s and 90s when the government stood by as businesses failed and families suffered.

“It is vital that via tax and spending the government supports and stimulates London’s economy while it needs it most. But in spite of what the Mayor says about needing to invest, his actions reveal his instincts are to cut, stop and abandon infrastructure projects that would help see London through the recession.

“This is the man who defended investment bankers as the ‘masters of the universe’, said Londoners should “stop whingeing…about house prices boosted by City bonuses” and has axed major projects that would have stimulated house building and provided much-needed jobs for Londoners. Boris Johnson is the last man the Prime Minister should be taking advice from today.”

Other news from London Assembly Labour

• Mayor still refuses to act against banned councillor - 5 March 2010
• Banned councillor: London Labour leader calls on Mayor to act - 25 February 2010
• Boris's broken promise "a huge blow to the Tories' plans for elected police commissioners" - 23 February 2010