News from London Assembly Labour

Out of touch Boris must act on child poverty and cost of living in London

Responding to today’s warning from the Institute for Fiscal Studies that an extra 600,000 children face being pushed into poverty over the next two years, Ken Livingstone said: “With 4 in 10 London children currently living in poverty and this figure set to get worse over the next two years, London needs a mayor that will stand up for ordinary Londoners and take a stand against rising living costs.

“14 of the 20 UK local authorities with the worst levels of child poverty are in London, yet Boris Johnson has prioritised lobbying for a cut in the 50p tax rates which will help only the rich, rather than helping those families trapped in poverty.

“Ordinary Londoners are already struggling with the basic cost of living, with the highest housing and childcare costs in the country, not to mention Boris Johnson’s fare hikes. With a single bus fare using Oyster rising by 56% since 2008, and the cost of a zone 1-6 travelcard up by over £500 in just three years, it is clear that Boris Johnson is out of touch and failing to represent ordinary London families.”

Other news from London Assembly Labour

• Every Labour voter must turn out today or the Tories will get away with it - 3 May 2012
• Cameron urging a Boris Johnson vote shows why we need a Labour Mayor - 3 May 2012
• Ken to woo London Liberal Democrat voters with email appeal - 1 May 2012