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Ken Livingstone in touch with youth during his visit to Nag’s Head |
‘Vote Boris, lose 50,000 homes’
Mayor Ken warns that Tory opponent would end massive house-building programme
MAYOR of London Ken Livingstone has warned that voters will be gambling with a massive home-building project if they kick him out of office.
He claimed plans for affordable homes would be blocked if Tory opponent Boris Johnson wins the mayoral election on May 1.
Mr Livingstone laid out his manifesto on a visit to the Nag’s Head, in Holloway, on Friday. He promised more money for youth clubs to combat the lure of gangs in Islington; more affordable and rentable homes; and a 20mph speed limit on residential roads in London.
But he added: “Islington’s got its problems, it needs more investment. We’ve got £79 million from the government to rebuild youth provision. One of the things Islington doesn’t have is enough youth clubs and activities in the evenings and weekends so kids don’t get caught up in gangs.
“The government’s given me enough money to double youth provision in the city over the next year.”
On housing, he said the government had provided enough money to build 50,000 affordable homes in the next three years. “That’s the biggest housing programme in 40 years and that would mainly be homes for rent at rents people can afford,” Mr Livingstone said. “If I don’t win this election they ain’t gonna be built.”
He warned that Mr Johnson would abolish the 50 per cent requirement for affordable housing in new developments.
Mr Livingstone added: “The council’s got a responsibility to people who need homes to rent, every bit as much as they have to incoming media consultants and lawyers who can afford to buy.”
He backed Islington Green councillor Katie Dawson’s call for a 20mph limit on London roads. “We want there to be a presumption that London’s roads are 20mph,” he said, adding that there would exceptions for motorways. “Where you’re passing homes and schools and most shops you should be doing 20mph,” he said.
But he could not commit to a 20mph limit on traffic in Holloway Road. “You might tolerate 30mph,” he said. “I need to look at the traffic figures first.”
Mr Livingstone met veteran Labour politician Tony Benn and campaigners Londoners for Peace on Saturday at Chapel Market, where he spoke against the Iraq war.
Assembly candidates face voters at hustings
VOTERS will quiz candidates standing for the London Assembly at hustings in Archway on Wednesday, writes Julia Phillips.
Labour North East Assembly member Jennette Arnold will debate issues with Meral Ece, for the Liberal Democrats, Alexander Ellis (Conservative) and Aled Fisher (Green).
Organised by Better Archway Forum, the public meeting is at 7pm at Hargrave Hall in Hargrave Road. Issues expected to be raised include plans for the proposed redevelopment of Archway and improvements to Archway Tube station. |
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