• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Boris accused of ‘propaganda on the rates’

March 1, 2012 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Opposition AMs have accused the Mayor of issuing taxpayer funded 'propaganda'. Image: MayorWatch
A leaflet detailing City Hall’s spending and share of the council tax could be the subject of an official complaint by opposition parties on the London Assembly.

Every local authority must send homes information detailing their budgeted use of the council tax at start of each tax year.

The Greater London Authority provides an insert to accompany the council’s information as well as text to be displayed online detailing how the Mayor plans to spend his council tax precept.

Households will receive this year’s leaflets in the build up to May’s elections for Mayor and the London Assembly.

City Hall has strict rules about issuing material or launching initiatives in the build up to the election which could favour or disadvantage any candidate. The rules apply to all elected politicians at City Hall as well as their staff.

The approved text includes statements which highlight claimed policy achievements during Boris Johnson’s term. Some echo claims, disputed by rivals, made on the Mayor’s re-election campaign website.

Assembly Members have privately described the wording, personally authorised by Mr Johnson, as “propaganda” and a “taxpayer funded election address”.

Some opposition AMs are considering a making a formal complaint in the hope of forcing changes to the wording.

In 2004 a complaint by Conservative Mayoral candidate Steve Norris resulted in publicity material featuring Ken Livingstone being withdrawn from City Hall’s website during the election period.

Commenting on the approved text, Green Party Assembly Member and Mayoral candidate Jenny Jones said: “I am concerned that this statement from the Mayor steps over the legal line which prevents sending out propaganda on the rates.

“I hope the Mayor will recall the statement and ask himself if he is replicating the Pyongyang-style free sheet which he often criticised his predecessor about.”

Update: This site has seen internal emails between officers at one council in which a senior official outlined a number of proposed deletions and amendments to the GLA’s text designed to address concerns about the proximity of the election.

A City Hall spokesperson said: “The Mayor owes it to Londoners to explain the amount he taxes them. His explanation was cleared by senior legal officials and reflects the detail and tone of previous years.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Tagged With: 2012 London Election

RECENT UPDATES

TfL and Siemens unveil new Piccadilly line Tube train designs

852 new homes to be built in Acton by Transport for London

HGV operators in London urged to apply for a Direct Vision Standard permit

TfL proposes bus and tube cuts and annual fares increases to achieve long-term financial sustainability




Popular

1,700 extra Santander Cycles are coming to London’s streets

TfL confirms changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card hours

TfL fares to rise in return for £1.6bn Government rescue package

Election for Mayor of London and London Assembly postponed until 2021

FEATURED

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.