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

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Budget Row Continues With Clash Over Slavery Commemoration

January 31, 2007 - Staff

The row over the proposed 2007/08 budget continues today with accusations of “lies and smears” over claims by the Mayor that Assembly Members are threatening to cut funding earmarked to commemorate the abolition of slavery.

In his proposed budget the Mayor has included £200,000 to commemorate the event.

A statement issued by the Mayor’s office today claims “proposals to cut the funding were moved by Assembly Member Angie Bray” when she tabled an alternative budget at yesterday’s debate.

Mr Livingstone claimed there was “a straight choice at the final budget meeting on 14 February – whether or not to cut London’s commemoration of the end of the transatlantic slave trade” and vowed to “do everything in my power to keep this commemoration as a key event in London’s calendar.”

However speaking to MayorWatch Ms Bray described the statement as “a pack of lies and smears” adding that “an elementary glance at our budget details would have shown quite clearly that we have not attempted to remove a single penny of what is being proposed to be spent on the commemoration.”

Ms Bray said Assembly Members “felt the money should come from national government coffers as it is a national event” and that “we thought a better way of commemorating the abolition of slavery would have been to put the money into fighting present day slavery and people trafficking.”

“But the money would have certainly remained in place under our budget proposals whatever.”

The row follows yesterday’s disputed claims that AMs wanted to remove the free travel concession for under 16’s in favour of a “pilot” school bus scheme.

  • 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)

RECENT UPDATES

Record number of candidates stand in London’s Mayoral election

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




POPULAR

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.