Speaking this morning at the Conservative Party Conference, Boris Johnson has confirmed plans to freeze the Greater London Authority’s portion of the council tax for the second year running.
Last year the Mayor announced a freeze in the precept, the first time this had happened since the Authority came into being in 2000, saying he was able to deliver the same services while making over £100 million of efficiency savings.
However opposition members on the London Assembly have repeatedly accused the Mayor of distorting the true cost of his administration by creating a fanfare around the precept freeze while levying above-inflation fare increases of 6%.
Speaking this morning Johnson said: “When there is less money in people’s pockets and people feel less secure in their jobs it is important that politicians do all they can to protect the families and people of London from excessive tax increases.”
Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, has criticised Johnson for failing to reveal details of this year’s fare package.
Commenting after the Mayor’s speech Pidgeon said: “While the Mayor boasts about freezing his section of the council tax from April 2010 he remains silent over fares which are a far bigger bill for most Londoners.”
