Londoners and politicians have been given mixed messages today on the costs of the Olympic games.
Speaking at his regular news conference this morning Ken Livingstone told reporters that “so far that original £2.4 billion budget stands”
However this was later contradicted by Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who told a Commons committee that costs had increased by £900 million.
The differing accounts of costs were attacked by London Assembly Chairman Brian Coleman who said “such lack of clarity lends weight to the Assembly’s call for openness about the price of hosting the 2012 Games and its determination that London council taxpayers should not have their pockets dipped into again.”
