Bob Neill, Leader of the London Assembly Conservatives, has condemned what he called “Ken Livingstone’s latest Anti-American outburst”.
Speaking at his regular Press Conference yesterday the Mayor reiterated his description of the American Ambassador, Robert Tuttle, as a “chiselling little crook” and added that President George W. Bush is a “war criminal”, “like General Pinochet”.
Speaking out against the comments Mr Neill said the Mayor’s “anti-American rants are becoming more regular and increasingly irrational, especially as fifty other embassies also refuse to pay the Congestion Charge.”
“America is the UK’s closest ally and whatever his disagreements the Mayor’s job is to run London, not to spend his days shouting abuse at American politicians like a bad tempered school boy. He should apologise at once.”
Ambassador Robert Tuttle last night appeared on the BBC’s Newsnight programme where he made it clear the US has no intention of paying what he insists is a “local” tax.
