Livingstone Should Be Ashamed Of London New Year Celebration Flop

12.00.00am GMT Mon 8th Dec 2003

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate, Simon Hughes MP, today set out his disappointment over Mayor Livingstone's plans to ban Londoners from the capital's New Year's Eve celebrations.

In a letter to Mr Livingstone, Mr Hughes outlined his concerns that the plans to celebrate New Year in London have not only been too little, too late, but also exclude Londoners from joining in the party. Despite spending £3.7million on New Year, Mayor Livingstone is yet to publicise the

celebrations or tell Londoners the full details of the plans - except the public is excluded.

Mr Hughes said: - "It is ridiculously late to start publicising the New Year's Eve events when

many tourists and Londoners will have already made their plans."

"Given that Mr Livingstone has already spent £3.7million on these secret plans to hold New Year celebrations in the capital, it is ludicrous that Londoners are not even invited."

"The Mayor has added an extra pound in council tax to every household in London with his New Year plans, so it is just bizarre that he is preventing Londoners from taking part and enjoying the occasion."

www.simon4mayor.org.uk