Blair's Mayor Livingstone Spends More Than Blair On Spin

5.03.00pm GMT Wed 24th Mar 2004

The Liberal Democrats can today reveal Parliamentary answers showing that despite the rise in spending on the Downing Street Spin Machine, Ken Livingstone still spends more.

Parliamentary Answers given to the Liberal Democrats show the cost of the No.10 Press office has risen by £223,458 between 2001/02 and 2002/03, to £1,375,894. Despite this increase of 130%, it is still more than £100,000 less than the current Mayor who spends around £1.47million.

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate, Simon Hughes, said: "It is incredible that despite the massive increase in Downing Street spin spending, Mr Livingstone still spends more of London taxpayers' money."

"Mr Livingstone has some serious questions to answer as to why spending on his press offices exceeds that of 10 Downing Street. This is not what London's taxpayers expect their money to be spent on."

"I hope that the Audit Commission will look at the Mayor's press machine as part of his efficiency review. As the next London Mayor, I will cut the budget of the press office down to size to make sure Londoners get better value for money "

"We need to make clear choices to spend less on back office bureaucracy and spend Londoners' money better on front line services for the whole of Greater London."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Total cost of running No.10 Press Office

1996-97 £597,240

1997-98 £664,197

1998-99 £740,793

1999-00 £784,903

2000-01 £954,659

2001-02 £1,152,436

2002-03 £1,375,894

Source: PQ no. 162855 answered on 22nd March 2004 see:

The combined cost of Livingstone's two press departments in 2004/05 (Mayor's Office and TfL) will be £1,477,000.