London mayor Ken Livingstone has claimed he "ensnared" the Government into bidding for the 2012 Olympics.
Mr Livingstone told a mayoral hustings event in London that he didn't bid for the Games just because he fancied "three weeks of sport" in the capital.
He said the Olympics, which will cost at least £9.3bn to stage, was just a means of extracting funding for London from central Government.
"I didn't bid for the Olympics because I wanted three weeks of sport," he told an audience at St Martin in the Fields church in Trafalgar Square.
"I bid for the Olympics because it's the only way to get the billions of pounds out of the Government to develop the East End.
"It's exactly how I played it to ensnare the Government to put money into an area it has neglected for 30 years."
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Earlier this week an influential group of MPs said it had "little confidence" the £9.3bn target would not be exceeded.
The Commons public accounts committee said the original estimate of just over £4bn was "entirely unrealistic" and accused ministers of succumbing to "wishful thinking" over the cost of the Games.
The mayor's comments came a week ahead of London Mayor polling day at an event organised by Christian groups at which the candidates were quizzed on issues of faith.
The latest polls suggest the race for city hall is neck and neck, with Mr Livingstone on 45%, Boris Johnson on 44% and Brian Paddick on 9%.
Copyright Press Association Ltd 2008, All Rights Reserved.
So when it all goes way over budget and they are looking for someone to blame, Ken will come direct into the firing line.
But of course he will not be around by then, once he bows out as Mr. Leavingsoon I think he will disappear.
So when it all goes way over budget and they are looking for someone to blame, Ken will come direct into the firing line.
But of course he will not be around by then, once he bows out as Mr. Leavingsoon I think he will disappear.
Posted by: Dave, Walthamstow on 12:32pm Thu 24 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Mr Khalid[/bold] wrote:
is cost 10 bilons ponds and meybe this monys cold be useded beter? evry parson must pay[/quote] [bold]evry parson must pay[/bold]
Whats it got to do with ministers of religion? They cant afford it.
Mr Khalid wrote:
is cost 10 bilons ponds and meybe this monys cold be useded beter? evry parson must pay
evry parson must pay
Whats it got to do with ministers of religion? They cant afford it.
Posted by: Dave, Walthamstow on 12:42pm Thu 24 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Mr Khalid[/bold] wrote:
is cost 10 bilons ponds and meybe this monys cold be useded beter? evry parson must pay[/quote] [bold]evry parson must pay[/bold]
Whats it got to do with ministers of religion? They cant afford it.
Mr Khalid wrote:
is cost 10 bilons ponds and meybe this monys cold be useded beter? evry parson must pay
evry parson must pay
Whats it got to do with ministers of religion? They cant afford it.
Well that's just another thing to hate Leavingsoon for then isn't it. The Olympics are bringing no benefits to Waltham Forest, just a lot of costs that we'll all have to pay for a very long time indeed. Just fdor this alone I wouldn't vote for the man.
Well that's just another thing to hate Leavingsoon for then isn't it. The Olympics are bringing no benefits to Waltham Forest, just a lot of costs that we'll all have to pay for a very long time indeed. Just fdor this alone I wouldn't vote for the man.
They reckon that when the Olympics open in Stratford its going to be the first time that we will see people running fast, without being chased by Stratford Police
They reckon that when the Olympics open in Stratford its going to be the first time that we will see people running fast, without being chased by Stratford Police
Posted by: Paul Delaney, Hainault on 1:06am Sat 26 Apr 08
Stratford is a crap hole, do we really want people coming from abroad to an area which hardly represents England? They will get the impression we are all from Asia and on benefits.
Stratford is a crap hole, do we really want people coming from abroad to an area which hardly represents England? They will get the impression we are all from Asia and on benefits.
Do you get the impression that nobody seriously wants to be Mayor? To claim responsibility for dumping billions of pounds of wasted expenditure on London just before an election has the flavour of a suicide note. Or do they really live a fantasy world where they believe their own propaganda? It would explain a lot.
BTW I think it says all you need to know about Waltham Forest that our Olympic logo has only four rings!
Do you get the impression that nobody seriously wants to be Mayor? To claim responsibility for dumping billions of pounds of wasted expenditure on London just before an election has the flavour of a suicide note. Or do they really live a fantasy world where they believe their own propaganda? It would explain a lot.
BTW I think it says all you need to know about Waltham Forest that our Olympic logo has only four rings!
Do you get the impression that nobody seriously wants to be Mayor? To claim responsibility for dumping billions of pounds of wasted expenditure on London just before an election has the flavour of a suicide note. Or do they really live a fantasy world where they believe their own propaganda? It would explain a lot.
BTW I think it says all you need to know about Waltham Forest that our Olympic logo has only four rings!
Do you get the impression that nobody seriously wants to be Mayor? To claim responsibility for dumping billions of pounds of wasted expenditure on London just before an election has the flavour of a suicide note. Or do they really live a fantasy world where they believe their own propaganda? It would explain a lot.
BTW I think it says all you need to know about Waltham Forest that our Olympic logo has only four rings!
Posted by: Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, London on 5:58pm Sat 26 Apr 08
Paul Delaney of Hainault knows as little about Stratford as he does about Italy and Spain.
In Stratford, Plaistow and Canning Town there are more people of African ancestry than of Asian ancestry. Ain't you heard of medal winning Christine Ohuorogu or Ade Adepitan?
House prices are now higher than in Romford. A shopping centre the size of Bluewater is opening before the Olympic Games. There's £104m of work going on at Stratford Station alone.
Stratford, centre of the Universe in less than four year's time!!!
Paul Delaney of Hainault knows as little about Stratford as he does about Italy and Spain.
In Stratford, Plaistow and Canning Town there are more people of African ancestry than of Asian ancestry. Ain't you heard of medal winning Christine Ohuorogu or Ade Adepitan?
House prices are now higher than in Romford. A shopping centre the size of Bluewater is opening before the Olympic Games. There's £104m of work going on at Stratford Station alone.
Stratford, centre of the Universe in less than four year's time!!!
Posted by: Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, London on 12:05pm Sun 27 Apr 08
[bold][italic]Former LibDem parliamentary candidate in Leyton votes for Ken Livingstone. I quote from his website:[/italic][/bold]
"Why I’ve Voted for Ken
Posted by jonathanfryer on Friday, 25th April, 2008
For several years now, I’ve had a permanent postal vote, as that enables me to spend election day more usefully rather than traipsing to my local polling station. So I have already voted in the London Mayoral and GLA elections. In the former, an odd system is used, where voters get first and second preferences (why not go the whole hog and introduce STV?). My first preference went to Brian Paddick, of course, and after much agonising, I decided my second preference had to go to Ken Livingstone.
I scoured the list of the ten other candidates to see if there was anyone I could feel enthusiastic about, but there wasn’t. Sian Berry of the Greens ruled herself out by calling for the closure of City Airport (which has helped regeneration in East London where I live, and taken some of the pressure off Heathrow). Several of the others have unspeakable political views. So it was a straight choice between Ken and Boris Johnson. I understand why some people are so browned off by the current Mayor that they argue ‘anyone but Ken!’. And I think it is bad that he (or any other incumbent) was not limited to two terms. But the thought of Boris in charge at City Hall makes me choke. Ken has done some stupid things and there are sides to his character which I find off-putting. But he has also done some good things for London. Would Boris? I remain to be convinced. Anyway, Boris got ‘nul points’ from me."
Former LibDem parliamentary candidate in Leyton votes for Ken Livingstone. I quote from his website:
"Why I’ve Voted for Ken
Posted by jonathanfryer on Friday, 25th April, 2008
For several years now, I’ve had a permanent postal vote, as that enables me to spend election day more usefully rather than traipsing to my local polling station. So I have already voted in the London Mayoral and GLA elections. In the former, an odd system is used, where voters get first and second preferences (why not go the whole hog and introduce STV?). My first preference went to Brian Paddick, of course, and after much agonising, I decided my second preference had to go to Ken Livingstone.
I scoured the list of the ten other candidates to see if there was anyone I could feel enthusiastic about, but there wasn’t. Sian Berry of the Greens ruled herself out by calling for the closure of City Airport (which has helped regeneration in East London where I live, and taken some of the pressure off Heathrow). Several of the others have unspeakable political views. So it was a straight choice between Ken and Boris Johnson. I understand why some people are so browned off by the current Mayor that they argue ‘anyone but Ken!’. And I think it is bad that he (or any other incumbent) was not limited to two terms. But the thought of Boris in charge at City Hall makes me choke. Ken has done some stupid things and there are sides to his character which I find off-putting. But he has also done some good things for London. Would Boris? I remain to be convinced. Anyway, Boris got ‘nul points’ from me."
Do you think that Ken really wants to win this election? Claiming responsibility for landing Londoners with billions of pounds-worth of unwanted spending sounds more like a suicide note than a manifesto.Or do they all get to believe their own propaganda in the end?
In 2000 I didn't meet a single Londoner who went to the Dome: does anyone know anyone who intends actually GOING to the Olympics, spending their own money?Everyone I speak to who's at all positive thinks it'll be good for somebody else, or London as a whole in some mysterious way. Nobody talks like that about the Cup Final, do they? But then did you ever hear of a rail company laying on a Volleyball Special?
Do you think that Ken really wants to win this election? Claiming responsibility for landing Londoners with billions of pounds-worth of unwanted spending sounds more like a suicide note than a manifesto.Or do they all get to believe their own propaganda in the end?
In 2000 I didn't meet a single Londoner who went to the Dome: does anyone know anyone who intends actually GOING to the Olympics, spending their own money?Everyone I speak to who's at all positive thinks it'll be good for somebody else, or London as a whole in some mysterious way. Nobody talks like that about the Cup Final, do they? But then did you ever hear of a rail company laying on a Volleyball Special?
Posted by: G. Tingey, Walthamstow on 10:08am Mon 28 Apr 08
In fact, I would estimate that at least 90% of Waltham Forests' population want nothing to do with these vile "games".
But we are being forced to pay for them, for no return to us, at all.
What a con.
In fact, I would estimate that at least 90% of Waltham Forests' population want nothing to do with these vile "games".
But we are being forced to pay for them, for no return to us, at all.
Posted by: Paul Canal, Wanstead on 12:30pm Mon 28 Apr 08
[bold]Time to Go Ken![/bold] Having broken his vow to only serve for two terms, Ken now admits to misleading the Government over the cost of the Olympics by £6bn. Coming in the same week that he has been caught lying again about bus and tube fare increases it seems clear that he does not deserve the tust of Londoners.
London is too important to be left in the hands of a man who is consistently "economical with the truth" and his discredited cronies.
Lets hope the wise people of Wanstead and Woodford vote for change on Thursday May 1st.
Time to Go Ken! Having broken his vow to only serve for two terms, Ken now admits to misleading the Government over the cost of the Olympics by £6bn. Coming in the same week that he has been caught lying again about bus and tube fare increases it seems clear that he does not deserve the tust of Londoners.
London is too important to be left in the hands of a man who is consistently "economical with the truth" and his discredited cronies.
Lets hope the wise people of Wanstead and Woodford vote for change on Thursday May 1st.
Posted by: Dave, Walthamstow on 5:15pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Isn't it part of a politician's job to be "economical with the truth"?
Joking aside though, better Ken than a racist Tory bumbler who can barely tie his own shoelaces, let alone run the nation's capital.
Isn't it part of a politician's job to be "economical with the truth"?
Joking aside though, better Ken than a racist Tory bumbler who can barely tie his own shoelaces, let alone run the nation's capital.
Posted by: Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, London on 9:00am Tue 29 Apr 08
I'm not seeing [italic][bold]"unwanted spending"[/bold][/italic] mdj. I'm seeing [bold]serious investment in large public transport projects[/bold] which will last for decades.
£1,000m for the new East London railway from Dalston to Croydon, which was bottom of the previous Strategic Rail Authority's priorities.
Stronger viaducts and longer platforms to run 3-car trains on the Docklands Light Railway.
New trains for the Overground, arriving later this year.
New signalling and longer platfomrs to run longer trains on the north London line.
Some if these might have happened without the Olympic Games 2012 - eventually.
Waltham Forest still has some arguments to win about the Hall Farm Curve, to run trains from Chingford to Stratford and the pedestrian link between Hackney Downs and Hackney Central stations.
I'm not seeing "unwanted spending" mdj. I'm seeing serious investment in large public transport projects which will last for decades.
£1,000m for the new East London railway from Dalston to Croydon, which was bottom of the previous Strategic Rail Authority's priorities.
Stronger viaducts and longer platforms to run 3-car trains on the Docklands Light Railway.
New trains for the Overground, arriving later this year.
New signalling and longer platfomrs to run longer trains on the north London line.
Some if these might have happened without the Olympic Games 2012 - eventually.
Waltham Forest still has some arguments to win about the Hall Farm Curve, to run trains from Chingford to Stratford and the pedestrian link between Hackney Downs and Hackney Central stations.
Beware of alleged improvements. It looks as if the long-awaited Chingford-Stratford link will REPLACE the existing route from Chingford to Liverpool Street. That will leave us a lot worse off than before. We need both - but if we can only have one, it has to be Liverpool Street.
And it shouldn't take the Olympics to put some desperately needed money into infrastructure, with London's population growing by hundreds of thousands a year.
Beware of alleged improvements. It looks as if the long-awaited Chingford-Stratford link will REPLACE the existing route from Chingford to Liverpool Street. That will leave us a lot worse off than before. We need both - but if we can only have one, it has to be Liverpool Street.
And it shouldn't take the Olympics to put some desperately needed money into infrastructure, with London's population growing by hundreds of thousands a year.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
! Lovely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!
Just a few more days for Ken to be booted out and kidnapped by Mossad for all the bad things he says about the Jews! Can't wait!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
! Lovely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!
Just a few more days for Ken to be booted out and kidnapped by Mossad for all the bad things he says about the Jews! Can't wait!
Dear Alan Griffiths,
I'm all in favour of public transport investment (though it could be asked why in an electronic age we can't do things more locally, rather than less). But it's completely demeaning to say that the peasants of east London won't get decent transport links unless this ghastly gravy train of chauvinism, corruption, cheating, drug abuse,prostitution and narcissism deigns to visit for three weeks. To find that road lanes will be closed so that people who consider themselves more important than the rest of us can make us wait for them is quite simply degrading. If the Royal Family did that, we'd be a republic by now. Richard Rogers was quoted in the WFG recently that 75p of every £ spent will be for 'legacy' benefit. This has to be a lie, simply because nobody knows what the figures will be, and contradicts what Livingstone said recently. Andrew Gilligan recently made the interesting point that Tessa Jowell, who is running the mayoral campaign for Labour, must be complicit in Livingstone's lies about the true figures - and she's in charge of the Olympic boondoggle!I notice you don't actually say anything positive about the Games themselves: I think they've become a out-of-control monster with almost nothing to do with sportsmanship.
Best wishes
Dear Alan Griffiths,
I'm all in favour of public transport investment (though it could be asked why in an electronic age we can't do things more locally, rather than less). But it's completely demeaning to say that the peasants of east London won't get decent transport links unless this ghastly gravy train of chauvinism, corruption, cheating, drug abuse,prostitution and narcissism deigns to visit for three weeks. To find that road lanes will be closed so that people who consider themselves more important than the rest of us can make us wait for them is quite simply degrading. If the Royal Family did that, we'd be a republic by now. Richard Rogers was quoted in the WFG recently that 75p of every £ spent will be for 'legacy' benefit. This has to be a lie, simply because nobody knows what the figures will be, and contradicts what Livingstone said recently. Andrew Gilligan recently made the interesting point that Tessa Jowell, who is running the mayoral campaign for Labour, must be complicit in Livingstone's lies about the true figures - and she's in charge of the Olympic boondoggle!I notice you don't actually say anything positive about the Games themselves: I think they've become a out-of-control monster with almost nothing to do with sportsmanship.
Best wishes
Posted by: Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, LONDON on 10:55pm Tue 29 Apr 08
You're a hard-boiled cynic, mdj. But you have a better presented argument than some people on this blog.
I don't need to say too much about the Games. There is plenty on the website and some of the UK's most distinguished Engineers are involved in the construction.
The electronic age helps us do things [bold][italic]less[/italic] [/bold] locally. I'm just about to meet Britains most distinguished designer of Amplifiers and mixers. His employer manufactures in China as does my brother's firm up north. But the communication is quick!
You're a hard-boiled cynic, mdj. But you have a better presented argument than some people on this blog.
I don't need to say too much about the Games. There is plenty on the website and some of the UK's most distinguished Engineers are involved in the construction.
The electronic age helps us do things less locally. I'm just about to meet Britains most distinguished designer of Amplifiers and mixers. His employer manufactures in China as does my brother's firm up north. But the communication is quick!
If a cynic is a disappointed idealist, fair cop, AG. But I bet the web won't say much about the many thousands of prostitutes worldwide expected to descend on the East End as the Games approach (10000+ in Sydney,in addition to a staunch effort from the home team). Or how much Lord Coe is making out of property deals related to the Games, and all the others who have never given a toss about East London until the dinner bell rang. Yes, manufacture in China by all means:it's miraculous, I agree - and the unemployment figures in Forest Gate are...? And you still don't rush to be the first to reassure me that you will actually go and buy a ticket!Those engineers could be doing something with their talents other than building stadia which will be dismantled after three weeks, surely?
If a cynic is a disappointed idealist, fair cop, AG. But I bet the web won't say much about the many thousands of prostitutes worldwide expected to descend on the East End as the Games approach (10000+ in Sydney,in addition to a staunch effort from the home team). Or how much Lord Coe is making out of property deals related to the Games, and all the others who have never given a toss about East London until the dinner bell rang. Yes, manufacture in China by all means:it's miraculous, I agree - and the unemployment figures in Forest Gate are...? And you still don't rush to be the first to reassure me that you will actually go and buy a ticket!Those engineers could be doing something with their talents other than building stadia which will be dismantled after three weeks, surely?
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