London Loses Out After Bush Visit
December 9, 2003 12:00 AM
Commenting on the announcement by Met Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens
that the State visit by President Bush cost £4,142,539 while street robberies in that period leapt by 20% in London, Kensington & Chelsea Liberal Democrat councillor Jennifer Kingsley today called for a fairer deal for residents in the Royal Borough.
Jennifer Kingsley said:
"These figures are alarming. Londoners - including the people of Kensington and Chelsea - funded this visit. It troubles me that for our borough's share of the cost we could have paid for four new police officers in our community for an entire year.
"The state visit was for the entire country, not for London uniquely, so I don't think it is right that Londoners should pay. National taxpayers should finance this state visit."
Kingsley said that the situation was made worse by the fact that the capital's businesses and residents suffered massive disruption because of the visit.
"It adds insult to injury that after the disruption to our lives, it is we alone who have to pay for it."
London's Liberal Democrats, led by Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes, are asking for the cost of state visits to be offset away from London.
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