The key points of Labour’s proposals are:

·         A Jobs Guarantee for all 16-24 year olds who have been out of work for 1 year or more. In <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>Westminster</place></city> this would help 135 young people

·         Cut transport fares by 1% so they are in line with inflation. Londoners living in Zone one and travelling aound Zone One on a yearly travelcard would save £197.27

·         Re-allocate business rates to protect frontline police and fire services. In <city w:st=”on”>Westminster</city>, <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>Westminster</place></city> fire station is earmarked for closure, this would be kept open and police front counter provision will be maintained.

·         Freeze the Mayor’s share of the Council Tax which is currently only saving households 7 pence per week

·         Start the process of setting up a London-wide lettings agency

Local Labour <place w:st=”on”><city w:st=”on”>London</city></place> Assembly Member Murad Qureshi Am said:

 “As the economy stumbles and splutters towards a triple-dip recession the Mayor needs to help the economy and help ordinary Londoners. Cutting fares by one per cent will save residents in <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>Westminster</place></city> £197.27 on their annual travelcard.

“Our Jobs Guarantee for 16-24 year olds out of work for over a year will put 135 young people in <city w:st=”on”>Westminster</city> into work, and benefit 7,500 long-term unemployed young Londoners across <city w:st=”on”><place w:st=”on”>London</place></city>.

“Boris has cut his share of the council tax by less than 10 pence a week per household, but at the same time has whacked up fares above inflation for the fifth year running. He must be stupid to think Londoners won’t notice this.”

Ends

Notes

1.      Murad Qureshi is a Labour Londonwide Assembly Member.