Scrapping LDA "cover for cuts"

Labour's deputy leader on the London Assembly warns against undermining economic support for the skills and jobs programmes to secure London's recovery

London Mayor Boris Johnson today announced that the London Development Agency should "cease to exist" under the coalition government.

Labour's deputy leader and budget spokesman on the London Assembly, John Biggs, said

The Mayor's proposals for devolution to London can be found here: http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_mayoral/mayors-vision-better-focused-gla-more-say-and-more-power-key-london-iss

Ends

: "Clearly the LDA has faced difficulties under both of London's mayors. But scrapping the organisation could just be cover for the savage cuts Boris Johnson and the coalition want to inflict on London's important employment and skills programmes. We are moving towards real economic hardship when the numbers in need will swell and the services they depend on will shrink. This is not the right time to be cutting support for the jobs which will secure London's recovery."