Labour's Ken Exposed: Lib Dems question Mayor's "cynical bid for votes" over Ally Pally

1.11.01pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 21st Apr 2008

Cllr Monica Whyte with Brian Paddick and Lynne Featherstone MP outside Alexandra Palace

Local Liberal Democrats have exposed Ken Livingstone's cynical bid for votes over Ally Pally, amidst Haringey Labour's catastrophic mismanagement of the cherished building. The Lib Dems are reminding local residents that his promises this week comes four years after Labour's Mayor made a similar bid for votes at the last Mayoral election - since which he has done absolutely nothing to help as local Labour bosses have wasted further millions in a disastrous attempt to dispose of the site.

When the last Mayoral election was days away, Ken Livingstone told local newspaper the Hornsey Journal that the Ally Pally was a "regional resource" and a "huge financial burden" for the people of Haringey - and suggested that extra funding could be made available to it from the Mayor's budget (Hornsey Journal, 3rd June 2004).

In the past four years however, he has done nothing to help, while the local Labour Council has orchestrated a disastrous attempt to flog the building to a developer through a failed lease that has been thrown out by the High Court - leaving local taxpayers with another multi-million pound bill on top of the £50 million already squandered.

Local GLA candidate and Haringey Lib Dem councillor Monica Whyte commented: "Ken Livingstone's empty promises to save the Ally Pally from the clutches of Haringey Labour would be great if they were true - but this just shows that he will say anything for a few votes in this area."

"He said he'd help save the Ally Pally last time and what did he do? Absolutely nothing. Instead, Lib Dems have had to battle another fiasco of mismanagement over the Firoka deal, which has cost local residents further millions.

"Local residents will not be fooled by Ken a second time round!"

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Then GLA member Lynne Featherstone pursued the promise to help Alexandra Palace with the Mayor after the last GLA election. See Mayoral question and answer below:

Question number 1865/2004 (Meeting date 15/12/2004)

Question by Lynne Featherstone:

"Given your acknowledgement, as reported in the Muswell Hill Journal on 3 June 2004, that the Alexandra Palace is a 'regional resource' and a 'huge financial burden' for the borough of Haringey and suggested that extra funding could be made available to it by the Greater London Authority, could you detail what steps have been taken since June to offer your assistance to Haringey and set out what immediate and/or future plans you have to do so?"

Answer by Ken Livingstone (2nd term):

"I have recognised that the Alexandra Palace is a regional resource and a huge financial burden for the borough of Haringey and have indicated that I would be prepared to take over the management of it should resources become available for me to do so. The GLA has no such resources available at the present time but my officers have been in discussions with Haringey officers about the future of Alexandra Palace and I am keen to support viable and suitable proposals that come forward for its development."