Andrew Dismore

At Mayor’s Question Time today, Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden   Andrew Dismore AM today reveals London subsidy to rest of country and the cost of the Conservative/ DUP deal.

After MQT Mr Dismore said London’s tax revenues subsidise the rest of the country by £3070 per head, including £5,440 per head in Northern Ireland- a figure which will rise by yet another £1000 a head to £6,440 as the price of the extra £2 billion deal demanded by the DUP to keep Theresa May afloat.

Mr Dismore put to the Mayor:

‘London’s economy generates a £26.5 billion annual surplus, which is used by the government to provide financial help to Britain’s less well-off regions. Data from the Office of National Statistics shows that only three regions of the U.K. — London, the southeast and the east of England – ran a budget surplus in 2015-2016. Londoners on average therefore provided £3,070 more in tax revenues than they received in public spending. Isn’t this a good argument for the Government to listen to you, on behalf of London in the Brexit negotiations; and to confirm investment in London, for example to build Crossrail 2 and to grant a fairer funding deal for policing?

‘Would you agree that when we contrast the £3070 per head that London subsidises the rest of the country from our taxes, and when, to use an example Government spending exceeds tax income by £5,440 per head in Northern Ireland- a figure  which will rise by yet another £1000 a head as the price the rest of us have to pay for the Conservatives’ shabby deal with the DUP who want £2 billion more for their votes in Parliament  to keep Theresa May in office, but clearly not in power –

‘It is vital that the Government  doesn’t kill off the rest of the country’s golden goose – our economy here in London- in their persistence with their  hard Brexit negotiating position on the rights our fellow Londoner  EU nationals  and the migrant  talent on which we depend, on the single market and customs union, and on passporting rights?

‘Are you also concerned about the wall of silence from the Government over Crossrail 2, which unlike Labour’s was not in the Conservative’s manifesto for the election, nor was it mentioned in yesterday’s Queen’s Speech, given that Crossrail 2  is crucial to unlocking future economic growth in the aftermath of Brexit?

‘And are you also concerned that despite a disingenuous fake news press release from the Home Office suggesting the Met didn’t need to make cuts, yesterday, in  this Chamber, the Met Police Commissioner confirmed  to the Police and Crime Committee that the Met. was still facing a funding shortfall of £400 million in its budget over the next three years, that the Met was underfunded for its National and International Capital City functions by £107 million even on the Home Office’s own figures despite the unprecedented demands on the police we have seen, and that even with further efficiencies including more police station closures, without extra central Government funding, cuts in the number of police officers were inevitable?

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that he made no apology for speaking up for the need to fund the police. Crossrail 2 benefits the whole country, with 49% paid for by London anyway; and is essential for the success of HS2. The Mayor agreed that the Government should avoid a “hard Brexit” and London cannot be prosperous otherwise.