NEWS RELEASE
From the office of the Green MEPs


10 December, 2003

LONDON 'A BAD ROLE MODEL' ON JOBS AND SERVICES - MEP

LONDON is a 'bad role model' and other cities should not follow its example, the capital's Green Euro-MP Jean Lambert told councillors from across Europe this week.

Speaking at a summit of Green councillors in Vienna, Mrs Lambert said privatisation of public services and the increase in temporary employment without the recommended safeguards had made life worse for Londoners.

"The great European cities need to work together to ensure the mistakes made in London are not repeated elsewhere," said London's Green Party MEP.

"London is a great city but Londoners deserve better jobs and effective public services."

The legacy of Conservative policy in the 1980s and early 1990s has left London with privatised utilities, 'liberalised' public services and local authorities which are unable to take responsibility for either jobs or services in the capital, the London Euro-MP added.

"The trends of privatisation and casualisation may have begun under the Tories but New Labour has shown - with its part-privatisation of the Tube, for example - it is committed to the same agenda - and making the same mistakes all over again."

ENDS

For more information please contact Ben Duncan on 020 7407 6280, 07973 823358 or at press@greenmeps.org.uk