London Assembly Liberal Democrats

Stephen Knight, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on reports that Boris Johnson has invited Rupert Murdoch and his wife Wendi Deng to the Olympic Park on Friday to join him for the 800 metre women's swimming final said:

"Boris Johnson's cosy relationship with Murdoch has now sunk to a new low if he is happy to offer hospitality to this media mogul.

Stephen Knight, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on reports that Boris Johnson has invited Rupert Murdoch and his wife Wendi Deng to the Olympic Park on Friday to join him for the 800 metre women's swimming final said:

"Boris Johnson's cosy relationship with Murdoch has now sunk to a new low if he is happy to offer hospitality to this media mogul.

Responding to the announcement that the High Court had rejected Addison Lee's call for minicabs to use bus lanes Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group said:

"This is a very welcome decision.　 Taxis have access to bus lanes due to their special status allowing people to hail them down in any location.　　

Stephen Knight, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group business spokesperson, commenting on the Mayor's continued defence of Barclays Bank and its sponsorship of the London cycle hire scheme at today's Mayor Question Time, said:

"The Libor fixing scandal has undermined the integrity and reputation of Barclays Bank - and quite possibly the whole City too.

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and deputy chair of the Police and Crime Committee, commenting on the sudden departure of both the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive of the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime said:

"It is shocking that two public servants with such vast experience should be departing so quickly from the Met when the Deputy Mayor for Policing is so clearly not up to speed with the key policing issues facing the capital.

Stephen Knight, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and member of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), commenting on yesterday's unanimous decision to keep the London Fire Brigade Museum open said:

"It never made any sense to close the museum. Since 2005 attendance at the museum has trebled and it would in the short term cost more to close the museum and put the collection in storage, than to keep it open.

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on reports that Boris Johnson failed to declare to the London Assembly a dinner he attended at Rupert Murdoch's home just days before the Metropolitan Police launched a new inquiry into phone hacking said:

"Boris Johnson failed to declare the hospitality he received from Rupert Murdoch in both his monthly report to the London Assembly, and in the GLA's Register of gifts and hospitality. In addition to this evasiveness he then provided a misleading written answer to a London Assembly Member."

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the announcement that the Thames Cable Car will open from midday on Thursday 28 June said:

"It is welcome news that the Thames Cable Car will be open before the Olympic Games, as additional forms of transport will be helpful in dealing with the exceptional pressures the capital will face later this Summer, and help spectators travel between the Excel and O2 venues.

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on new research this week from the University College London revealing that four in five pensioners cannot cross the road quickly enough to safely use pedestrian crossings due to the assumption that people of all ages are capable of walking at a speed of just under four feet (1.2m) a second said:

Londoners will continue to be denied accurate information about the poor state of London's air quality the Mayor confirmed today, despite the latest evidence showing that levels of nitrogen dioxide are similar to the dangerous levels that existed in Beijing four years ago.

Following questioning from Stephen Knight, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly environment spokesperson, the Mayor stated that he had ruled out actively informing Londoners about the state of London's air quality, for example by publishing information on the Greater London Authority's website every day.