'New advisory council here to help Boris or to help big business?' - Mike Tuffrey AM

11.10.00am GMT Mon 8th Sep 2008

Mike Tuffrey AM, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group at the London Assembly, has promised to keep a close eye on the workings of Mayor Johnson's new International Business Advisory Council for London.

Mike says: "The important question here is - has this panel been set up to ensure that big business does what London needs or more worryingly for big business to make sure that Boris Johnson does what it wants?"

Over the weekend Mayor Johnson announced the creation of the new 47 member panel which will advise him on securing the capital's position as a top global city.

It will be chaired by Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of advertising giant WPP, and has a membership of CEOs including Willie Walsh of British Airways, Stuart Rose of Marks and Spencer and Renault's Carlos Ghosn.

Mike adds: "The advisory council must not be used as a back door to allow in all those things that London really doesn't need, like massive airport expansion for example."