Accusations of Gay Pride funding cuts described as ‘desperate and untrue’
Boris Johnson has rubbished accusations from Ken Livingstone’s campaign team that he plans to cut funding for London’s annual gay pride event.
Mr Livingstone’s campaign released a statement this morning claiming that:
“A Johnson Mayoralty would end the support to the festivals for London’s communities that are enjoyed by a huge number of Londoners.”
A spokesperson for the ‘Back Boris’ campaign told PinkNews.co.uk:
“There is no truth in these ridiculous accusations whatsoever,
“What they have done, yet again, is to take one sentence completely out of context.
“I think that this is pretty desperate campaigning.”
There is just one week to go before Londoners choose their next mayor for London.
Ken Livingstone, who is coming to the end of his second term and hoping for a third, is still trailing in the polls but has managed to half Boris Johnson’s lead in recent weeks.
Mr Johnson’s spokesperson went on to tell us:
“Boris would like their to be more festivals in London,
“Through corporate sponsorship Boris believes that festivals like pride can be bigger and better.”
At the stonewall hustings last Saturday Boris Johnson pledged that win or loose he would attend this years gay pride event.
Ken Livingstone spoke in support of the mayor fund idea, telling the audience at Saturdays hustings event, “I’ll take money from anyone, Boris!”
Mr Livingstone has long been a supporter of gay rights in London and is expected to get massive support from London’s LGBT community.
On Saturday Mr Livingstone spoke of the fun he had at last years pride when he stood on a float with Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Brian Paddick and a waxwork of Shirley Bassey.
In the penultimate PinkNews.co.uk Mayor of London poll Brain Paddick won the most votes.
Mr Paddick, who until last year was the most senior out gay police officer in the UK, won 43.5%, or of the first preference votes.
He was followed by incumbent Mayor and Labour candidate Ken Livingstone, with 29.4%.
Tory candidate Boris Johnson won 12%.
Lindsey German, candidate for The Left List, won 8.9% first preference votes.
Green candidate Sian Berry took 4.9% first preference votes, the BNP’s Richard Barnbrook won 0.9%.
The final PinkNews.co.uk Mayor of London Poll closes later today, the results will be published soon.
Full list of candidates for Mayor of London:
Richard Barnbrook – British National Party
Gerard Batten – UK Independence Party
Sian Berry – Green Party
Alan Craig – Christian Peoples Alliance and Christian Party
Lindsey German – The Left List
Boris Johnson – Conservative Party
Ken Livingstone – Labour Party
Winston McKenzie – Independent
Matt O’Connor – English Democrats
Brian Paddick – Liberal Democrats
