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Congestion Charging

from Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com)

Telegraph - Peterborough

Friday 17 January 2003
Edited by Charlie Methven
pboro@telegraph.co.uk

Chefs in a stew over Livingstone

For a man who prides himself on his Jack-the-Lad charm, Ken Livingstone is accumulating a fearsome array of enemies. Following the pigeon feeders, theatre proprietors and his old Labour comrades, the latest to take issue with Ken are two of the capital's most famous chefs: Marco-Pierre White and Nico Ladenis.

"I cannot imagine anyone worse than Ken Livingstone for the restaurant industry," says MPW. "When I think of him, I just remember the way he ------ up the GLC. The man's an idiot, and if he asks me to one of his lunches I won't go. He's dreadful. You could fit his sensible policies, particuarly on transport, on the back of a postage stamp."

Ladenis, while more measured, is equally critical of his plans to introduce congestion charging. "I know Ken Livingstone personally. He is very well meaning, but his policies will be a problem for our trade. I just bought a new BMW, but I'm going to sell it and walk instead.

"Lots of other people are just going to stop coming into the West End. It's going to damage theatres, and as we do a lot of our trade pre- and post-theatre, it's very bad for us too. These are difficult times in the restaurant industry, and I have no doubt that the congestion charge will force some of us out of business."

(posted 7741 days ago)

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