Police cuts: Boris accused of "barefaced lies"

The Guardian reports on a stormy exchange at today's meeting on the budget at City Hall between Labour Assembly Member John Biggs and London Mayor Boris Johnson, who stands accused of cutting front line police numbers by freezing recruitment but then playing with how the numbers are presented to make it look as if there won't be any impact.

Mr Biggs, accusing the Mayor of "barefaced lies" was asked to withdraw his remarks and calm down but refused, which resulted in the angry man's ejection from the chamber. Mayor Johnson called Mr Biggs "an apple short of a picnic".

Speaking to the Evening Standard Mr Biggs said:

"Only Boris Johnson could claim police numbers are going up when he is actually cutting them. The spin is clear to see from the Met's own figures.The fact is this Mayor inherited a budget from his predecessor which paid for 1,000 extra officers. But under Boris Johnson and this Government numbers will be down and the progress we have made in tackling crime could well now be reversed."

"Only Boris Johnson could claim police numbers are going up when he is actually cutting them. The spin is clear to see from the Met's own figures.The fact is this Mayor inherited a budget from his predecessor which paid for 1,000 extra officers. But under Boris Johnson and this Government numbers will be down and the progress we have made in tackling crime could well now be reversed."

Which all bodes well for tonight's budget cutting meeting at Hammersmith Town Hall, then!