Livingstone to foot bill for raising black vote

Diigo

MORE work will be carried out by a council to get black and ethnic voters registered - but Ken Livingstone is footing the bill. The London Mayor launched an astonishing attack on Lambeth council at City Hall on Tuesday after stepping in to fork out £60,000 needed for door-step voter registration.

Mr Livingstone slammed the council for failing to register almost 40,000 voters for local elections in May. But his claims have been branded fantasy by senior councillors.

Council leader Peter Truesdale said he was not sure where the 40,000 figure had come from, suggesting the number not on the register was closer to 3,000.

Cllr Truesdale welcomed the cash saying it was important everyone was able to vote. He added: "The extra action will be taken to build on the excellent work already done by the council to get people on the register."

Crisis meetings held between Lambeth council chiefs and pressure group Operation Black Vote - which is campaigning to get more black people to the ballot box - initially reached stalemate forcing Mr Livingstone to step in.

The Mayor gave council leaders seven days to pledge the cash needed for further door-step canvassing or his office would take the reins.

At a council meeting, councillors agreed the work could be done by staff but they would not foot the bill.  Mr Livingstone said:

"It is becoming clear that we face a deep problem in London of under-registration of voters.

"Many were rightly critical when the US experienced problems over the voter registration scandal in Florida in the 1999 Presidential election.

"This means we must be equally vigilant in defence of our own electoral rights.

"I have been particularly shocked by the actions of Lambeth council, which has not proceeded with a further door-step voter registration

"The abandonment of door-step registration on whatever grounds, even 'value for money', cannot be justified.
"I am prepared to make up the shortfall for this registration and work to improve voter registration in the borough to see what lessons can be learnt for London."

A Lambeth council spokesman urged anyone who was not already registered or who had any queries to call 0207 926 2144 or log onto www.lambeth.gov.uk/registertovote 

Diigo