Responding to the Government’s Spending Review, Luisa Porritt, Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London, said:

“The Government’s anti-London agenda must stop. While the Spending Review document notes employment levels fell by the most in London, the only references to London besides that are about taking jobs away from the capital.

“The Chancellor must recognise that London has among the poorest areas in the country. ‘Levelling Up’ must happen within all regions, rather than the Government choosing crudely between them.

“We need urgent clarity on who will be eligible for the new £4 billion Levelling Up Fund. With the Government’s track record, I am concerned London will be ignored once again. The capital was excluded from the Towns Fund earlier this year, and the stated conditions hint at London again missing out.

“The 600 neighbourhoods that make up our capital will be vital to our economic recovery. Local high streets are at the heart of that. They require urgent investment, to help local economies to meet new demand from homeworkers and rediscover their purpose at the centre of our communities.

On the continued exclusion of almost one million Londoners from Government financial support, Luisa Porritt added:

“The Chancellor’s continued exclusion of nearly a million Londoners from financial support is a disgrace. London’s flexible workforce is particularly badly hit, with the largest number of the Excluded living in the capital. From barbers to bookkeepers, our army of forgotten freelancers make our city what it is. The Chancellor’s choice to ignore these Londoners is unforgivable.”