Ken In Olympic Row

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, has managed to land himself in trouble over the Olympics bid by London for the 2012 Games.

There is a row going on about how many jobs will be lost, if the Olympics comes to London and various commercial sites are redeveloped.

Mayor Ken has accused some firms of inflating the number of jobs at stake, and of trying to hold the 2012 bid to ransom by excessive amounts of money for their land.

The Mayor said some firms were seeking a "huge windfall".

Angie Bray, a Conservative member of the London Assembly, has said to the Mayor:

"I think your tone is slightly unfortunate and does imply you regard them with distaste."

Mayor Ken has been accused of being hostile in his negotiations with 300 or so firms based around Marshgate Lane in Stratford, near where the Olympic stadium and athletes' village would be built.

If London wins, the London Development Agency will be able to compulsorily purchase the 250 acres of land required and the firms will get market value.

The counter claim is that the businesses will be forced out by 2007, but have to wait five years for a land tribunal to decide on the amount of compensation they will receive.

Bottom line, the Olympics is a total pain in the backside to host.