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Boris hands back £7m from Ken's oil deal to Chavez
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard05.08.08
Boris Johnson will return £7million to Venezuela after scrapping an oil deal made by Ken Livingstone.
The money was part of a £16million package in which the Caracas government exchanged cheap diesel for technical advice and assistance. Londoners on income support would have received half-price bus fares.
Mr Johnson said he does not want to do business with president Hugo Chavez. Mr Livingstone said: "Boris Johnson's ideologically-motivated move to cut off technical assistance to Venezuela will cost London a cool £7 million as well as doubling fares for some of the poorest people in the capital."
A spokesman for the Mayor said: "Venezuela, a very poor country, has given London, one of the world's richest cities, some £16 million of which several million has not been used. Boris Johnson feels that this was a morally bankrupt approach."
Reader views (7)
Oliver, are you brain dead? Chavez was elected in 1998 and has won every election since then with a strong majority, and that's a lot more than can be said of Bush et al.
- Simon, Sydney, Australia
Oliver, Venezuala *is* a democratic country - they voted for Chavez and he continued to govern with the consent of the people despite violent attempts (supported by the US) by insurgents to overthrow him
Gosh! Thisislondon has published your very serious allegation, Terence, do you have facts to prove this ?
- Bernard, london
So how are 3rd world countries going to make progress when all they have is natural resources like oil?
The cancellation of this deal also meant the end of cheap fares for people having to live sometimes on basic unemployment benefit. It just shows how little Boris cares for ordinary people but then given his royal link I suppose its a case of "let them eat cake" or in this case "Let them travel in Stretched Limousines!"
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Ken's motivation was the puerile thrill of rebellion he felt from associating with a left-wing dictator - something he would have loved to be himself, if he hadn't had the misfortune to be born in a democratic country.
- Oliver Chettle, Bedford
Thank God for that! This is a great move, Boris, well done. We don't need to be in cahoots with Chavez.
- St, London
Well done Boris.
We should however, still offer technical advice to Chavez, on transport and on who to pick as the new mayor for Caracas, we have one ready to go Red Ken.
- Peter B, Chelmsford, England
Belt up Ken!
Where's your cut from this filthy, corrupt deal?
Chavez keeping it in a Swiss or Bahamas bank for you?
- Terence Decker, London, UK
