21 November 2003
The question of who is going to pick up the estimated £5m–£6m costs of policing US President Bush's state visit remained unresolved this week as the Metropolitan Police Authority called for additional funding.
The MPA said it would be applying to the Home Office for extra funding 'due to the unprecedented operational policing plans in place'.
Bush and his 700-strong entourage arrived in London on the evening of November 18 for a three-day visit. Anti-war protesters spilled into London on the 19th and 20th as Prime Minister Tony Blair held talks with Bush on the future of Iraq.
The Metropolitan Police drafted in more than 5,000 police officers for the event, with estimates of the final cost exceeding that of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations last year.
The policing costs have been condemned by London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who warned that without extra funding, the visit could add £2 on to each council tax bill in the capital.
But Livingstone's claims were disputed by the MPA's chair, Toby Harris. He told Public Finance that 'Londoners won't notice any difference in council tax bills.' He said that £5m to £6m out of the MPA's £2bn annual budget 'was not a lot', but it was outside of the £200m special grant for protection the body receives each year.
'Our point is that this is out of the ordinary and is a much higher cost than other state visits. This is money that will not be available for other things, but is not in itself going to push council tax bills up through the roof.'
The MPA said it would calculate a final figure for the visit once overtime costs had been established.
PFnov2003
