Boris: I will argue for London to keep more of its tax

Boris Johnson says he would use a second term at City Hall to argue for London keeping a greater share of the tax it pays to the Treasury.

Speaking to Sky’s Murnaghan programme on Sunday morning, the Mayor called for more of “the huge quantities of tax that London exports to the rest of the country” to be spent within the capital.

On Thursday I called for May’s victor “to open talks with the UK Government on a fair share of corporation, income and sales tax for London to retain for its own use” so I’m delighted to see Boris signal he’s willing to do just that if re-elected.

I hope other Mayoral candidates will do likewise so Londoners can put a unified voice to the coalition.

Boris also repeated calls for City Hall to be given a “strategic role” in the quality of education in the capital.

Currently the Mayor is responsible for boosting work place skills and driving up employment but ridiculously has no formal role in ensuring young Londoners learn the necessary skills in mainstream education.

That has to change.