US Ambassador Called 'Chiselling Crook' Over London's Congestion Pricing

London mayor Ken Livingstone reportedly calls the US Ambassador in London a "chiselling little crook" after the US Embassy decides it's staff will not pay the £8-a-day congestion charge when driving into London's central city.

1 minute read

March 29, 2006, 1:00 PM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"Mr. Livingstone made the off the cuff comment while giving his opinion of the US Embassy's decision not to make its diplomats pay the congestion charge when driving into the centre of the capital.

...The London mayors' latest outburst came in a row over whether diplomats at the US Embassy should pay the Â£8-a-day congestion charge, as the Embassy says it is a local tax and therefore, under the Vienna Convention, does not apply to foreign diplomats.

..."When British troops are putting their lives on the line for American foreign policy it would be quite nice if they paid the congestion charge. We will find a way of getting them into court either here or in America. We are not going to have them skive out of their responsibilities," Mayor Livingstone reportedly said to a local media source.

Thanks to Bruce Rosen

FULL STORY: Livingstone likens US ambassador to a 'chiselling little crook'

Tuesday, March 28, 2006 in 24dash.com

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