Zac Goldsmith put London’s economy at the centre of his bid for City Hall yesterday as he promised to create 500,000 new jobs over the next four years.
The Tory mayoral candidate said he would deliver employment opportunities by keeping the economy strong and investing in infrastructure needs.
At his side for the manifesto launch was Boris Johnson who warned the next mayor would not “add up to a can of beans” unless he focused on the economy.
Goldsmith told supporters his pledge to build 50,000 new homes a year would create 195,000 jobs while investing in the transport network - including Crossrail 2 and the Night Tube — would deliver another 286,000. A further 20,000 would come from policies on expanding tech hubs and broadband.
According to official figures, more than 438,000 jobs have been created in London over the past four years, more than double Johnson’s original target. However, the capital’s unemployment rate is 6.3% — with 290,000 out of work, many of them young Londoners.
Goldsmith said: “I’m determined that all Londoners should enjoy our city’s success which is why I will freeze mayoral council tax and create jobs. Under Boris we have recovered from Labour’s great recession, and my action plan for Greater London will build on that success and secure half a million more jobs for Londoners.
“You can only deal with transport congestion, build houses and improve London if you keep the economy strong. That’s why the Khan-Corbyn experiment, with the promise of council tax hikes and a £1.9bn black hole, would be so damaging for London.”
The Richmond MP is trailing Labour rival Sadiq Khan in the polls and will be hoping his focus on job creation will distract Londoners from the woes of the government over the past few weeks, from party infighting on Europe to the prime minister’s tax revelations.
Johnson, introducing the Tory hopeful, warned that London businesses faced their “most serious threat” if Khan - who has said he wants to be London’s most pro-business mayor ever - won City Hall. He said: “The mayor’s job doesn’t add up to a can of beans unless they can keep the economy strong. We need a mayor who will invest in transport, invest in skills and stand up for business. None of the problems London faces can be solved if businesses don’t succeed and our economy doesn’t grow.”
Khan, however, accused the Tory candidate of running a “bleak” and “divisive” campaign which he criticised for being “devoid of ideas” on the real issues facing Londoners.
The Labour candidate said: “Four years of Zac Goldsmith in City Hall would mean four more years of soaring housing costs and rising transport fares, making our city even less affordable”.