London a misery, say Labour MPs

Labour MPs are warning the Government that street crime and high house prices are making life a misery for Londoners.

They want ministers to provide more low-cost homes and heed Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens's advice on protecting witnesses. Tory and Lib Dem MPs joined in the attack in a Commons debate on quality of life in the capital.

Labour's Geraint Davies claimed some Londoners were moving because the capital was too dirty and dangerous. He said street robberies were escalating and wanted the law changed to let more witnesses give evidence behind screens or on videolinks.

Home Office Minister John Denham said London crime had fallen in recent years, while police numbers had risen.

On housing, Labour's Mike Gapes claimed that people on average incomes could not afford to buy in London, while private landlords charged "astronomic" rents.

London Minister Nick Raynsford admitted that London needed a wave of house-building, with its population expected to grow by 700,000 in 15 years.

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