Row as Mayor lets CND use City Hall for free

Ken Livingstone was at the centre of a row today after offering anti-nuclear campaigners free use of City Hall.

The Mayor is allowing the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament to use the Greater London Authority's headquarters free for its annual conference.

Hiring the venue, by Tower Bridge, would normally cost about £20,000.

The Mayor has defended the move, claiming the CND conference-is a "unique opportunity"-to promote international peace. He said: "This is to the benefit of the great majority of Londoners."

However, Andrew Pelling, finance spokesman for the Conservatives, said: "When public money and resources are used, there must be more objective criteria than the Mayor's political views."