UKIP backs Paris for Games bid

There was controversy today as the UK Independence Party backed Paris instead of London to host the Olympic Games.

In an attempt to sabotage the capital's 2012 bid, UKIP leaders on the London Assembly were hoisting a giant banner at City Hall emblazoned with the Paris bid logo and the French tricolour. Group leader Damian Hockney said they were against London because of the costs, claiming they could be twice as high as official estimates.

He said: "They say the cost will be ?3 billion. Athens has spent between ?5 billion and ?9 billion on the Olympics - several times over budget - threatening the financial stability of the city and spiralling the nation's deficit."

London Mayor Ken Livingstone and organisers of the London bid branded it a "cheap publicity trick".

Mr Livingstone said: "Some people will say and do anything to get two minutes on the television. Polls show 70 per cent of Londoners are right behind our Olympic bid and the new investment, transport, jobs and housing it will bring."