I have today read a letter written in today's "Daily Telegraph" from
Ken Livingstone. It is in reply to an article written 2 weeks ago
(presumably he took 2 weeks to reply whilst gladhanding at Londoners'
expense his friends in the People's Republic).

It makes reference to the fact that the Reuben brothers have a "stake
in land at the heart of the [proposed 2012] Olympic site" and that if
they do not comply with his wishes, "the Olympic Development Authority
has the right to step in and do the work itself. Unfortunately this
could mean an additional £600 million cost, which would need to be met
by the taxpayer... [equaivalent to] a £250 contribution from each of
London's taxpayers".

It would seem that the Reuben brothers have been dragging their heels
in allowing the development, as was apparently the case with their
behaviour in the Stratford Station redevelopment, and at White City.

So, what can be deduced from this?

1. The Olympic bid was made on a false prospectus that all of the land
needed for the 2012 Olympics was readily available.
2. That the taxpayer will be expected to underwrite any landholder's
recalcitrance.
3. That any problem that arises will be dealt with as follows:

(a) Seek the landholder's better nature and ask him to agree, and if
that fails
(b) require the taxpayer to buy him out.

This is scandalous, and if an extra £600 million is already being
bandied about within a year of the winning bid for 2012, can you
imagine the extra costs that are going to be incurred by the time the
Olympics are actually held?!

Marc.