Livingstone and Prescott battle over statue

A row has broken out between Ken Livingstone and John Prescott over the siting a statue of Nelson Mandela.

London's mayor had wanted the deputy prime minister to overrule Westminster council's decision to rule out placing the statue on the north side of Trafalgar Square.

Instead, Livingstone's Labour Party colleague sided with the Tory controlled borough, backed its decision not to allow the image of the former South African president to be located on the recently pedestrianised area.

Prescott agreed with Westminster council that the north terrace was an inappropriate location and would cause problems for the hosting of special events.

However, both Prescott and the council stressed that they fully supported the idea of a statue to Mandela in Trafalgar Square.

The council will now work with statue creator Ian Walters to find a suitable location.

A spokesman for Livingstone's office said today: "As the authority responsible for re-vamping Trafalgar Square, we strongly disagree with the suggestion that a statue of Nelson Mandela would detract from the square's appearance or character.

"On the contrary, a statue of the man who symbolises one of the most important struggles for justice in the 20th century would enhance the character of the square.

"Equally as the body which authorises events on the square, and indeed organises many of them, we strongly disagree with the idea that a statue of Nelson Mandela would have a negative impact on the planning or operation of events on the square. We will be seeking legal advice with regard to this decision."