London labelled a 'suburb of Paris' by French capital's deputy mayor

 
On the attack: Anne Hidalgo called Boris Johnson 'boastful'
Robin de Peyer20 January 2014

London has been labelled "a suburb of Paris" in a stinging attack by the city's deputy mayor.

Anne Hidalgo said Paris is much safer than London, creates more start-up companies, and is more attractive to tourists and families.

"London is in some ways a suburb of Paris," she told reporters at the Anglo-American press association of Paris.

"Like it or not, while London may have attracted more visitors around the Olympic Games, Paris remains the number one world tourist destination, even if we only include foreign visitors and not national ones."

It was revealed last week that the number of tourists to visit London last summer jumped 20 per cent, with almost 4.9million people flocking to the capital between July and September.

The record figures prompted praise from Mayor Boris Johnson, who declared: "These incredible figures prove that London is without doubt the greatest city on the planet."

But Mrs Hidalgo was unimpressed with the Mayor's exuberance, saying: "Boris Johnson boasts about the merits of London in different way to the French, and Parisians.

"London aggressively sells itself, often in a way that goes beyond the truth. We are more rational in our communication when speaking about Paris' strengths."

She added: "Paris is a safer city than London. There are four times less crimes in Paris than in London."

Mrs Hidalgo, who is tipped to succeed fellow Socialist Bertrand Delanoë in March's mayoral elections, also refuted claims that Paris' trading hours are unfriendly to consumers.

"The truth is Paris has more shops opened on Sundays than London, as we have succeeded in saving a network of local shops and markets that London simply doesn't have.

"Paris also creates more start-ups than London," she added.

With an estimated 300,000 - 400,000 French living here, London represents the sixth largest French city in terms of population.

But Mrs Hidalgo insisted many return to start a family and make use of Paris's schools which are "top quality" and cheaper than London's.

Concluding her attack on the capital, she said: "The mayor of London often claims that London is the best. Well, he can count on me to tell him that Paris is the best."

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