Nick Raynsford, MP for Greenwich & Woolwich, today hailed the news that Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, has dropped his proposal to take the Olympic shooting events away from Woolwich.

The Mayor had been pushing hard to have the events moved to Barking, in East London, contrary to the original plans which won the games for London and against widespread opposition from Olympic authorities.

Last week Nick Raynsford and Len Duval (Member of the London Assembly for Greenwich & Lewisham) joined local councillors and residents at City Hall to protest against the Mayor’s attempt to take the games away from Woolwich. Nick challenged Boris to come out from his office to meet with the protestors so that the Mayor could explain why he wanted to meddle in the Olympic plans. Boris declined the invitation. Nick then handed in a letter outlining why the Olympics ought to remain in Woolwich and criticising the Mayor’s interference in the plans put together by LOCOG and the ODA.

On 13^th October, the BBC reported that Boris had backed down and would stop pressing for the shooting to be moved, handing victory to the ‘Gunning for Woolwich’ campaign led by Nick Raynsford MP.

Nick Raynsford said: “I am delighted that the mayor has finally seen sense on this issue and accepted the points of our campaign. It was always perfectly clear that Woolwich, the historic home of the Royal Artillery, was the right venue for the shooting events. Nowhere else in London would provide such a historic and impressive setting. Residents of Woolwich can, once again, look forward to the Olympics coming to our borough”