First Published: Tuesday 25 March 2008, 17:58
Labour are tonight seeking to portray an Evening Standard report as 'proof' that Tory Mayoral candidate Boris Johnson "isn't up to the job".
Today's Standard reports that Mr Johnson is "holding secret talks with potential executives to run City Hall" if he wins on May 1st. The report claims senior Tories are concerned that a badly run capital would have an adverse impact on David Cameron's chances of winning the next General Election.
According to the paper Mr Johnson's campaign team have denied that the Tory leadership "is directly involved in such plans".
Speaking this afternoon Tessa Jowell MP, Minister for London, said the story meant David Cameron was telling Londoners "Boris Johnson isn't up to the job."
Ms Jowell said "the whole idea of parachuting in business executives to run City Hall is cynical and anti-democratic. David Cameron is asking Londoners to elect someone he is determined won't be allowed to exercise power. It means London voters don't know who will run their city if Boris Johnson is elected."
2. at 22:15 on Tuesday 25th March 2008, BusUser08 wrote:
Stander - Boris has shown he DOESN'T understand the detail.
That's why his bus figures are being derided by the experts and why he told Andrew Neil last week he didn't really know the cost of reintroducing conductors.
He's a chancer benefiting from a free ride by a media desperate for a new story.
3. at 0:02 on Wednesday 26th March 2008, jeff wrote:
Even the shadow cabinet does not believe that BJ can do this job. How very cynical and manipulative for them to try and impose him on London anyway.
4. at 9:34 on Wednesday 26th March 2008, jeh wrote:
Sorry this story is baloney. A deliberate Labour plant to try and divert attention from their own candidates own inability to gain the support of Londoners in the face of a very strong Johnson campaign.
Where is Ken on crime? NO WHERE! Where is he on accountability? NO WHERE! His transport policies are looking stale, his environmental policies are being lampooned and rightly so...
Boris has the only fresh ideas, and he's looking for expert advice...why is this a bad thing?! If Ken took more advice and counsel from regular Londoners, he may see that people care about the issues Boris is addressing.
5. at 11:23 on Wednesday 26th March 2008, Toby Cox wrote:
The way London is run by its mayor is indeed a reflection of his or her party.
This is why Labour come across as supercilious and dismissive of the electorate.
Why else would they be getting a host of front benchers to attack Tory hopeful Boris Johnson? They realise that if London gets a mayor who plans in advance, listens to people and sticks to his promises then the Tories just might be ready for government and Gordon Brown's election campaign will be over before it starts.
6. at 11:58 on Wednesday 26th March 2008, Dixon wrote:
As with any democratic election, Boris has the right to campaign on issues and policies and deserves fair treatment. What I see is a campaign of smear by Labour that has very little to do with what Londoners actually need in their Mayor and much more with party politics of the lowest kind. The attacks against Boris have been ramped up since polling revealed he is to be taken seriously.
Personally I worry about voting for an incumbent Mayor who has already held the post for 8 years and whose extreme views have so often diverted attention from the real grass roots issues facing Londoners today. Eight years is a long time for one person to hold the autonomy and power vested in the London Mayor's role and it is time for a change in the best interests of the majority of Londoners.
Personally I don't want a mayor galavanting all over the world, hobnobbing with some pretty dodgy characters and pursuing an idealistic, Marxist agenda from the 1960's on my behalf. I want someone rooted in London, concerned for all Londoners, not just vested interests or minority groups, and pursuing what the majority of Londoners expect and need from their Mayor rather than his own narrow agenda.
I have come to the view that Boris has the charisma, common touch and plain speaking to make this happen - if given the opportunity. Above all he will bring change and new policies to revitalise London.
7. at 3:14 on Thursday 27th March 2008, Zach wrote:
Boris doesnt believe in nepotism like the reds of london. The reds should start worrying about protecting number 10 and give up on ken.
vote 1 boris johnson
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1. at 21:00 on Tuesday 25th March 2008, stander wrote:
this is a little bit hilarious; when doing a commercial transaction - I would ask a lawyer for legal advice, a taxguy for tax advice, etc. A "CEO" should not be a specialist who sits down and does the detail, although should understand it. If Alan Johnson, a former postman and someone who stacked shelves at Tesco, can be Secretary of State for Health (and I'm sure all Labour fans will say he is competent) then I am sure Boris is good enough for the job of London Mayor!