Boris Johnson, Conservative Candidate for Mayor of London, has vowed to ban the consumption of alcohol on the Tube if he wins May’s elections.
Citing GLA figures showing alcohol is implicated in 40% of incidents of violent crime Mr Johnson said the capital “needs a fresh approach and new ideas to return the feeling of safety to our buses, trains and station platforms.”
Mr Johnson will visit Bexley later today where the council has adopted a tough approach on alcohol related crime leading to a 22 per cent drop in violent crime in the borough.
Ahead of the visit Mr Johnson said “London has a higher rate of alcohol-related crimes than any other region in England and I have been told time and again that people are scared of taking the Underground late at night because of aggressive behaviour by drunken yobs.”
“Too many people find themselves forced to sit opposite someone swigging from a can of lager and engaging in behaviour that is intimidating or worse. I want everyone’s journeys to be safer and more pleasant.”
Russell says
Aha – Boris has just lost my vote!
Sitting on the tube on the way to or from a bar with a couple of friends, it’s not uncommon for us to share a few drinks.
What I find more much intimidating on the tube is the 15 or 16 year old sitting opposite with his loud rap music blaring through his mobile, since there’s a good chance he is hiding a knife.
I also get intimidated by a Scouse accent, what could Boris do there… (!)
swingvoter says
“How does BJ plan to enforce the ban on booze in the Tube? Answer – he doesn’t know, because he hasn’t got a plan and he hasn’t done any kind of study into how he can effectively make this ‘promise’ work. What he’s got is a soundbite to make him sound tough on crime.
He’s got a lot of soundbites has Boris, but most of them show two things. Firstly he hasn’t got a clue about what most Londoners’ experiences of living in the capital are because he doesn’t share many of their experiences. Unlike Ken, he doesn’t use the Tube – someone ask him how much a ticket from Camden Town to barking is and see what answer he gives unprompted by an aide.”
Very true I agree, I loathe KL and am probably going to vote BJ in 2nd prefs but it still amazes me that the Tories couldn’t be bothered to put anyone serious up as their candidate.
I doubt anyone outside the Tory ‘strategy’ department thinks BJ is in the lead despite being Boris rather than because of it. Labour is in a bad position nationally, Ken’s under the Evening Standard spotlight and there’s no Jarvis crash, events is why he’s only just breaking even.
Someone like David Davis would have been a much better choice IMO, if he’d wanted the job.
Kimberley says
This promise sounds appealing at first, but how many people are actually getting drunk during their short time *on* the Tube. As is often the case, it would be better to support the original laws than to add on something shiny and new.
Nick says
Being drunk and disorderly is already a crime. This hasn’t stopped it taking place and making people’s journey’s unpleasant.
How does BJ plan to enforce the ban on booze in the Tube? Answer – he doesn’t know, because he hasn’t got a plan and he hasn’t done any kind of study into how he can effectively make this ‘promise’ work. What he’s got is a soundbite to make him sound tough on crime.
He’s got a lot of soundbites has Boris, but most of them show two things. Firstly he hasn’t got a clue about what most Londoners’ experiences of living in the capital are because he doesn’t share many of their experiences. Unlike Ken, he doesn’t use the Tube – someone ask him how much a ticket from Camden Town to barking is and see what answer he gives unprompted by an aide.
Secondly, he hasn’t got a clue about what he can and can’t realistically achieve when Mayor because he doesn’t understand the basics of holding a position at this level. he talks about how he will broker a deal with the Tube Unions and end strike action. yeah? Right? So a Tory Mayor is gonna get those guys to roll over and play dead? Get real Boris, they’d chew you up and not bother spitting out the bones.
He’s a buffoon who thinks and talks big ideas, but scratch through the PR spin and gloss and you realise he’s hopelessly out of his depth. If elected, he’d be London’s version of George Bush – daft, divisive policies coupled with an ability to make Londoners wince in shame every time he opened his gaff-prone mouth.
Oh, and the BNP are urging their supporters to back him with second preference votes. Nice touch Boris, you draw support from the rabid Nazi right, that should help you in the running world’s most exciting, diverse city successfully…..
Carrie Smith says
I have often sat opposite somone on the tube drinking lager at 9pm on a Friday night. They don’t bother me, they all seem to be having a nice time. I agree it couldn’t be enforced. All that would happen is that suddenly everyone would be filling them up at home and boarding the tube with litre bottles of “Ginger Beer” instead of cans of lager.
Kevin says
I SAY BRILLIANT !!!!
how often have you stepped onto a tube car to see “sick” or people so drunk they cant walk …
it should be stopped ! the tube system here needs to be brought back into control, the fare dodgers need to be brought to task , the staff need to feel safe and then maybe they would be willing to help customers, police should have the right to stop and question anyone they think is over the limit and should be able to proscute law breakers.
BJ might not know the fare , but KL is far to soft!
I have seen police being sworn at and spat at and they dont have the power to stop it !
I SAY GIVE THE POWER TO SOMEONE WHO CAN USE IT !!
KL obviously hasnt !