Lacking the eduction and housing provider remit of London’s last government means the Authority has little daily impact on most people’s lives. Yes, most Londoner’s know the Mayor runs the buses and the tubes but in a post devolution world it makes no sense for Ministers (often non-London MPs) to make decisions on London services.
I can’t get excited by the latest Boris ‘scandal’
I’m finding myself unmoved by the latest ‘Boris in trouble’ story. After past GLA expense rows, including multi-thousand pound taxi bills for Assembly Members and £30k trips to Cuba, Boris’s £2k on some hotel rooms is almost unworthy of notice or comment.
Music at City Hall
If Boris’s recycled musical instrument produces even one talented musician and one less dreamer determined to waste their life auditioning for reality TV it’ll be a more deserving legacy than removing the bendy part from buses.
Why reward early fine paying fare evaders?
I suspect like most fare paying passengers, I’m pretty supportive of TfL and Boris Johnson’s decision to increase penalties for fare dodgers but I’m a little less sure I agree with reducing penalties for those paying fines quickly.
Hail Mayor Boris – saviour of the Congestion Charge
Former London Assembly Member Damian Hockney reckons that the announcement about the scrapping of the Western Extension in London helps the Yes campaign in Manchester (results due later this week). Hockney also believes that the Mayor’s move has actually rescued the London scheme, and may even have given a boost to campaigners to introduce it elsewhere. An opponent of the charge as conceived, he explains why the Mayor may have given it the kiss of life, and offers a few interesting insights into the impact of London’s experience on the plans of other cities on the eve of the knife edge vote in Manchester…
