Boris campaign launch

I was in Edmonton this morning with a host of other Boris supporters to watch the formal campaign launch.

No glitzy conference room or snazzy hotel, but in a community center in North London. The event was introduced by Ray Lewis, of the Eastside Young Leaders, who spoke passionately about the need for change in London and condemned Livingstone's indifference to the spate of youth murders in the capital. David Cameron was next up and gave Boris his full and support enthusiastic support.

Boris spoke about the resignation on the faces of Londoners, the feeling that poor transport, crime, high taxes and an increasingly expensive cost of living were the natural byproduct of living in the world's greatest city. Boris made it clear he was not going to settle for that.

He reaffirmed his commitment to cut crime and explained how so many other aspects of life are affected by crime and the fear of crime. School run congestion because parents fear to let their children walk to school, green spaces lost because local residents are too scared to use them, business people put off from investing in "high crime" areas.

Boris is increasingly being seen as serious when he needs to be serious and still keep the humour and lightheartedness when he wants to. Chatting to the media people at the launch they seem increasingly impressed with Boris and almost baffled by Livingstone's poor (so far) campaign.

I just think that Livingstone is tired and has run out of ideas, reannouncing plans from last year doesn't make for a manifesto and childish name calling doesn't make a campaign.

Thanks to ConHome for the pic.

Statement on the Farnborough light aircraft crash

It is both shocking and saddening to hear about a terrible incident like this, especially one in a quiet residential area.

My condolences go to the families and friends of those who lost their lives.

Cycling success

Flying around a 250m banked track on bicycles with no brakes and no gears, wearing spray on clothing.

And Britain is the best in the world at it.

Well done to all the British riders at the Cycling World Championships.

Telegraph podcast

I forgot to post this! Slap wrist to me.

Mick Fealty did a one take podcast with me for the Telegraph's Brassneck blog. You can read about it here and you can listen to it here.

Whose pocket are you in Mr Livingstone?

I passed a Ken Livingstone re-election poster this afternoon. The first thing that jumped into my mind was:

I wonder who paid for that? A property developer? A transport union? Someone else entirely?

I think we deserve to know.

And falling at the first hurdle is.......

Damian Hockney.

Ex of UKIP, ex of Veritas, now of the One London Party. They will now not have a mayoral candidate.

I wonder if they will give their backing to Winston McKenzie who has followed a similar political journey.

Green and green with envy?

Funny how Boris is getting on with the job of announcing plans and policies and the other parties seem obsessed with sniping at each other.

While Boris puts forward measures to protect gardens, trees and the Greenbelt and to encourage recycling the Greens are playing divide and conquer with the Lib Dems. Clearly they are learning some negative campaigning techniques from their new found friend Ken Livingstone.

You're not my best friend any more

For the first few months of the unofficial mayoral campaign Livingstone could not heap enough praise onto Brian Paddick. He described him as being full of good ideas and someone who he agreed with on most issues. Livingstone was clearly trying to woe the Lib Dem second preference vote.

But not any more!!!!!

Livingstone has a new best friend. Someone who has already promised him her second preference votes, Sian Berry. Poor old Brian Paddick, he's not flavour of the month any more.

And just in case you thought the relationship would just fizzle out without any public spat, think again. Paddicks ex-best mate sticks the knife in, Paddick responds and then Berry gets stuck in too. They are all at it over on the Guardian's Comment is Free blog.

Their supporters must be so proud.

Boris in Bromley

Boris spent Easter Saturday touring the shopping streets of south London. The reception that he received in Bromley High street was fantastic.

One of the highlights was when a group of girls from Bullers Wood school (in nearby Chislehurst) came screaming up to Boris saying "Oh my god it's Boris!!!! Please can we have a photo?" It turned out that they were the campaign team for Boris camp in their school's London Mayoral election, when we asked how they were getting on the said that they had about 90% of the vote.

We aren't quite on that level of support yet but things are looking good. It will be interesting to see just how nasty and personal the Livingstone team get now that they have woken up to the fact that Boris is a serious candidate and a real threat to Livingstones stranglehold on London.

What do you hate?

According to Green Mayoral candidate, Sian Berry, Boris hates Londoners and wants to destroy them!

This was part of the bizarre outburst that Berry used to justify jumping into bed with Ken Livingstone, metaphorically of course.

I quite understand that there are differences in policy between the candidates but does anybody really believe that Boris wants to destroy Londoners? I thought that we were doing grown up politics, seemingly not.

Vote Green get Livingstone

I wonder how Green voters will respond to the call by Sian Berry to vote for Livingstone as their second choice? I'm also surprised that the Greens would be so naive as to trust any promises made at this stage by Livingstone. He will say anything to cling on to power, not only to the electorate but also to the Green Party.

Also, by doing this Sian is basically saying "I'm not going to be in the final two", I think she is probably right but it is hardly the most positive start to a campaign. That the best way for the Green Party to improve green politics in London is to work alongside whoever becomes Mayor.

Livingstone under investigation

According to the Daily Mail and others, the secret donation that I wrote about here has got Livingstone into a bit of trouble. He is being investigated by the Electoral Commission, not good news on the day that he launched his re-election campaign.

One commentator on that post seemed to equate Livingstone's systematic hiding of donations with a couple of late declarations from the Boris team.

They are a world apart

Campaign launch video

And so it begins

Today is the formal start of the London Mayoral and London Assembly election campaigns. On the 1st of May people right across the London will have the chance to make a real difference in the way that London is governed.

Livingstone's opening pitch for re-election was "If you like what I have done, vote for me". No plan for the future, no vision, just the promise of more road taxation and a shrug of the shoulders when asked about crime.

It's just not good enough!

Boris has presented a range of policies tackling crime and the fear of crime, transport, the cost of living and housing. Those who were expecting an string of gaffs and mistakes have been left disappointed.

I will be campaigning for a better deal for Bexley and Bromley. More police, better transport links, less interference from City Hall and better value for money from the London Precept.

I will try to keep the blog updated regularly but this election campaign is already busy looks like it will only get busier.

Wish me luck and don't forget to vote on the 1st of May.

A sign of things to come?

Livingstone's position is looking increasingly precarious as any residual reputation for integrity or political probity are damaged further by his decision to hide a donation from a London property developer and convicted fraudster. The Mayor has recently championed the businessman’s plan for a 46-storey skyscraper against the wishes of English Heritage.

The handling of donations to the mayoral campaigns is a strong indication of how the candidates might deal with accountability in office. Boris' campaign has been open from the start and has declared all backers who have given over £1,000. And this quote from the donations page of the BackBoris.com website should provide a degree of reassurance to people worried about party funding.

"We'd rather not take money from a small group of wealthy individuals or all-powerful unions. We're hoping to build a broad base of individual donors, so all Londoners feel included."

Compare this with the attitude of Livingstone. He has chosen to channel his donations through the party coffers, this means he only has to name donors who give over £5,000. While there is nothing illegal in this it reinforces the image of Livingstone being rather contemptuous of scrutiny.


UPDATE
In the original version of the post I said that both Livingstone and Brian Paddick channeled money through their respective parties. It has been brought to my attention that the Lib Dems are collecting donations at at regional level rather than at national level so the £1,000 threshold applies to them too. I have amended the original post.


This puts Livingstone's actions into even sharper contrast to both the Conservatives and the Lib Dems.

Busy weekend

I'm sorry that blogging has been so light over the last few days but I been rushed off my feet.

On Friday evening I addressed Bexleyheath & Crayford Conservative Association, Old Bexley & Sidcup Conservative Association and then finished the evening at the Orpington Conservative Association.

We had a full day of canvassing and delivering in Beckenham, and after picking my father up from the airport this morning I finished off the delivering that I had planned to do on Saturday.

Is it all worth it? Absolutely!

The feedback that we have been getting on the doorstep has been fantastic. People are fed up with Livingstone and excited by Boris and what is increasingly being seen as a well structured and sensible set of policies.

I have no doubt that I will be tired and moaning about my sore feet before this is over, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and closer.

Boris, Bromley and facebook

After commenting on Livingstone's congestion charge plans for Bromley in the Times I set up a facebook group to oppose it. Less than a week after creating it, the group has over 1,000 members.

I emailed Boris about the group and he sent this message in reply.

"If Mayor Livingstone had his way there would be congestion charging in each of the 32 London Boroughs including Bromley. Only local people should decide on matters such as this and I think by the sheer volume of members, this facebook group shows the strength of feeling on this issue.

"Clearly the Mayor is out of touch with greater Londoners. He has grown arrogant and out of touch. When I am Mayor, I will work with the London Boroughs rather than against them".

Boris in Gateshead

I wasn't in Gateshead, I was in Beckenham (of which more soon), Boris however went north. Here is a video of him addressing the Spring Conference.

Arrest at City Hall

The BBC has reported an arrest of a man over money laundering. This was connected to one of the organisations given money by the LDA for doing what seems to be nothing.

The Green Badge Taxi School based in south London received about £170,000 from the LDA to train ethnic minority cab drivers, yet only ever had a handful of students.

Could this be the first card to topple, bringing the rest of house of cards with it?

Livingstone's mad Bromley traffic plans

I have seen the latest megalomaniac plans from Livingstone. According to the Times today Livingstone has a secret plan to extend congestion charge zone to Bromley.

The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed a transport manifesto announced by the Mayor yesterday, yet there was no mention of it. This news tells us all we need to know about the current Mayor, arrogant, detached and lacking in honesty."

If Livingstone cared about the transport needs of Bexley and Bromley residents he would have done something about suburban rail and bus services. He hasn't. This is just another way for him to take more money from outer London to squander on his own pet political projects. (see Boris' speech on The Cost of Livingstone)

It really is time w replaced this man with someone who has vowed to improve suburban transport services and protect our local green and open spaces.

If you want to join us in opposing the Bromley Congestion Charge plans you can do so by joining this facebook group.

UPDATE:

You aan also sign our online petiton opposing these plans here.

Labour money-go-round

I have written before about how the Labour government manages to get public money into the Labour party's coffers.

It looks as though some high profile artists may have learned a thing or two from Labour's playbook. The Telegraph reports that a number of the artists who donated work to Livingstone's fund raising art auction are in line to receive around £300,000 if their work gets to be on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth.

Guess where the decision about the winner is made. That's right, the office of the Mayor of London.

Wrong answer from the RAF

To ban members of the RAF from wearing uniform in public because of the actions of a small number of idiots in Cambridge is completely the wrong answer.

I have long been an advocate of a much higher profile for the armed forces. The wearing of uniform in public would go a long way to normalising the image of the forces, some people have a negative view of soldiers because the only images that they see of them is at war.

War fighting is a unique and unpleasant activity and does not reflect the wide range of work that the forces do. Soldiers are real people too and should be allowed to be seen as such.

I have to disagree with Liam Fox on this, he said:

“Of course the commander on the ground must make the final decision but I regret that the circumstances exist where a decision like this had to be made. I think the majority of our public would be appalled to hear there are no-go areas for our Armed Forces, even in their own country.”

In the armed forces commanders follow orders and the only way to ensure that "no go areas" do not exist is to go there and be seen to be going there.

Pregnant women on the tube

I am really sad to think it has come to this. There will soon be stickers on the tube reminding people to give up their seats to pregnant women.

People shouldn't need to be reminded of this simple courtesy, I would like to believe that this was a natural as breathing but I'm not surprised that it isn't.

On an unrelated note, army officers stand up when a woman enters the room. Just thought you might like to know.

£120,000 a year for four years

Hands up who would trade in a little job security for £120,000 a year.

Livingstone was on Nick Ferrari's radio show this morning, he was justifying why Lee Jasper still lives in £90 per week social housing despite his huge income, and not just any social housing either, a very nice house too.

Livingstone seems to think that £120,000 a year and a 4 year contract isn't enough job security to get a mortgage! That is £480,000 worth of employment contract, 20 years worth of income for someone on an average income.

And Livingstone claims that Boris doesn't understand the lives of most Londoners. What a joke.

The Lee Jasper situation is an insult to all of us

Lee Jasper has resigned; he still claims to have done nothing wrong and is still blaming a "racist" media attack against him.

This is, of course, all rubbish.

There is a trail of mismanagement and possible misconduct following Jasper, his bluff and bullying tactics have not scared off either the press of the Assembly Members who have demanded answers.

His cynical use of the term "racist" was designed to scare away anyone who might investigate his actions. When this failed, he tried to hide from any accountability, first by a spurious suspension and now by resigning. Throughout this sorry episode, Ken Livingstone has echoed Jasper's accusations of racism and has been complicit in keeping him away from any real scrutiny.

I saw the 900 pages of documents that were given to the Assembly yesterday morning, 900 pages that they were meant to read and analyse in preparation for the scrutiny meeting this morning. Can you read 900 A4 pages in less than 24 hours? Not only has Livingstone made it impossible for the Assembly to do their job properly he has even said that he wants to reinstate Jasper after the election.

What this all shows is a Mayor who treats the London Assembly and Londoners as a whole, with complete contempt.

Livingstone pulling figures out of his backside

A spokesperson for Ken Livingstone claims that it will cost £108,000,000 to put conductors on a new version of the Routemaster. This is up on the last "scare story" figure they threw into the debate.

Let's just look at that figure for a second. Even if the proposed 337 new buses ran 24 hours a day, every day of the year, they could be conducted by 1416 conductors working an 8 hour shift 5 days a week. Divide the £108,000,000 by 1416 and you get a spend per conductor per year of over £76,000.

Let's look at more realistic numbers. Let's say each bus is on the road for about half of the time (still very optimistic from what I have seen of vehicle fleets) each conductor would cost over £152,00 per year. Even with holiday pay, sick pay, pension contributions, NI etc. it is still a ridiculously high figure.

When is Livingstone going to stop talking rubbish and when are we going to hear some policies from the other candidates?

Harry in Afghanistan

The big news of the week was all about Harry deploying to Op. Herrick under a news blackout.

I know it has been done to death but here are my thoughts:

Well done to Harry for pushing to get over there.

Well done to the Royal family and the army for letting him go.

Well done to the British media for recognising the difference between something which is "of interest" to the public and something which is "in the public interest".

Boos and jeers to the foreign media who were happy to increase the risk to him and the other troops out there by breaking the story.

A call to "grow up" to those who feel this is proof of a media/establishment conspiracy.

As Harry seems to have a talent for aviation/air/indirect fire planning, coordination and deconfliction he should leave the donkey wallopers and join the Gunners.

Don't worry if you don't understand that last bit.

Racism or antisemitism?

Livingstone must secretly want to throttle Lee Jasper. Jasper has almost single handedly undermined the credibility of Livingstone and his administration.

While Boris is launching a strong series of plans to improve London, Livingstone has announced nothing. He is too busy defending Jasper and his own lack of action in dealing with the serious accusations.

Dizzy has found a new reason for Livingstone to bury his head in his hands. While in public Jasper condemns antisemitism on the Mayor's behalf, he seems more than happy to fraternize with a holocaust denier in private.

Livingstone's comments to Oliver Finegold and his statement that Israel probably shouldn't have been created are doing him a lot of damage in London's Jewish communities. This story about Jasper will be no help in building bridges again.

Save Queen Mary's Hospital march

The turnout at the march to save Queen Mary's Hospital was huge. At about 9.50 this morning I was looking at about 25 Conservatives in dayglow tabbards and only about the same number of other people gathering for the march.

15 minutes later there were hundreds of people, Boris Johnson was there to support the local Conservatives who had organised the march but there were representatives from the Lib Dems (including the very tall Brian Paddick), the Greens, Respect, the Pensioners' Forum, Unison and the band of the Bexley Boys Brigade.

Not everyone was keen to embrace political diversity but as far as I am concerned the more the merrier. Labour were conspicuous by their absence, although at least they weren't being hypocritical like the Labour ministers that vote for hospital and post office closures and then campaign to save their local facilities.