Boris v Ken - What have they done for London?
Discussion
With the election looming, is there a way to compare the 2 candidates and what they have actually achieved over the past 12 years? Im not a fan of Ken`s, as he seems to wage war against cars, but to be fair to him, has Boris been any better?
Is there a factsheet somewhere that details their pre-election promises, then subsequent successes and failures?
Is there a factsheet somewhere that details their pre-election promises, then subsequent successes and failures?
AJS- said:
As far as I can tell the only lasting impact of having a mayor at all for 12 years is the congestion charge, which is a bad thing in my view.
But I would vote for Boris just because I think Livingstone is an irksome little fascist.
and dont forget that ken tried to introduce that crazy and massive CO2 'tax' on vehicles with an engine larger than a moped ....But I would vote for Boris just because I think Livingstone is an irksome little fascist.
Boris is a likeable oaf, Ken is a raving commie with an enormous chip on his shoulder.
Ken is only interested in helping minority groups, hence why the CC wasn't extended into the equally congested (but notably poorer) East End.
I do belive Boris has good in his heart.
I begrudgingly like Ken but I wouldn't vote for him, Boris for Mayor.
Ken is only interested in helping minority groups, hence why the CC wasn't extended into the equally congested (but notably poorer) East End.
I do belive Boris has good in his heart.
I begrudgingly like Ken but I wouldn't vote for him, Boris for Mayor.
At least with these two you are not getting a lawyer/researcher turned career politician, so in many ways these are more capable politicians in my eye than Clegg, Cameron and Milliband.
Ken is not to be underestimated, he has massive support in inner London. And contrary to the post above about looking out for minorities - they are actually majorities in large swathes of London.
4 more years for Boris would be perfect timing for him to have a run for parliament in 2016/17 and the Tory leadership soon after.
Ken is not to be underestimated, he has massive support in inner London. And contrary to the post above about looking out for minorities - they are actually majorities in large swathes of London.
4 more years for Boris would be perfect timing for him to have a run for parliament in 2016/17 and the Tory leadership soon after.
Boris:
Got rid of the stupid bendy buses. Result = less traffic (but not much)
Also allowed motorbikes into (some) bus lanes. Result = less traffic (but not much)
Western congestion charge zone removed. Result!
Ken:
Gave his mates some very well paid jobs.
Held off increases in travel fares (but that seemed to store up the problem for later years)
Gave in to Unions threatening strikes
Got rid of the stupid bendy buses. Result = less traffic (but not much)
Also allowed motorbikes into (some) bus lanes. Result = less traffic (but not much)
Western congestion charge zone removed. Result!
Ken:
Gave his mates some very well paid jobs.
Held off increases in travel fares (but that seemed to store up the problem for later years)
Gave in to Unions threatening strikes
Office_Monkey said:
Boris: Also allowed motorbikes into (some) bus lanes. Result = less traffic (but not much)
This was a good one, made perfect sense.The Congestion topic is another strange one, I associate that with sheer volume of traffic and flow, removing those railings around Oxford Circus was a good idea, that made a huge difference, so why not adopt simliar methods to combat congestion rather than simply imposing more penalties and fines? Such as turning off traffic lights at certain roundabouts at certain times, allowing vehicles to turn left on a Red if safe to do so, re-phasing traffic lights and stop installing lights where a roundabout makes more sense.
I have a feeling Ken would have supported the Westminister council parking idea if he were Mayor. But as he is the candidate, used his talkshow to condemn the idea, as it would have lost him essential votes.
Edited by Jetl3on on Monday 30th January 16:29
Edited by Jetl3on on Monday 30th January 16:30
If Boris has done nothing else (and I'm sure he has) he's managed to largely rid us of that whining sneering creep for the past few years. Let's just hope that Boris digs deep and repeats the exercise, then Newt Boy can crawl back under his slimy stone and hopefully achieve permanent obsolescence.
Ken:
Wanted to expand congestion charge
Boris:
Cancelled it
Ken:
Wanted 4x4 charge for congestion zone
Boris:
Cancelled it
Ken:
Introduced bendy buses
Boris:
Scrapped them
Ken:
Used "The Londoner" newspaper as a propogander tool.
Boris:
Scrapped it (it was paid for out of council tax + advertising revenue)
Boris:
Banned alcohol on public transport.
Ken:
Increased the mayoral part of council tax by 156% over 8 years
Boris:
Froze it for 3 years
THIS IS THE BIG ONE
Ken:
Rephased traffic lights to prevent free flowing traffic (to justify the congestion charge zone)
Boris:
Re-Rephased traffic lights to allow freer flowing traffic.
Wanted to expand congestion charge
Boris:
Cancelled it
Ken:
Wanted 4x4 charge for congestion zone
Boris:
Cancelled it
Ken:
Introduced bendy buses
Boris:
Scrapped them
Ken:
Used "The Londoner" newspaper as a propogander tool.
Boris:
Scrapped it (it was paid for out of council tax + advertising revenue)
Boris:
Banned alcohol on public transport.
Ken:
Increased the mayoral part of council tax by 156% over 8 years
Boris:
Froze it for 3 years
THIS IS THE BIG ONE
Ken:
Rephased traffic lights to prevent free flowing traffic (to justify the congestion charge zone)
Boris:
Re-Rephased traffic lights to allow freer flowing traffic.
oyster said:
At least with these two you are not getting a lawyer/researcher turned career politician, so in many ways these are more capable politicians in my eye than Clegg, Cameron and Milliband..
Agreedniether are some PR managed clusterf
kI don't live in london so I would vote ken just to watch this place explode with rage
oyster said:
At least with these two you are not getting a lawyer/researcher turned career politician, so in many ways these are more capable politicians in my eye than Clegg, Cameron and Milliband.
Ken is not to be underestimated, he has massive support in inner London. And contrary to the post above about looking out for minorities - they are actually majorities in large swathes of London.
4 more years for Boris would be perfect timing for him to have a run for parliament in 2016/17 and the Tory leadership soon after.
Boris? The City worker's choice.Ken is not to be underestimated, he has massive support in inner London. And contrary to the post above about looking out for minorities - they are actually majorities in large swathes of London.
4 more years for Boris would be perfect timing for him to have a run for parliament in 2016/17 and the Tory leadership soon after.
Ken? The Londoner's choice.
As usual there's the usual Right Wing bias in the responses here (and I have to admit I find Boris' bufoon act rather amusing and Ken's weasely whine rather annoying), but Ken is a popular man amongst the majority of Londoners who live on low incomes rather than the minority who rake in 7 figures and can afford to live in the more fashionable parts of the city.
It could go either way, but Boris might shade it on a wave of London-Olympics-Euphoria.
M
oyster said:
And contrary to the post above about looking out for minorities - they are actually majorities in large swathes of London.
Oh god yes, I know that they are now the majority in most parts. That I belive plays massivley into Kens hands.Also slightly OT but none the less pertinent, did anyone see the placards being used by the protesters in Oxford St the other day?
"No food? Eat the rich!" "If the Eaton boys want a class war we'll give them one" etc.
These imbeciles will grovel at Red Kens feet and they are a massive part of his vote. I expect a close run contest and hope that Boris will succeed. I cannot take part in this crucial vote as I live in Essex, a bit unfair when what happens in our capital city affects so much of my life.
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