Friday 8th April 2011

C Charge U Turn For Ken Livingstone

London's 'Western Extension' looks gone for good

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Anything you can do...

Former London mayor turned future candidate has announced that if he wins back his seat in City Hall he won't re-introduce the western extension of the congestion charge.

Boris Johnson scrapped the controversial charge last Christmas - a movewelcomed by all the people that were ignored in the original consultation but condemned by environmental groups who claim that the western extension is one of the few things standing between London's citizens and certain death by pollution.

The decision was also criticised at the time by Ken Livingstone himself; 'Cutting £50m-£70m in revenue a time when public services are under severe pressure makes no financial sense, and with Boris Johnson's own estimates that the removal of the western extension will increase traffic, it makes no sense in terms of traffic flow or pollution either.'

The Western extension. Goodbye!

Given that the congestion charge was originally intended to deter traffic from entering central London thus reducing congestion and pollution, it appears that even its creator now seems to view it as a revenue-raiser and it's become a symbol of class-war rhetoric and dubious attempts at eco-taxation.

It's not all good news though - Ken still plans to resurrect the £25 charge for larger vehicles, infuriatingly and inaccurately labelled as the 'gas-guzzler charge', a policy which Boris Johnson binned almost the moment he became mayor so it looks like motorists are once again in the middle of political point-scoring.

[Anubis]

Can't stand the man personally.

He's a mini dictator. OK, Boris is a bumbling baffoon but at least he hasn't got a constant smug face; livingstone is far too sure of himself and imo comes across as cocky.

[TimmmyT]

Is it just me or would anybody else like to beat Ken to death with a rubber hose! As mentioned the guy is a complete dictator and I personally wouldn't believe he has scrapped the extension. If he were to get back in I think he would just do another U turn and reinstate the plans.

[Davismatt]

If you are a Londoner who vales being able to use their car then next May you MUST vote for Boris and not allow the rabidly car hating Livingstone back into City Hall.

[Garlick]

How does Ken qualify the statement a 'larger vehicle'?

As a Londoner with two 4.0 V8 cars am I going to automatically qualify as large? Or will the Lexus be classed as large due to its size, but the TVR will escape as it is not physically big?

[Oddball RS]

So if you live in London, an honest question, why would you want Red Ken back?

I don't so it means very little to me.

[Gillet]

And this is why I voted Boris. Long may he reign!

[JonnyFive]

Boris for president.

[LewisR]

For once, if those effected did like they would in France and not pay it en-masse (see what I did there?) then it generate too much in the way of court appearances etc.

[E36GUY]

Ken Livingstone said during the last election race that he would not return in future if he lost that election. What a shame he's changed his mind.

[chippy17]

Anubis said:

Can't stand the man personally.

He's a mini dictator. OK, Boris is a bumbling baffoon but at least he hasn't got a constant smug face; livingstone is far too sure of himself and imo comes across as cocky.

awful little scrote

underestimate Boris at your peril!

[Laurel Green]

If Livingscum really had London's interests to heart then he'd feed himself into a tree-munching machine. 'Tis the only way!

[jains15]

JonnyFive said:

Boris for president.

Nah. Ken. For the real Presidency (USA)

Having someone so red and car hating over there would be properly, properly hilarious.

They'd think the russkies had landed

[sleep envy]

PH said:

Given that the congestion charge was originally intended to deter traffic from entering central London thus reducing congestion and pollution, it appears that even its creator now seems to view it as a revenue-raiser and it's become a symbol of class-war rhetoric and dubious attempts at eco-taxation.

he'll say anything to get back behind the desk at the testicle

the man has no shame or principles

[RichyBoy]

I voted for boris but on a scale of annoying theleader and fatballs are in a completely different league to redken.

[montyvr6]

The congestion charge is a farce.

Why don't hybrids etc have to pay? they congest in the same way as any other car. The powers that be should at least name it correctly and call it an environmental tax or similar. If that's the case the hybrids should pay double to counter act the environmental damage from producing their batteries etc.

[vetteheadracer]

Ken Livingstone is a symbol of all things that are wrong with the UK. He along with Blair, Brown, Darling should never ever be allowed to be in charge of anything again.

Remember people the reason this country is up the stinky creek without a paddle is because of these people.

Also KL has possibly the most annoying voice this side of Janet Street Porter.

[PaulMoor]

montyvr6 said:

The congestion charge is a farce.

Why don't hybrids etc have to pay? they congest in the same way as any other car. The powers that be should at least name it correctly and call it an environmental tax or similar. If that's the case the hybrids should pay double to counter act the environmental damage from producing their batteries etc.

Didn't you know that hybrids batteries are made from fairy farts and unicorn poo? they are not like the evil evil batteries you and I know that have to be disposed of as special sites and can't go in normal waste.

[FlossyThePig]

PaulMoor said:

montyvr6 said:

The congestion charge is a farce.

Why don't hybrids etc have to pay? they congest in the same way as any other car. The powers that be should at least name it correctly and call it an environmental tax or similar. If that's the case the hybrids should pay double to counter act the environmental damage from producing their batteries etc.

Didn't you know that hybrids batteries are made from fairy farts and unicorn poo? they are not like the evil evil batteries you and I know that have to be disposed of as special sites and can't go in normal waste.

Well! What is the environmental damage from producing their batteries?

[braddo]

montyvr6 said:

The congestion charge is a farce.

Why don't hybrids etc have to pay? they congest in the same way as any other car. The powers that be should at least name it correctly and call it an environmental tax or similar. If that's the case the hybrids should pay double to counter act the environmental damage from producing their batteries etc.

So what's your alternative for attempting to manage congestion in central London?

(Hybrids should have to pay though)

[VeeFour]

FlossyThePig said:

Well! What is the environmental damage from producing their batteries?

Don't confuse them by asking for real hard facts or evidence.

Hybrids are bad because Clarkson told them they were....