Boris question
Discussion
I've been watching Boris giving a news conference from Bejing and am always impressed by the way he comes over on T.V. My question is to Londoners, have you noticed any difference in the way the city is run since he took over? Not trying to start a Ken / Boris fight, just a genuine question ( i stay in Central Scotland so it has no direct bearing on me, just curious).
Cheers
Pile
Cheers
Pile
Haven't noticed any physical changes yet - but there are various things which are rumoured. I don't honestly expect Boris to be that much better than Livingscum - I'm not convinced politicians ever really do any good - but I like the fact he's an individual... and quite an entertaining one at that.
Nothing really tangible as yet, but I sort of get the impression that the atmosphere of London has changed. There is a bit of hope there, which had been extinguished by Ken's politics of division and hate. Boris is such an irrepressibly cheerful, fun, honest and straightforward chap, and he really is that earnest in his desire to do a good job as mayor that I think he will earn a lot of respect in the next 4 years.
GKP said:
I was watching the Boris version of 'Who Do You Think You Are' programme the other night. He came across as a genuinely likeable, down the pub bloke - despite all the Blue Blood in him!
Why would blue blood preclude you from being a down the pub bloke...?Bloody Bluebloodists, shoot the lot of 'em...
mybrainhurts said:
GKP said:
I was watching the Boris version of 'Who Do You Think You Are' programme the other night. He came across as a genuinely likeable, down the pub bloke - despite all the Blue Blood in him!
Why would blue blood preclude you from being a down the pub bloke...?Bloody Bluebloodists, shoot the lot of 'em...
mybrainhurts said:
Why would blue blood preclude you from being a down the pub bloke...?
Must admit I thought that too. No one would be complaining if he was overtly working class, so I don't understand the objection to the opposite.Quite wanted to see that program last night, but I was stuck on one of TFL's tubes at that point. Slight irony there perhaps?
GKP said:
I was watching the Boris version of 'Who Do You Think You Are' programme the other night. He came across as a genuinely likeable, down the pub bloke - despite all the Blue Blood in him!
Agree with you- he was superb. Would love to work for the guy- I think he is a breath of fresh air in Politics (probably a contradiction in terms). Quite impressed with his languages too- clearly he is almost fluent in French, his German was a bit patchy- but I know he speaks Latin (Greek too?) so not bad going...
nogginthenog said:
I have noticed a big change - every other day the London papers report that one of his dodgy employee's has 'resigned' under mysterious circumstances.....
But never mind - the new Routemaster bus will be fantastic when he finds someone to design & build it.
every other day? Since he was elected? wow I didnt realise he had so many advisors..be catching up with Ken by the end of his four year term at this rateBut never mind - the new Routemaster bus will be fantastic when he finds someone to design & build it.
Nothing tangible (but would there really be any?).
But he has:
I wasn't a fan of Boris as a politician, like many I voted for him as the only viable alternative to what I saw as a corrupt regime. I'm still waiting to see something genuinely bad.
But he has:
- Cancelled the £25/day congestion charge for larger vehicles
- Dismissed a number of staff of dubious value and merit, saving a considerable sum of money (He's committed to reducing the GLA precept by some 15%, which would be very tangible)
- Exercised the opt out clause in the Oystercard programme. Whether this leads to a renegotiation of the existing contract, it's placement with another company, or bringing in-house at TfL, it's likely to be on considerably more advantageous terms (advantageous to the ratepayers that is)
- He has begun consultation on the continuation, modification, or scrapping of the Congestion Charge Western Extension, as promised.
- He has committed to increasing the number of Transport Police, as promised.
- And we saw the inital review of the LDA accounting, and resulting projects (where so much of the dirt lay). Accounting procedures (which had been described as "below the legal minimum standard for a limited company) have been tightened up.
- He has approved the proposal for a desalination plant on the Thames Estuary, which Livingstone rejected. Somewaht important for all those new homes being built in the East End.
- He has authorised the waste incinerator plant (also rejected by Livingstone) that several London boroughs had been clamouring for.
- On publication of the latest traffic & congestion survey, he announced plans for several popular congestion-busting initiatives (motorcycles in bus lanes, rephasing of lights).
- He reduced the cost of the representation of London at the Olympics, and has only just flown out.
I wasn't a fan of Boris as a politician, like many I voted for him as the only viable alternative to what I saw as a corrupt regime. I'm still waiting to see something genuinely bad.
Private Pile said:
I've been watching Boris giving a news conference from Bejing and am always impressed by the way he comes over on T.V. My question is to Londoners, have you noticed any difference in the way the city is run since he took over? Not trying to start a Ken / Boris fight, just a genuine question ( i stay in Central Scotland so it has no direct bearing on me, just curious).
Cheers
Pile
I saw the Bejing thing - loved the way he got a dig in at the Aussie's - could you imagine Red Ken doing that!!?? Cheers
Pile
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