An ebullient Boris dominated the London Assembly as he gave his Budget Speech on Wednesday and to the chagrin of the Labour Assembly members, explained exactly why Ken’s Livingstone’s promise of cheaper fares is a fraud. A transcript of the Mayor’s speech is here.
Boris reminded the Assembly we are in the deepest recession for 50 years, and the culture of waste of the previous Mayoralty had to be overturned. Boris outlined the huge savings of his Mayoralty, please read about them in his Budget Speech. Ken is claiming he can cut fares by 7% and can save a further £1.2 billion. However, he is not prepared to give any details of how this can be achieved
Boris said: “Londoners will be asking as they make their decision what will be cut by those who call for a £1.2 billion reduction in TfL’s revenue.
Perhaps it’s the Bank station congestion relief work, or the upgrades on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines.
Or perhaps the sub-surface lines.
Or congestion relief works at Victoria, Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street stations.
Or cutting the Safer Transport Teams and the bus network.
Which would it be?”
It is so easy (and with Ken, facile promises are the norm) to make pie in the sky promises, when you are desperate to get your job back. Labour as usual is in the same double bind. They are slating Boris for not spending more money, while insisting they can make a massive £1.2 billion saving.
The waste of the Labour government led us into the dire straits we are in now. We need to grow the economy for the country to recover . Ken is promising a 7% fares cut He owes it to Londoners to give details of how this can be achieved. It is time for the con trick being practiced on Londoners by Labour and Ken to be revealed for the sham that it is.
A clear and excellent statement of his record, all Londoners should read this.
Boris will win, no question about it.