The Bristow Blog

Alcohol ban protests organised by a Fulham man

If I am being honest, when Boris promised to ban alcohol on the tube I was not thrilled. 

I could understand why he was doing it.  People are sick of drunks being a nuisance on the tube and swigging cans of lager is anti social.  Indeed, on my way to work last week the passeanger next to me opened a can of very strong lager and started to drink - at 7.30am! 

However, in my view the real problem is drunk people getting on the tube, rather than people getting drunk whilst on the tube.  I also hoped that this example would not be extended to overground trains.  Who can bear the delays, expense and overcrowding associated with GNER without a beer or two?

Nevertheless, after seeing the drunks and the revellers at the 'protest' over the weekend - once again Boris has got it spot on.  No one deserves to travel (after paying the highest prices in Europe) putting up with drink fuelled anti social behaviour.  The ban is a message that enough is enough and this behaviour will not be tolerated in our city any longer.  If this policy needed some justifaction then this protest provided it with bells on.

It turns out the organiser of the protest was a Fulham man.  The Evening Standard says:

Today Mr Graham, of Fulham who now fears for his job, said he did it because a female friend who worked in a senior position for former mayor Ken Livingstone lost her job following Boris Johnson's election victory.

So we can blame it all on Labour!  Nice one. :-)

Boris takes his lead from H&F

The new Mayor of London Boris Johnson (that sounds good doesn't it) has appointed the Leader of H&F council Stephen Greenhalgh as a member of the Forensic Audit Panel.

Boris has been impressed with how the Conservatives have identified and stripped out Labour waste at Hammersmith Town Hall and given it back to people in the form of investment in front line services or through cutting council tax.

The group has been tasked with doing the same for Boris, looking at the Greater London Assembly, the London Development Agency, and the many other cross London bodies that answer to the Mayor.  It is important that the hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer money spent in the name of Londoners is spent wisely and efficiently.

While there is a great deal of good done in the name of the Mayor of London, what's the betting they find countless examples of waste and funding diverted to dubious groups and campaigns...

Labour MP accepts a job if Boris wins

Boris Johnson, has announced that Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, as the first member of his administration if he wins the Mayoral election.   This is a big blow for Ken Livingstone and the Labour Party - one of their own in all tense and purposes backing Boris for Mayor.

The well respected MP has agreed to serve as a non-executive Director advising Boris on sport and the Olympics.

This is similar to Brown's announcment that he wants a Government of 'all the talents'.   Boris stated:

"Kate has a huge and well-known commitment to sport and to London, and I am determined to bring talent from across politics and the community to a new administration."

It will be hypocrisy if she is punished by the whips of the Labour Party after Gordon Brown did exactly the same thing.

Boris launches Environment manifesto

Highlights from Boris Johnson's environment manifesto:

"1. Protect And Preserve Open Spaces

• Use the Mayor's powers to protect the green belt and protect against development on gardens

• Invest £6 million in making our open spaces cleaner and safer.
• Invest in 10,000 street trees to improve the local neighbourhoods that need them most.

2. Make It Easier To Recycle And Reduce Waste

• Promote innovative new schemes that pay Londoners to recycle.
• Work closely with boroughs to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, and support a ban on plastic bags.

3. Make Transport More Sustainable

• Oppose the third runway at Heathrow and mixed mode operation.
• Promote hybrid buses and get traffic moving more smoothly to reduce congestion and so reduce emissions.
• Make London a genuinely cycle-friendly city to promote modal shift.

4. Help Tackle Climate Change

• Work to help cut London's carbon emissions by 60% from their 1990 levels by 2025, through promoting greater energy efficiency and cutting congestion
• Work with the boroughs to encourage Londoners to install insulation in return for Council Tax rebates.
• Champion innovation through an annual Mayor's prize of £20,000 for the best new ideas for low carbon technology from London's students."

The Boris campaign starts today!

Boris Johnson today spells out his plans to make London safer, give taxpayers value for money, defend our green and open spaces, improve transport and tackle congestion.

In this message he describes the choice Londoners face between more of the same with Ken Livingstone and his plans to bring energy and fresh thinking to London.

Today marks the start of the official countdown to the polling day for the Mayoral election on May 1st.  It is an election that is vital to those who live in Greater London as it gives you the opportunity to have your say on crime, value for money, the local environment and transport and congestion.

If you agree with Boris Johnson’s message for a change for the better for London then please send this to all your friends and family eligible to vote on May 1st.

http://www.backboris.com

The Tories Strike Back

This was the title of the Boris Johnson Xmas bash which I was invited to as a result of signing up to his campaign for London Mayor.  The party took place in the Star Wars exhibition taking place at County Hall.

Wandering in I was accosted by Darth Vader and the Emperor (pictured).  All sorts of other characters from the six hit movies were there including Jedi Knights, Storm Troopers and Rebel soliders.  Brilliant!

Only Boris can combine a political party, with a christmas party, a star wars exhibition in one of the most iconic Labour institutions in London. 

Boris has a fantastic chance to unseat Ken at the next London Mayoral elections.  London needs a mayor that shares H&F's desire for lower taxes, less waste, and better services.

UPDATE - 5.45pm 11th December

In what is his first blog post in weeks the Labour Party opposition leader has picked this picture up from my blog (I'm sure there is a copywright issue here) and is having some fun with it - http://thecowanreport.blogspot.com/2007/12/shock-news-as-two-most-evil-men-in.html - if you can't laugh what can you do? :-)

Boris is our man

It was pretty much a foregone conclusion if you ask me but Boris Johnson has been selected as the Conservative candidate for the Mayor of London race beating Victoria Borwick, Warwick Lightfoot and the excellent Andrew Boff.

I am course thrilled about this because the Conservatives need a heavyweight candidate and Boris is the best bet of ridding London of Livingstone.  This is despite the fact that Andrew Boff is a very good candidate (as they all were in their own way) who I know would have relished the chance to fight Ken.

Boris won with 79% of the vote in a contest where all Londoners were given a chance to vote - I wish a few more had and that the primary campaign was the one envisaged by Conservative headquarters when the idea was mooted a year or so ago.

Anyway onwards and upwards with Boris.  I encourage readers to back Boris and visit his website - http://www.backboris.com/

Boris says Fulham is a model for London

Boris came to Fulham last week on a routemaster bus as part of his campaign to be London Mayor.  This one visit to our borough is the same number as Ken Livingstone has managed since 2004!

He stated during his visit that he will make Fulham a model for London if he becomes Mayor of London.  He spent a long time meeting local residents and went on patrol with the local police.  He got to see the area's 24/7 police team (the only one in Capital other than S Bush) that has is in place due to council funding and is looking at it as a model for the rest of London.  The zero tolerance 24/7 policies of H&F should be extended across the London!

I am a big supporter of Boris Johnson's run for Mayor.  If I were a betting man I would put money on Boris winning next year.  He has certainly got the Labour Party worried with everyone from Ken, think tanks, and senior Government figures blasting him as a cross between a racist ringwinger and a comedy act not be taken seriously.

In fact Boris is a very clever man who will be breath of fresh air for London.  We need an alternative to the 'spend more and need more power' approach of Livingstone.  I do not think Labour would be criticising him with such vitriol if they did not know the threat he poses.

The Conservative candidate will be selected on September 26th.