London - Speed cameras set to double

The way I remember it, he was slated in the press for
not using Public Transport enough and the high cost
of his taxi bills, hence the recent decline in use.

I think it's a touch hypocritical that he tells everyone
else that they should use public transport, but still
likes the odd taxi himself, especially as the bill was
4 times that amount the previous year.

The man has questionable morals in my opinion. His attack
on George Bush over Iraq and questioning of his legitimacy
as president, the appalling use of public funds to try to
block PPP on the tube (and the £4m hole it left) and the
whole Congestion Charging fiasco; from propping up a
private company with an extra £31m because it was too
successful (or is it people staying away?) through to
saying that it wouldn't affect poor people because they
don't have cars.

Hardly an attractive figure for the face of London.

 

Like "back to basics for you lot, while I'm shagging me
secretary/assistant/ministerial colleague" and "send your kids to
state schools, I'm sending mine to the London Oratory" you mean?

Well, the taxis don't get held up in traffic so much any more, do
they, what with the congestion charge and all.

When did taxis stop being public transport, anyway?

I'm staggered that the above could suggest "questionable morals", tbh.

That's why he got voted in, I guess.

 

Salad Dodger wrote

I am surprised he takes taxis. He must get a right ear bashing when he
does.

Mind you, considering that most cabbies live in South Woodham Ferrers
and don't really give a toss about London these days, he prolly gets
left alone.

 

Yes. Them too. Bastards.

Didn't do much to make him popular with American
tourists though, did it?

 

my life is very dull. That's largely of my own making. I'm my own worst
enemy. Shall I refrain from passing any further comment on it in case it
causes you any further trauma?

<small rantette mode>

I didn't watch the game. I was told I had to like sport when I was kid
because my dad had been good at it. I'm incredibly stubborn and don't
react well to being told what I should or should not like. Hence I like
very little sport because I never had a chance to cultivate my own
interest in it.

Also the sheer unremitting hype about national teams and "national"
sports is another huge turn off - again people and / or the media
telling me I *have* to like football or rugby or bloody Tim Henman just
because they are representing England. Yawn.

<srm>

I like motorcycle racing because I can appreciate how incredibly skilled
the riders are. Similarly I can appreciate the Tour De France which I
watch avidly every year. The only other sport I've ever voluntarily
tried is Basketball. I was pretty crap at it but I like it as a sport.

 

The main headline was the fact he used a taxi to travel back from the
labour party conference in Blackpool one year.

It depends on your definition of public transport. Ken clearly believes
that taxis are public transport and the licensing etc is now controlled
via Transport for London. He does use the Tube to travel to work - not
so sure about how many buses he uses but he does use some.

I personally don't consider taxis to be public transport as I think they
are an elitist, very expensive form of transport and a poor use of road
space. I've paid to use a black cab once in 20 years and only had two
other trips in them where others were paying.

he's a politician and he courts controversy. He'll always make comments
like this.

he was voted in an anti-PPP vote. He'd say he was carrying out
Londoner's wishes. If only the funding hole was £4m!

Well he would blame the people who negotiated a crap contract with
Capita. I might say that the sheer political pressure to get the scheme
in caused some compromises along the way including making sure the
contract was robust enough to deal with a range of outcomes. Someone
missed a trick or two along the way.

He won the vote.

He's gone down in my estimation over the years because I think he
compromises far more these days. There are aspects of his strategies
over development and planning which I think warrant far more scrutiny.
I'm not sure what he has achieved with respect to the Met Police and I
question other appointments made to bodies he controls. There is also
the oft quoted but currently very quiet area of his own office and the
appointments made to it as well as the total cost. I'm sure we will be
hearing much more about all of that next year!

He's done a good job with the buses but only at huge cost. Regrettably
the huge costs involved so far have strangled many later initiatives and
we have cancellation of many good schemes that were proposed for the
suburbs. He'd blame that on the government for not giving him enough
cash!

 

She's never offered.

 

I was referring to legal bills following his
retraction of the legal bid to stop it.

Heh, so did Labour.

 

An Uphill Gardener in London not having a good time? it's a form of
masochistic pleasure and you love it, right? ;o)
Then again with UKRM your plate is overflowing...

I have to admit to carrying over a load of similar shit but I've tried to
shake it off this past 10 years or so. Rejecting the legacy so to speak.

Ah well, one either has tribal inclinations or not. Mine are mild IRL so I
can support any part of UK in an International, Wales excepted. Taken in
historical context I have a fairly rosy view of Empire I suppose, which
helps.

Ah now, I can even watch footie on occasion because I can see the skill.
Rugby is the same but far more so and requires levels of courage. F1 car
racing leaves me cold, BSB etc. are excellent on that basis.

 

yeah sure. whatever you say.

usually with unadulterated bilge.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Oi! Fsking porridge-bog-trotting-wog..... ;-)

 

Mmm, it wasn't a veiled or backhanded insult BTW.

I've lived in London IMHO it's not a good. A lot of what you might want in
resources is there but somehow one doesn't want to use them much. Rural is
better. darcy will disagree. I'm guessing the lack of sparkle is mired in
murkier water though.

I do like to visit the place but 3 days at a stretch is enough.

Harsh but fair

 

Have you ever asked?

 

No.

 

you've more moral integrity than I thought.

 

I suspect he's just too scared.

 

that's what I said.

 

Like many things they're ok if you can jiggle 'em about a bit, but a bit
pointless otherwise.

 

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 13:47:03 +0000, Andy Bonwick

[pointless and stupid cheering in the streets]

On that basis I look forward to see the terrible trio plastered across
the front of the Metro free newspaper with the bike in the background
and you all then popping round to Number 10 for tea and cakes.

 

Whythsat?