Boris told to ‘get off his backside’ by ministers

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Boris Johnson’s refusal to negotiate with tube unions has been something that the Labour Party, and Ken Livingstone in particular, have been critical of in recent months. Johnson’s failure to negotiate has cost Londoners dearly, as the capital’s transport system grinds to a halt in the face of avoidable strikes. Next month a sustained period of strikes will hit the transport network, but still Johnson won’t meet the RMT.

Yet today Johnson has been hit with a remarkable attack by from an unusual source – Lib Dem ministers. The Evening Standard reports that:

“He was told to get off “his backside” and talk to RMT leader Bob Crow as Business Secretary Vince Cable said the Mayor had to “reach out” to the unions.”

“One Tory minister has reportedly “apologised” to a Lib-Dem colleague because Mr Johnson was “behaving in an embarrassing way” over the strikes due to start next Monday.”

Ed Davey also said that “Boris is trying to pass the buck when actually the buck stops with City Hall.”

Whilst the Lib Dems are still reluctant to attack the Tories head on in Westminster, they are more than happy to lay into London’s mayor. That Tory ministers consider Johnson an embarrassment isn’t a surprise, but Lib Dem willingness to attack the mayor is. And ahead of a mayoral race that could be decided in part by Lib Dem 2nd preferences, that’s a welcome development.