Today we saw the real Boris Johnson – an out-of-touch Conservative, failing to put ordinary Londoners first on the issues that really affect them, from rising fares to police cuts. He gave no hope to Londoners facing another steep fare rise this January, which will mean bus fares are up 56% under a Tory mayor, and gave no hard commitment on police numbers, which are in fact due to fall by 1,800 according to his own Metropolitan Police figures. Under the Conservatives, Londoners are less well off and increasingly less safe, under a moonlighting mayor who meets bankers more than the police. People in London are feeling the squeeze but Boris Johnson doesn’t see it.
Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone served as the first Mayor of London from 2000 to 2008. He was formerly leader of the Greater London Council between 1981 and 1986 and served as Member of Parliament for Brent East from 1987 to 2001. In 2008, Ken launched Progressive London, a broad coalition of political, cultural, community and artistic leaders supporting progressive policies for the capital. Aside from his achievements in public office, Ken has starred on the BBC's Have I Got News For You on six occasions and is a former restaurant critic for the London Evening Standard. He is currently writing his memoirs.
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Our independent journalists have been on the ground during this local and by-election campaign, which marks the first key electoral test of Keir Starmer’s government.
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