Boris & The Venezuelan Oil Deal: A Question

From Mayorwatch, the BBC and the International Herald Tribune comes the news that Mayor Johnson will not be renewing the deal with Hugo Chavez that enabled Londoners claiming income support to travel half-price by bus and tram. It expires on 20th August. A statement from the mayor's office pledges that Johnson "will continue to improve the capital's transport system and ensure that it is accessible and able to meet the needs of all those who rely on it." But, although the statement also says that applications for the scheme will be accepted until the day the deal expires, and the discounts recognised beyond that date until their six-month span runs out, according to the Tribune, "A spokesman for the mayor said there were no plans to offer low-income residents advantageous bus fares" thereafter.

I'm interested to know how this policy change relates to what Johnson said in his late-night victory speech at City Hall:

"I do hope it does show that the Conservatives have changed into a party that can again be trusted after 30 years with the greatest, most cosmopolitan, multi-racial, generous hearted city on earth in which there are huge and growing divisions between rich and poor."

Does Johnson consider scrapping concessionary fares for some of London's worst-off people to be consistent with the character of the "generous hearted city" he now leads and what appeared to be his implied recognition that the huge and growing gap between the capital's rich and poor is undesirable?

Comments

[J. Wild]

Dave,

Even this early on in his tenure, it is pretty clear that what Boris says and what he does are frequently going to be two very different things. The only surprise about this news is that anyone might be surprised. See also: bringing back the Routemaster and a new era of transparency at City Hall.

The problem that the left has in exposing Boris's double talk is that it can offer no meaningful alternative. The Labour Party is thoroughly discredited at least nationally, and people will put up with anything if it means getting rid of Labour. Boris is going to have a very easy ride because the Labour government is so unpopular, and deservedly so. It will get more interesting when the Tories win the general election - then there will be no hiding place.

Regards,

J. Wild