London: Mayor & More

At The Guardian

On environment policies.

At the back end of February Ken Livingstone walked into a BBC Radio London studio hearing good news. The station's 9.00 a.m. bulletin reported that a study by London-based academics had found that since the introduction of the congestion charge in 2003 there had been a reduction in air pollution and that Londoners' health had benefited accordingly.

How big were these improvements? Livingstone was careful not to exaggerate. "It's a small increase in everybody's lifespan," he said. The report had calculated that the capital's seven million residents had collectively gained 1,888 extra years of living. "If you work it out," acknowledged the mayor, "it doesn't go very far. But it's better than it being the other way."

Jonathan Porritt

For him, the choice is clear:

"The prospect of Boris taking over London’s Climate Change Action Plan is even scarier. He may have learnt not to reveal his full contrarian bigotry on climate change, but he really doesn’t get it, and would rapidly scale back or completely get rid off the ambitious targets in the Action Plan. And that would be a massive set back. Internationally, London is widely recognised as one of a handful of cities showing real leadership on climate change. And Ken Livingstone has driven that personally, in a very effective partnership with his deputy, Nicky Gavron. Just as he has driven a host of other environmental and sustainability priorities."

I'm soliciting views from environmentalists, so this interests me. I left a comment.

"Hello Jonathan. I've been writing about the mayoralty campaign for the Guardian and keeping my own blog about it. I'm interested to read that you see such clear differences between Ken and Boris on green issues, given that some commentators - and, notably, the Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick - have expressed doubts about the true environmental benefits of Ken's LEZ and his proposed new £25 extra- congestion charge on gas-guzzlers (particularly as small cars will be exempted from the c-charge altogether under the same policy.) As a voter as well as a journalist I'm finding it quite difficult to reach conclusions about the competing policies and claims of the three leading candidates and those of Sian Berry. I'd be fascinated to read more from you on this subject."

It hasn't appeared on his site yet. Later, maybe? Hoping to hear from you, Jonathan.

Boris Johnson's Environment Manifesto

OK, here it is. Please note that it's green on the outside. But is it green within? Ken says it isn't. Sian says it isn't. Me, I'm finding it hard to decided if any of the candidates' green policies add up to very much at all. Johnson's headline pledges are that he will:

1. Protect And Preserve Open Spaces.

2. Make It Easier To Recycle And Reduce Waste.

3. Make Transport More Sustainable.

4. Help Tackle Climate Change.

What strikes me about them - and the title's emphasis on cleanness and local-ness - is their obvious tailoring to Tory-ish concerns. It's reminiscent of a huge, fat document Chris Patten produced under Thatcher when Conservatives first woke up to the fact that being green could be about conservation and thrift.

Green & Promised

As we know:

"The Green candidate for London mayor has urged her supporters to give their second preference votes to Labour's Ken Livingstone. The move by Sian Berry was matched by a promise from Mr Livingstone that he will give his own second preference to her. The pair have launched a joint green agenda for the next four years and warned that Conservative rival Boris Johnson 'cannot be trusted with London's environment'."

But what's interesting is that this is reported in the Rye & Battle Observer.

Livingstone's Post Office Challenge

From yesterday's Times:

"Royal Mail’s plans to close 2,500 post offices could be thrown into disarray after the Mayor of London said yesterday that he would mount a legal challenge in the capital. If Ken Livingstone is successful, other local authorities across the country could come under pressure to start similar action. He is seeking a judicial review of the closure of nearly 200 post offices in London because of the impact on local communities."

This is a good move. It challenges the "out of touch" charge, is bigger than the protests of Boris and Brian and makes me and some of my readers elsewhere happy too. If you're reading this, Ms Arnold, did you have a hand in it?

Paddick On The LEZ

I've been neglecting him lately and as a result missed this.

Protecting Gardens:

From Thrifty Loans:

"Investments director at Foxtons estate agency, John Ennis, said that sales of gardens in London had increased in the past 18 months. He said: 'We are often approached to sell plots of land which may include garden spaces. However all developments are subject to planning.'”

And further down:

"Current mayor Ken Livingstone says the London Plan will be revised to stop over-development on back gardens in the suburbs, and Conervative mayoral candidate Boris Johnson has also promised to protect gardens."

Now read on.

Gas-Guzzler Grumbles

First Porsche, now Mitsubishi.

Not 4 Ken

Blogger Midori has just returned to London after six years in Japan. She was at last week's environment hustings:

"Seeing the live debate did a good job of convincing me that Ken Livingstone is a bit of a megalomaniac, Boris Johnson is a bit of a public school educated plonker and Brian Paddick is a decent bloke who genuinely seems to want to improve things for the average person in London."

Now read on.