Mizter T wrote:
---quote---


Rather than just subscribing to the path of least resistance Boris
should have the balls to show some real leadership, challenge the
status quo and have a stab at changing the world. Not impressed at all
that he wimped out of this - what's more didn't his manifesto say he
was fully committed to the LEZ?

Rule #94 of blinkered commentators: 'The left don't stick to their
manifestos, even if they do. The right stick to their manifestos even
if they don't'.

I expect he'll argue that he was committed to the *current* LEZ. No,
I'm not impressed, at every single opportunity he's had to demonstrate a
break with pro-car policies he's failed, which is either because he
hasn't got the balls or because he genuinely feels the individual needs
motorists have an overriding importance over the social needs of cities.
Great qualifications for a motoring journalist, but not a 21st century
Mayor. I suspect he tunes out anything but the voice of motorists, whom
he believes are a persecuted majority. He wants to be liked by
everybody, and that psychological need prevents him standing up to
people close to him on the political side, which is a shame since
they're incompetent. Witness his mooching about the Thames Estuary -
that's not Boris's fault, it's Kit Malthouse. Likewise the anti-public
transport policies are the highly inexperienced Kulveer Ranger's doing.

It's not like he's not got good green advice on tap, his Environment
Advisor Isobel Dedring must be doing her nut by now.

On the bright side, Peter Hendy comes across very well as usual in an
article in the Standard. With any luck Andrew Gilligan might look up
from his wikipedia entry
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Andrew_Gilligan) and tear the rest of
his hair out. Winds of change are blowing...

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...Ken/article.do

Tom