Livingstone's idea of a debate
As is painfully obvious, the mayor is keen to get his hands on ever more areas of the capital's life more properly dealt with by borough councils or the citizenry themselves. However, the attempted land grabs are quite mild compared to how he reacts if he thinks he might be undermined.
In his, or the press office's. words: "The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said today that he must retain the ability to guarantee free bus and tube travel to older and disabled Londoners, as London Councils stepped up their campaign to abolish the reserve scheme that allows the mayor to step in if there is no agreement on the funding for the Freedom Pass".
Showing just how open to a debate he is, note the following with its rather limited audience and the very loaded use of words: "The Mayor said that he would be inviting representatives of groups who benefit from the Freedom Pass to discuss the undermining of the free travel scheme".
And I'm sure theat the invitees will rise as one to declare that they are really not that bothered one way or another. This is not really the time or the place to examine the virtues or otherwise of benefits of group application, but note that Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, would be eligible for a pass in 2011.
Oh, and two examples, from different organisations, make for 'a sustained attack': "There is now a sustained attack on free travel schemes in London. Late last year the deputy chair of the London Assembly transport committee proposed that free travel for children on our buses and trams should be abolished".
In his, or the press office's. words: "The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said today that he must retain the ability to guarantee free bus and tube travel to older and disabled Londoners, as London Councils stepped up their campaign to abolish the reserve scheme that allows the mayor to step in if there is no agreement on the funding for the Freedom Pass".
Showing just how open to a debate he is, note the following with its rather limited audience and the very loaded use of words: "The Mayor said that he would be inviting representatives of groups who benefit from the Freedom Pass to discuss the undermining of the free travel scheme".
And I'm sure theat the invitees will rise as one to declare that they are really not that bothered one way or another. This is not really the time or the place to examine the virtues or otherwise of benefits of group application, but note that Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, would be eligible for a pass in 2011.
Oh, and two examples, from different organisations, make for 'a sustained attack': "There is now a sustained attack on free travel schemes in London. Late last year the deputy chair of the London Assembly transport committee proposed that free travel for children on our buses and trams should be abolished".
Labels: Livingstone, London, Transport
This entry was posted
on Monday, January 29, 2007 at 3:15 pm.
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Its so hard to tell what is real and what isn`t C . he hasn`t visited half of the Boroughs despite a heavy world travelling schedule .
I get a feeling that , like Blair , whatever he once though the was about has gone and its just the books the money and the self advertisment now . He doesn`t seem to me to engage at all. If you listen to Blair its alarmingly similiar
He is also going for a 'land grab' on the London Fire Authority _ lots of new powers over OPERATIONAL matters plus replacing two elected reps on the authority with his own appointees. Labour are always trying to extend their powers of political patronage _ New Labour, New cronyism!
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