Boris: Coalition cuts will be ‘disastrous’


by Sunny Hundal    
10:20 am - September 8th 2010

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I missed this from Monday, but here is London’s occasional Mayor Boris Johnson in the Evening Standard:

We are facing the toughest spending round in living memory. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has been asked by the Treasury to accept astonishing cuts — of between 25 and 40 per cent.

As I have repeatedly made clear to the Coalition government, I believe cuts of that order would be disastrous for London transport network.

I cannot and will not accept them, and am therefore fighting to preserve and improve our transport infrastructure.

That means defeating the sceptics and ensuring that Crossrail is built. It means fighting for Thameslink and a world-class bus network. Above all it means driving on with the upgrades of the Tube.

Dave Hill thinks Boris is positioning himself so he doesn’t lose popularity along with the Coalition government as the cuts start to bite.

Why isn’t more made about how Boris is going on the offensive against the Coalition’s cuts?

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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. Tim Fenton

Interesting question you end on, Sunny.

So I had a look at ConHome – don’t worry, I washed my hands afterwards – and can report that Monty and all those other Clever People Who Talk Loudly In Restaurants seem to have missed this story.

The only mention of Bozza in the last four days is about Boris Bikes Beating The Tube Strike.

As the Great Man himself might have said: Crikey readers! Bozza bonked off the front page! Yikes!

2. Mr S. Pill

Boris is continuing to position himself for Tory leadership come 2015 when Cameron gets the boot for losing the election. It’s no secret that Boz’n'Dave don’t get on. Oh, and he’s electioneering too of course. Bet he’s not arsed about cuts anywhere outside London…

3. Daniel

“So I had a look at ConHome – don’t worry, I washed my hands afterwards”

HAHA

“It’s no secret that Boz’n’Dave don’t get on.”

Call me an idiot but I had no idea that was the case…

I can’t see him being much of a contender for the Tory leadership in the future. He’s too much of a maverick and a novelty to be taken seriously. This isn’t America where we elect actors and idiots (sometimes they can be both) to lead the country…

I completely agree with the article, I think he is positioning himself for re-election.

4. Tim J

Oh, and he’s electioneering too of course. Bet he’s not arsed about cuts anywhere outside London…

Well, he is the Mayor of the bloody place.

5. ukliberty

This isn’t America where we elect actors and idiots (sometimes they can be both) to lead the country…

‘We’ elected Blair!

6. Daniel

“‘We’ elected Blair!”

What is this ‘we’? I was 5, 9 and 13 when Labour were elected my friend :P

That said I did read a quote from Neil Kinnock in the Guardian saying Tone was just a “method actor”…

7. Chaise Guevara

“‘We’ elected Blair!”

Who is neither an idiot nor an actor (unless you want to stretch a metaphor and claim all the political world’s a stage). And in fairness, back in 1997 he didn’t seem all that warmongery at all.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Boris: Coalition cuts will be 'disastrous' http://bit.ly/b1NXVw

  2. Other TaxPayers Alli

    RT @libcon Boris: Coalition cuts will be 'disastrous' http://bit.ly/b1NXVw

  3. manishta sunnia

    Boris Johnson agrees @libcon… Coalition cuts will be 'disastrous' http://bit.ly/b1NXVw #nocuts #cuts #condem

  4. Roger Myring

    RT @libcon: Boris: Coalition cuts will be 'disastrous' http://bit.ly/b1NXVw

  5. Steve Padget

    RT @manishtasunnia: Boris Johnson agrees @libcon… Coalition cuts will be 'disastrous' http://bit.ly/b1NXVw #nocuts #cuts #condem

  6. Kevin Ward

    Tsk! Slightly misleading headline… RT @libcon: Boris: Coalition cuts will be 'disastrous' http://bit.ly/b1NXVw

  7. corinthino

    Even a reactionary Tory bigot like Boris is against the cuts RT @libcon: Boris: Coalition cuts will be 'disastrous' http://bit.ly/b1NXVw

  8. Pucci Dellanno

    RT @libcon: Boris: Coalition cuts will be 'disastrous' http://bit.ly/b1NXVw

  9. sdc1964

    RT @OtherTPA: RT @libcon Boris: Coalition cuts will be 'disastrous' http://bit.ly/b1NXVw

  10. Soho Politico

    Why isn’t more made about Boris going on the offensive against the Coalition’s cuts?, asks @libcon http://t.co/bwvIHmO





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