Boris Johnson pledges to bring back village spirit

Boris Johnson pledged to bring back village spirit to local communities in London today in a speech to delegates at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/c...age-spirit.html

 

 

The London Mayor said it was "unromantic but true" that the world's future lay in cities, rather than villages - even though people "yearned for the village, that Eden from which we have all been expelled".

 

He said cutting crime and improving transport would attract businesses and called for "the right tax and regulatory framework - I will say no more than that", believing "British enterprise will do the rest".

 

Mr Johnson boasted of the successful introduction of a shared public bicycle scheme, dubbed Boris Bikes, telling activists: "There's nothing more villagey than the sight of someone sailing elegantly past, bolt upright on one of these big, blue, burly bicycles."

 

Though, he admitted to being unsure as to whether he should be flattered or insulted that not one was stolen during August's riots which swept the capital.

 

He claimed the violence and looting did not reflect London, adding: "I'll tell you who did stand up for London: it was that chap who sat on that rioter's head, that woman who made the fantastic speech in Hackney and scared them all off... it was the restaurant workers who fought them off with rolling pins and saucepans, it was the broom brigade of Clapham who stood up for London

 

"Those people represented the true spirit of London."

Mr Johnson, who is standing for re-election in May, said his record since being elected in 2008 showed he deserved a second term.

 

In a speech which failed to mention his Labour rival Ken Livingstone once, Mr Johnson pointed to the scrapping of bendy buses, falling crime on public transport and the launch of the Oyster card on overground trains during his tenure.

 

He told party members: "I reckon we have a record to be proud of.

 

"We have effectively cut the council tax by 10 per cent over the last three years, we have put Oyster on the overground, we have delivered a 24-hour freedom pass for the people of London - a fact I hardly dare mention in Manchester in case they get jealous - (and) the last bendy bus will leave our streets by Christmas.

 

"In the new year we will see a generation of Routemaster-style bus with the open platform."

 

Mr Johnson, who previously criticised the Government's plans to cut police numbers, said he would not allow the number of officers in the Metropolitan Police to dip below what he deemed "safe and reasonable".

 

Activists gave the Mayor a standing ovation as he closed his speech saying he had delivered "sensible, moderate, one-nation Conservative government in London", but there was "so much more to do".

 

He added: "I have no doubt it is going to be a tough fight, but with your help we can do it again."

 

Mr Cameron, who was in the hall for Mr Johnson's address, earlier praised the Mayor, who many believe harbours hopes of succeeding Mr Cameron as Tory leader and Prime Minister.

 

Mr Cameron told LBC 97.3 Radio today: "At a time of economic difficulty, I think he brings strong, charismatic leadership, he brings people together, he cheers people up.

 

"I am right behind him because I think the last thing London needs is a return to Red Ken."

 

Mr Livingstone later blasted Mr Johnson's speech, branding him "out of touch".

The Labour candidate said: "Today we saw the real Boris Johnson - an out-of-touch Conservative, failing to put ordinary Londoners first on the issues that really affect them, from rising fares to police cuts.

 

"He gave no hope to Londoners facing another steep fare rise this January, which will mean bus fares are up 56 per cent under a Tory mayor, and gave no hard commitment on police numbers, which are in fact due to fall by 1,800 according to his own Metropolitan Police figures.

 

"Under the Conservatives, Londoners are less well-off and increasingly less safe, under a moonlighting mayor who meets bankers more than the police.

 

"People in London are feeling the squeeze but Boris Johnson doesn't see it."

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Yeah, Clapham, would those be the same residents of Clapham who gave you a f/ucking good talking to when you'd finally deigned fit to come back from your holiday and grace them with your presence.....?

 

 

He really is just a clueless dick.... Well, I guess every village needs an idiot though, so, it would appear BoJo is volunteering for that particular post, to which he is most well suited..... -_-

 

Boris would make an excellent Prime Minister in my opinion. He shouldn't stand again for Mayor but try to get back in to Parliament and position himself to take over from Cameron.

Boris would make an excellent Prime Minister in my opinion. He shouldn't stand again for Mayor but try to get back in to Parliament and position himself to take over from Cameron.

And when the population drops to 28 because everybody else has left for somewhere more civilised? He would make even Cameron look competent.

And when the population drops to 28 because everybody else has left for somewhere more civilised? He would make even Cameron look competent.

 

:lol: :lol:

 

Spot on....

Boris would make an excellent Prime Minister in my opinion. He shouldn't stand again for Mayor but try to get back in to Parliament and position himself to take over from Cameron.

 

Do you actually know what a Prime Minister is/does?

And when the population drops to 28 because everybody else has left for somewhere more civilised? He would make even Cameron look competent.

To be fair, George Osbourne is doing quite well at that anyway.

Do you actually know what a Prime Minister is/does?

 

Well I think at 51 years of age I should do!! He'd be very good and think the Tories realise thaat. Can honestly see him succeeding Cameron. They've to find him a safe Commons seat first though.

To be fair, George Osbourne is doing quite well at that anyway.

And Theresa "cat" May :lol:

Boris would make an excellent Prime Minister in my opinion. He shouldn't stand again for Mayor but try to get back in to Parliament and position himself to take over from Cameron.

 

Do you just pick the unpopular opinion all the time? :mellow:

Well I think at 51 years of age I should do!! He'd be very good and think the Tories realise thaat. Can honestly see him succeeding Cameron. They've to find him a safe Commons seat first though.

 

I can't see it. Boris would neither be the most hilariously awful choice (Eric Pickles, although most of the cabinet would be up for this) nor the most cynically vote winning (oh hold on... they haven't really got anyone popular anymore...).

I can't see it. Boris would neither be the most hilariously awful choice (Eric Pickles, although most of the cabinet would be up for this) nor the most cynically vote winning (oh hold on... they haven't really got anyone popular anymore...).

 

 

Did you know that now the Conservatives are the "Party of the Poor"... I mean, they must be, Ian Duncan Smith said so, and he would never lie..... :rolleyes:

Well I think at 51 years of age I should do!! He'd be very good and think the Tories realise thaat. Can honestly see him succeeding Cameron. They've to find him a safe Commons seat first though.

Perhaps you could explain why he would be a good PM. How about starting by listing his positive achievements as London Mayor?

Did you know that now the Conservatives are the "Party of the Poor"... I mean, they must be, Ian Duncan Smith said so, and he would never lie..... :rolleyes:

Give them a few more years and most people will be poor. Perhaps that's what he meant.

Well I think at 51 years of age I should do!! He'd be very good and think the Tories realise thaat. Can honestly see him succeeding Cameron. They've to find him a safe Commons seat first though.

 

Yes no sooner would they find Boris a safe Tory seat he would loose it due to his inability to keep his trousers zipped up around women who are not his wife.

Give them a few more years and most people will be poor. Perhaps that's what he meant.

 

:lol: :lol:

Well, yeah, I guess the Tories must really like the poor, they keep adding to the ranks of the poor every time they make cuts, freeze peoples' wages or bring out the unemployment figures..... -_-