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You’re for mayor Ken or you’re against him
• YOU were right to condemn in your Comment article the attack on the Dispatches programme on Channel 4 as a crude hatchet job on Ken Livingstone (A rant that was blind to Ken’s achievements, January 24).
It was certainly crude, for example, by using careful choice of statistics in an attempt to demolish the major successes of the congestion charge.
But in your defence of Mr Livingstone you leap to the opposite extreme. You tell us about what you call “the astonishing improvement in the bus service… something approaching a taxi service!” – Your exclamation mark, not mine.
Sir, do you and I both live in Camden, or on the same planet? I respect you enormously, but how often do you discuss bus services with other passengers? How often do you see immense crowds blocking the pavement outside your office or across the road waiting in growing despair for the next bus in their direction?
I moved from Camden Road to Primrose Hill a few months ago, so I use the 274 a great deal.
Let’s face it the service is chaotic. Buses arrive in convoys of two or three. At peak times – or when the weather is good – they are grossly overcrowded.
The indicators at bus stops are worse than useless. This afternoon I just missed a bus outside your office, and looked at the indicator. It showed no coming 274 at all. Out of curiosity I waited to see when the next bus would come – otherwise I would have walked, and missed the bus which appeared two minutes later!
I pity the poor visitor. One bus stop map in Primrose Hill shows only night services, and another does not show the 274 bus at all – though it’s the only bus serving the stop!
But everything I’ve seen and heard suggests that other routes through Camden have the same or worse problems. I don’t blame the drivers – they are at the mercy of their often ludicrous routes, and decisions by their employers who have profitability as their sole motive.
At least London is exempt from the crazy competition between bus operators we see elsewhere – stupid Tory policy, effectively endorsed by New Labour. So the mayor and Transport for London have the ability to influence affairs. I reckon most people will agree that they have failed in this.
Who can solve this problem?
I am a Lib Dem of long standing, and I was glad to have Brian Paddick as our candidate for mayor.
Everyone would accept that no one knows more about crime and policing than Mr Paddick – a crucial issue for Londoners. Great, but would he have anything useful to say about London’s other problems, such as transport?
Yes, he does. I was amazed when he forced the BBC London interviewer last week to move from questions on policing to London’s bus services.
In a couple of sentences he set out a four-point plan which would resolve most of these problems at a stroke.
My inquiries suggest that much of this plan arose from his own personal experience allied to his ability to analyse problems and sort out solutions. I had feared that Mr Paddick would be a single-issue candidate, doomed by his lack of knowledge of other issues.
Those of your readers who saw the interview would agree that he has much more to offer.
He may lack the political experience of the other major party candidates – but what gross improprieties or foolish indiscretions are we happy to accept in he who would be mayor?
JOHN LEFLEY
Regent’s Park Road, NW1
Some success
• The New Journal is right to point out the successes of Ken Livingstone in office, from the congestion charge to his strong pressure to build more affordable housing.
Most notable to me have been the improvements in local bus services – catching the C2 or the 134 from Camden Town in the morning has become quick and easy, with buses often arriving as fast as they depart.
Given the threat to all this of the old-fashioned Tory buffoon, Boris Johnson, with his suspect views on race and exclusive focus on the wealthy, I hope that supporters of minor parties and candidates will swing behind Ken with their second preference votes at the May elections.
It is also important to recognise the role of the assembly.
Unless Ken has sufficient Labour and Green representatives on the assembly, he is unable to get through his budget and shape London in line with his environmental and social priorities.
Unfortunately, as in Camden, the Tories and Lib Dems work together in close alliance at the assembly in opposition to progressive policies.
Whichever mainstream party you support, however, it is vital to get out and vote in the elections in May to stop the racist and fascist BNP from getting the five per cent of the vote they need to sneak into London government.
Phil Jones, NW1
Footing the bill
• Your Comment (A rant that was blind to Ken’s achievements, January 24) on the Channel 4 Dispatches programme about Ken Livingstone was a little inaccurate.
I too saw the programme and Martin Bright’s opening comments were quite praiseworthy of the mayor regarding congestion and the buses, as he was boldly voted in as a ‘loose canon’ politician.
Mr Bright did indeed then go on to criticise the mayor and I feel with some justification in the light of what has happened with some of Ken Livingstone’s activities.
It is we taxpayers who are footing the bill for some of these.
Ken is not answerable to anyone except himself, that is until the election comes round, which hardly seems democratic.
As he answers to no one he can even behave imprudently.
He spends our money on so called international ‘mayor’ trips like the big £1 million recent one to India.
I didn’t vote him in for that.
Isn’t that the role of trade ministers?
Along with Gordon Brown taxing me out of existence to fund wars and my salary losing its value, I certainly will not be voting for New Labour at the next mayoral or general elections.
Clem Alford
Tavistock Place, WC1
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