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Bank holiday Boris promises to work 'night and day' as father eyes his Commons seat
Last updated at 00:22am on 06.05.08Boris Johnson is taking his new job seriously as he arrives for work at his City Hall office on the Bank Holiday for his first official day as London mayor.
After becoming mayor at midnight last night, he has promised to work “night and day” for Londoners.
While he meets with his staff and advisers today, his father Stanley Johnson is preparing to contest the seat for Henley-on-Thames held by his son, according to reports.
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On Duty: Boris Johnson on his first official day as London mayor
The new mayor will hold private meetings with staff and advisers today. High on the agenda will be policies to tackle crime
Stanley Johnson, 67, told the Times that he hoped that Tory party members would choose him to represent Henley.
“My name should be on the list of hopefuls and if I am picked, then that is fine. There is a system in place and I can only hope that I am deemed worthy,” he said.
Stanley was a Conservative MEP from 1979 to 1984. A noted expert on environmental and population issues, he has also worked at the World Bank.
He will be up against some stiff competition for such a safe seat. His son was reelected in 2005 with an improved majority of 12,793 and a 53 per cent share of the vote.
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Caffeine required: holding a coffee as he arrives at City Hall today
As part of Boris Johnson's agenda, he is preparing to unveil a crackdown on crime which could be adopted nationwide if the Tories win the next election.
The new London mayor will order hundreds more policemen to patrol the streets and pledge to introduce weapon scanners at Tube and railway stations.
He will also set out plans to ban alcohol on the Underground and confiscate travel passes from young thugs.
Conservatives say they plan to use London as a 'policy lab' to test ideas for inclusion in the Tories' next election manifesto.
Senior figures in the party yesterday tried to play down reports of rivalry between David Cameron and Mr Johnson, as the new mayor now wields far more power than his party leader after ending Ken Livingstone's eight-year reign.
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With his father Stanley Johnson on the campaign trail in Teignmouth, Devon in 2005
The scale of Mr Johnson's victory has prompted fears at Tory Central Office that his charisma and general likeability could make him appear a better potential Prime Minister than Mr Cameron.
There are also possible disagreements on immigration and the environment - with Mr Johnson's plan to water down the congestion charge flying in the face of his leader's green policies.
Mr Johnson officially received the seals of office at midnight last night.
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In a highly publicised election campaign, Boris defeated Ken Livingstone last week
He will use his first week in office to discuss ways of implementing Tory manifesto commitments with senior figures in the capital's police and transport networks.
As promised during his campaign, Mr Johnson will this week set out plans to recruit 440 police community support officers to patrol buses and the Tube and train network.
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In true 'old Boris' style, the new London Mayor pleases onlookers at the Sikh New Year Festival celebrations as he dons a policeman's hat
Boris Johnson and his wife enjoy a curry at the Sikh New Year Festival celebrations
The £16.5million cost will be met by slashing Transport for London's marketing budget.
Airport-style hand-held scanners and knife arches will be installed at all railway stations in the capital, he will pledge.
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Saluting victory: Boris Johnson celebrates his election as the first Conservative Mayor of London at his campaign HQ
There will be an inquiry into 'bureaucratic waste' at City Hall, which is expected to lead to 14 jobs going from the 70-strong publicity and marketing team for the mayor.
Mr Johnson will also order a fresh consultation into the extension of London's £8 congestion charge zone into Kensington and Chelsea.
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Ready for action: Boris heads off to City Hall
Work is also under way to make Mr Johnson's 'Payback London' policy a reality. The scheme would confiscate Oyster travel cards from teenagers if they misbehave on buses.
They will be able to win their free travel passes back by doing community work, such as cleaning graffiti.
The announcements follow Mr Johnson's first meeting with Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair, transport commissioner Peter Hendy, and fire commissioner Ron Dobson on Saturday.
Mr Johnson said last night: "I have instructed members of my team to crack on with implementing our manifesto pledges as soon as we are physically able to do so.
"I will work night and day to deliver that change in London. A tireless approach is what Londoners demand."
He said violence among young people was the biggest problem facing London. In the early hours of Saturday morning,15-year-old Lyle Tulloch was stabbed to death in South London - the 12th teenager murdered in the capital this year.
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Pledge: the new mayor has promised to build on Red Ken's 'outstanding' achievements
Mr Johnson said he had demanded tough action on crime from Sir Ian.
"I made it very clear that I want to see a dramatic reduction in crime, beginning with driving out so-called minor crime, particularly in the areas for which the mayor has responsibility, and above all on public transport," he added.
HE USED TO RUN THE TUBE... NOW ALL KEN'S GOT LEFT IS A TOY TRAIN
Ken Livingstone cut a forlorn figure yesterday as he arrived home with the relics of eight years as London Mayor - including a Thomas The Tank Engine game.
The ousted Labour Mayor, whose alleged drinking habits briefly became an issue early in the election campaign, looked tired as he carried a box marked 'quality wines' into his North London home.
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Ken you believe it: A dejected looking Mr Livingstone with a toy train set
Mr Livingstone said he had not decided what to do next, although he has previously claimed that being Mayor would be his last job in public life.
He said his immediate plans were: "Clear out the desk. It's sudden death in our political system. Then some gardening because I haven't had time to tend to that for a while.
"Then a holiday - but I'm certainly not telling you where."
He is likely to be well paid on the public-speaking circuit, and he also has experience as a journalist, spending a number of years as a restaurant reviewer.
Mr Livingstone, who wished his successor well because he wanted "London to continue to prosper", said that he didn't expect Boris Johnson to offer him a role in his new administration.
Reader views (5)
And what did London get with Ken? High crime, congestion charge, bendy buses and a man dividing communities! Yeah... I vote for Ken next time.
- Joe, London
I wish Boris all the best and I am delighted that he is about to investigate the dodgy deals made by Ken.
It is also a good thing that Labours and Tories are in power in the same time. The population will be able to assess both political parties on their achievement. That could be a blessing for the Lib. Dem.
- Lauren, London Uk
Boris should not advocate the removal of Gordon Brown. That way Labour would improve and who wants that before the next General Election?
- Peter Seekings-Foster, Muildenhall, Suffolk
London becomes a village with it's own idiot.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford
The 'big oil' lobby is about to have a field day, at the expense of London and Londoners' quality of life
- Jack, London
