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Boris: City Hall win would put Tories on the road to No10
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent14.03.08
Boris Johnson has issued a rallying call to the Tory troops with a promise that winning London would be the first step back to power nationally.
The Tory mayoral candidate said City Hall would be a "fantastic platform" for an election victory for David Cameron.
He told activists at the party's spring conference in Gateshead that the election was "the most important staging post" on the route back to No10.
Just days before the campaign begins officially next week, Mr Johnson said: "It is a tremendous opportunity for the Tories to gain momentum and show the tide is turning away from tired Labour administrations.
"To my mind London is, and always has been, one of the greatest cities on earth. But for the past few years it hasn't been a great place for all Londoners to live in. I think that is largely down to the impact of Ken Livingstone and the Labour government. I want to win this election and demonstrate how different life can be under a modern Conservative government."
A Tory win in London would be a huge boost to Mr Cameron and would be the first serious sign that the tide was turning nationally to the Tories.
It would be highly damaging for Gordon Brown if Labour lost London, with many London Labour MPs privately fearing they would lose their seats.
However, some Tory Central Office insiders still have concerns that Mr Johnson is not seen as a sufficiently serious candidate by Londoners to win.
If he does beat Mr Livingstone, they are worried that his administration, if not properly led, could have a detrimental effect on the party's chances.
But Mr Johnson insisted in his speech that he "truly believed" only he was able to offer Londoners a better deal than they get under Mr Livingstone.
Setting out his plans for the capital, he said he would constantly be looking to improve public services including transport, housing and policing.
He is relying on activists to boost the vote in traditionally blue outer London boroughs, which could make all the difference to the final result.
Meanwhile, the Mayor launched yet another attack on his Tory rival's transport plans, claiming there was a £20 millionhole in his plans for 440 more PCSOs.
Mr Johnson has pledged to use money earmarked for advertising and press officers to double the strength of safer transport teams on the buses.
He says he based his £84 million figure on a draft TfL budget in December which was then revised downwards to £63 million, but only this week.
But his rival's aides say TfL published a revised figure of £71 million in January - a month before Mr Johnson's pledge.
Mr Livingstone said the Tory candidate's plans were in "meltdown". "Boris Johnson's transport manifesto is unravelling. It is completely uncosted and must be withdrawn," he said.
"A new document with honest, accurate costs must be issued so Londoners can know what he is presenting to them."
However, Mr Johnson dismissed the claims as "a cynical plot" to distract attention from the Mayor's own failings.
He said: "This comes the day after it was revealed he misled Londoners over the extra police officers he promised.
"At the end of the day I care about police officers more than press officers."
Reader views (8)
Indeed if Boris wins, the confidence of the Conservatives will increase drastically. The question before all Londoner's is simple. Take away the hype and you have a Prima Donna of a Tory candidate who in classic style with a whizz will make disappear essential services. Fewer police and even more hellish journeys by bus and tube. Because the reality is that these things cost money and to improve them costs even more and takes a very long time. Do we want to wait for Bozza the Clown to take his chaotic toll and have investment set back? Do we want to have fewer police walking the streets? I know I don't-I want more and I want my tube trip to be on time. Clean London, secure and safety for all us honest folk and decent transport.
- Ralph Baldwin, London, UK
London may be one of the great cities in the world , but its not easy to exist in it. Crime is still high, travel was bad when Livingstone came in and its still bad now and is now the most expensive in Europe too.
After 8 years of being mayor Ken has had his time, Boris should be given a chance,he could be make the difference and make London a great place to live in too.
- Mr S. Port, London
Boris is using his membership of the Tory party to become mayor. If he is voted in don't be at all surprised if he abandons the party which those who know him can assure you he has little respect for.
And, mark my words, if he gets in Boris will soon be bored stiff by having to swot up on all the dreary but crucial detail involved in being an effective Mayor. This is where he will fail if Londoners are stupid enough to vote for him.
He is a pugilist who loves the fight but will not be able to follow through. He manufactures very amusing opinions on the hoof, but doesn't really believe in anything except having fun and winning arguments. From what ever point of view.
If he thought it made his life more fun he would have become a socialist.
- Tom Borton, London
Dear Boris - Get a new hairdresser. I think a Number 2 would be a great aid to your election prospects and may even draw in some of the 'fringe voters'. This entire Circus is just another plan to extract money from London Tax payers to pay for something that they don't need in the first place. Ask yourself, What difference has a Major made to your life in London ? Not a lot.
- Colin Bond, London
Give him a chance I say!
- Peter, UK
Play your cards closer to your chest, Mr Johnson.
- Peter Seekings-Foster, Muildenhall, Suffolk
Boris cannot stick to anything for five minutes because he has no strategy that he'd dare let out.
How does he respond to suggestions that he's miscalculated? His latest on Radio 2 was that the main problem on London streets in terms of safety were pedestrians!
I think David Cameron must have his head in his hands every time Boris opens his mouth!
- Harold, London, England
Boris's sums are again coming apart at the seams!
The confirmation of this massive overshoot isn't coming from TfL, who Boris claims produces "Pro Ken" figures, but the independent 3rd party organisation TAS, whose director Chris Cheek claimed yesterday "Having looked at the figures and run them through our National Bus Model, they are not correct. I think the true cost is closer to the £112m put forward by Transport for London."
It is a shame Boris had to use such a gimmick but it has gone wrong and convincingly so!
- Sam Cullen, London, UK
