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Boris pledges business: I'll get you to your work on time
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent19.02.08
Boris Johnson attempted to win over London's businesses today with a pledge to improve their conditions in the capital.
He criticised Ken Livingstone for "berating and burdening" businesses and not taking on the Treasury over tax and red tape.
In a speech to the London Chamber of Commerce, the Tory mayoral candidate said he would focus on delivering a more efficient transport network, investing in added rail capacity in south London to get people to work on time.
Tube improvements and the Crossrail project would be subject to better oversight. "It isn't acceptable that businesses are being asked to pay for Crossrail without being told how it will be built, how much it will cost and who will take responsibility if costs overrun," he said.
Mr Johnson said he would champion the City in Westminster on taxation and regulation.
He also said he would apply the City's practices to the running of City Hall, should he be elected. "For too long City Hall has been a flabby, wasteful government. A business wouldn't stay in business if it managed its money they way Ken Livingstone does," he said.
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Championing the City on taxation means less tax for businesses (mostly owned by people who live outside London) and more tax for individual Londoners.
Championing the City on regulation means more Northern Rocks. London commuters who have endured the failure of privatized railways and tube maintenance know that an efficient transport system for a major city requires a centralized control and management. How can we expect to get this from a far right libertarian like Boris Johnson. When he starts closing the bus lanes the transport system will come to a halt.
- Mick, London, England
