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Mayor accused of not having faith in public transport after £1,000 taxi bill
Danny Brierley27.02.09
BORIS Johnson has been branded a “wimp” and accused of lacking faith in his public transport system after spending £1,000 of taxpayers' money on taxis after a public meeting.
The meeting — about Heathrow expansion in Hillingdon — was described as an environmental fight-back against a proposed third runway at the airport.
But in a move that has angered his political opponents, a fleet of more than a dozen cabs was ordered to take Mr Johnson and others home after
the meeting ended about 9pm.
The Mayor's office could not say how many people were given a free ride home.
After it was claimed this year there were plans to provide the Mayor with a car, his office said: “He cycles everywhere he can, and if he can't, he happily uses public transport, or very occasionally a taxi.”
Susan Kramer, a Liberal Democrat MP, said: “Londoners will no doubt be pleased to foot the bill for the Mayor's lack of faith in his own public transport system... what wimps.”
A spokeswoman for the Mayor said: “Taxis were organised to ensure GLA staff could get home safely after the debate.
“Most cabs had two or three sharing the ride, this included the Mayor who shared with three advisers. Staff safety is paramount, not least after a 2002 incident when an employee was mugged on their way home. The venue is at least a 15-minute bus ride from the nearest station.”
Reader views (15)
hilarious! the comment "the venue was a 15 minute bus ride from the nearest station" says it all!! So the rest of us have to risk a mugging while Mayoral staff get taxied around? 100s of thousands of Londoners have a 15min walk to a station stop every day, let alone a 15 min ride. Are they suggesting you get mugged on London buses? I thought Johnson was making them safer? Typical no action mayor with nothing to show except except staff cuts, transport cuts, and an insane idea about an airport in the middle of an estuary. Well done London...you gets what ya votes for after all!!
- Jared, London, UK
Taxis are one of the most expensive means of transport anywhere. Once a week,an old lady I know, of 70 years, has to pay £4 for a taxi to take her a distance of half a mile to a meal centre because she has walking difficulties and then pays £2 for the meal. £ £10 is a lot from a small pension. MPs who can drive should buy cars and be made to use them. They can claim mileage as well as all the other "expenses", too.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
Just payback time for all the Vote Boris leaflets taxi drivers handed out during the mayoral election. He has also stopped the extra safety chairs on TX4's which have become Chariots of Fire.
Wonder if those who shared taxis claimed expenses jointly or seperately?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Didn't Ken run up taxi bills of over £4000 a year, each year he was in office? I can't imagine him sharing his cab then again I can't imagine anyone wanting to share a cap with him.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
Oh get a grip Kimberley - Ken inherited a system suffering from decades of underinvestment by Governments of both sides. The weekend closures are an attempt to catch up on all the necessary engineering works. And I note that Boris has been Mayor for nearly a year now and these closures are still continuing. Please don't use this forum for your party political ends.
- Richard, london
I think it was perfectly reasonable for Boris to use taxis to transport delegates home at the end of the meeting - and £1000 is a very nominal amount when one considers that Prince Andrew would have ordered helicopters - irrespective of distance involved or cost to the tax payers
- R.F., Yorks, UK
When Ken became Mayor he inherited an excellent transport system that had history and more importantly worked. Since then, every weekend half of it shuts down, there are endless delays and old atmospheric stations are being ripped out and replaced with glorified shopping malls. Boris needs to get London moving again, stop the stations being closed every evening and weekend and fix the problems Ken inflicted on our wonderful Tube.
- Kimberley, London
Whoever is in the chair I want them working rather than stuck in traffic. Just think how much it costs YOU AND ME for every minute the Mayor is stuck in traffic and not mayoring.
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington
Boris i could have given you 'BUY ONE GET ONE FREE'
- Mr S.Port, London
Just another expense to be paid by the taxpayer I assume
- Mark, Russia
Pete of South of England...It's his now!!
- Ade, London
Pete
I have lived in London all my life. I have travelled on public transport almost daily for the last 20 years. I have never been subject to any violence or felt in danger. I think Boris has been reading too many of the comments on this website and started to believe the bad press we receive from people who don't live here.
- Saunaing Tic Gill, LONDON, England
Many organisations lay on taxis to ensure staff comfort and safety when staff must work late. What's different about this?
Why do so many people take every chance to knock?
I feel that Londoners are getting good value from Boris compared with what went on before him.
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK
Boris, (I don't do detail) Johnson, Your Fired!
- David, London UK
The London Transport system can hardly be described as Boris's '..own transport system..'. He inherited the overpriced, unreliable, violent and dangerous transport system after 8 years.
- Pete, South of England
