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What key people think of the Mayor's performance
27 Apr 2009Has Boris Johnson had a good first year?
Steven Norris, Tory Mayoral candidate 2000 and 2004
Boris has been terrific. The chief thing for me was changing the Commissioner of the Met. It was a coup, Ken Livingstone couldn't have done it. TfL is much better than it was under Ken — and the district auditor says so too. Boris has confounded Ken's idea that he was the only person who could run London.
Ken Livingstone, Mayor 2000-2008
It's been a fiasco. He hasn't delivered on anything. Boris has never been accused of being a workaholic and the job needs one. I think the problem is he's spent the last 15 years writing neo-con rubbish and now he is trying to move to the centre. But we won't have a really clear idea how he's done until well into his third year.
Colin Stanbridge, CEO, London Chamber of Commerce
We think Boris has had a good first year. London business was broadly happy to see the abandonment of the extension zone of the congestion charge as well as the postponement of the low emission zone. But the overwhelming support the business community has for a third runway at Heathrow is yet to be reflected in his agenda.
Peter Smyth, Chairman, Met Police Association
Boris's effort to reduce knife crime is very welcome. His announcement that he can't fund [rape] crisis centres is I think deeply regrettable, and his apparent belief that community support officers can replace the police force is completely wrong. If I'm honest I think London's changed very little.
Len Duvall, London Assembly Labour Group leader
I'm worried Boris looks like he's run out of steam already. He cannot bring himself to side with Londoners on the big issues. He's broken his promises on affordable homes and rape crisis centres and he's hiked up fares. Boris still has a lot of goodwill. But people will start to wonder what his London will look like.
Anya Hindmarch, designer
He still feels like a breath of fresh air and seems to be listening to Londoners, which I think is key. We all share London and he seems keen to let people enjoy it and stay out of their lives on a day-to-day basis. I think it's important to listen to the people, like he did with the congestion charge — that seems fair.
Jenny Bates, campaigns coordinator, Friends of the Earth
He's yet to show real leadership on climate change and proper understanding of the urgency and scale of action needed. Overall Ken did show leadership on climate change, but we've yet to see how Boris's climate goals will be achieved. We will soon see when he brings out his climate strategy.
Uanu Seshmi, From Boyhood to Manhood Foundation
On a scale of one to 10, I give him seven. I think what lets him down is his temperament. Being calm is better for leadership. In terms of youth crime — weapons-based crime — he's doing okay but he could do better. It is good to listen to the community, but he needs to focus on the groups that are really doing the work.
Steve McNamara, Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association
Boris's school report would say “good effort, but could do better”. He comes up with ideas and he is prepared to listen and react. But the problem is that many of the men he's got working for him are inherited from Ken and they don't seem to be up to the job. Quite often Boris has to intervene personally to get things done.
Mike Tuffrey, Assembly Lib-Dem Group leader
He tells a good joke, but he is yet to make the hard decisions and tough choices that mark out a man of government from a jester. The Mayor's fine words won't deliver the houses needed in London. His record is all talk and little action. He promised to be more accountable than Ken yet he has avoided regular press conferences.
Nick Ferrari, radio and TV presenter
London is definitely a better place under Boris — providing it doesn't snow, when he's about as much use as Gordon Brown's fiscal prudence. He's refreshing. Ken and Boris are like chalk and cheese. London was over-regulated, grim and care-laden. Now it's blonder, bouncier and slightly barmier.
Reader views (7)
On most issues The Mayor has made a good start and the point about him inheriting the previous Mayor's staff is a valid one which will take a long time to sort out. Traffic (Buses, Taxis, Coaches, Delivery vehicles as well as private cars) are beginning to move better again which must be good for the economy and above all for lees pollution and the environment. Scrapping the Western Extension to the CC is a democratic decision, ignored by the previous Mayor, after consultation. Freezing the Mayor's precept was another good move in the current economic crisis. Hopefully reductions are on the way. He is wrong on Heathrow 3rd runway and not seeking a "no-strike" deal for London Transport. Other than these two all is good so far but a year is a short time to stop a tanker as was the GLA when he inherited it. I rate him 8 out of 10 so far.
- Objective Person With No Axe To Grind, Watford. England, 04/05/2009 17:59
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Re the predictable comment from Ken: the words "grapes" and "sour" come to mind...
- Wpw, London, 27/04/2009 17:22
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I had never heard of Anya Hindmarch so I googled her. She makes handbags. How does that make her a key person? Or is there great and mysterious importance to handbags of which I am not aware?
- M Farbiash, Highgate, 27/04/2009 16:32
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I am no fan of Johnson but Livingstone has got a cheek saying the job needs a workaholic - he himself only ever done a 4 day week in that job!
- J., Fulham, 27/04/2009 15:15
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It's worth noting that the only two people quoted with negative comments are hard line Labour - Livingstone who thought he owned the position and consequently treated it as his own personal fiefdom and one of his henchmen. Boris is worth 20 Ken Livingstones. Good riddance to Livingstone - Boris has done more for _all_ Londoners in a year than Livingstone managed in 8, a fact that the latest approval ratings for Boris underline.
- John Spragget, London UK, 27/04/2009 15:03
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I can't help liking Boris. He may have made a few U turns, blunders and gaffe's but I fully agree with Nik ferrari:"Ken and Boris are like chalk and cheese. London was over-regulated, grim and care-laden. Now it's blonder, bouncier and slightly barmier.". Eccentric - definitely - but Boris encapsulates what London is all about.
He is a breath of fresh air in difficult times with some common sense ideas, and offers some genuine optimism for the future of this great city.
- Peter, London. UK, 27/04/2009 11:44
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I am hoping that Cameron will let him try for the position of PM and then we might see the long awaited demise of the Tory party. He will be one of the figures on the new Punch and Judy show at question time.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 27/04/2009 11:23
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