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- Benefits: Tories wage war on sicknote culture
- Education: ‘Tech schools’ lead drive to increase jobs for the young
- Treaty: Cameron fails to stop growing divisions over Europe
- Green charges: Boris makes U-turn on vans and taxis
- NHS: Thousands face axe in war on wasteful bureaucracy
- Conference diary: The week ahead
- Paul Waugh's blog: Boris runs ahead of Cameron
Boris Johnson threw down a tax-and-spend gauntlet to the Tory party today with a plan to slash £5 billion from Tube costs and freeze council tax bills.
The Mayor claims to have found scope for massive savings by cutting waste, keeping a lid on pay and getting rid of consultants, the Standard has learned. In a move guaranteed to electrify the Conservative conference in Manchester, Mr Johnson urged shadow chancellor George Osborne to follow his lead in cutting Whitehall down to size and keeping taxes low.
Just hours after calling for a referendum on whether to pull out of the European Union, Mr Johnson underlined his status as the darling of the Tory rank and file with his own brand of public spending restraint. He confirmed that he would be freezing all Londoners' council tax “precept” again next spring, a marked change from Ken Livingstone's eight years of rises.
The Mayor said he had identified ways of slashing more than a quarter of the non-operational costs of Transport for London, the body that runs the Underground, buses and highways network. Vowing that not a single Tube or bus driver would be lost, he also had a message for Gordon Brown: “Don't tell us that we can't make savings without cutting frontline jobs.”
Boris Johnson speech highlights
In a move that was so secret even the shadow cabinet were unaware of its scale, the Mayor's £5 billion savings plan was hatched after months of City Hall staff going through the books. Challenging the party's leadership to copy his approach, he said that “this is how the Tories can cut” — rooting out inefficiency rather than cutting big infrastructure projects such as Crossrail.
The Mayor plans to cut £5 billion over nine years by cutting “back office” costs, restructuring and more efficient working.
He is determined not to cut the investment in London's infrastructure. Big-ticket items such as Crossrail, rebuilding eight Tube lines, the 2012 Olympics, the extension of the DLR and East London Line are all seen as crucial.However, Mr Osborne has made clear that Crossrail will be put under review by an incoming Tory government.
Sources close to the Mayor insist that alleged tensions between him and David Cameron and Mr Osborne are overblown, suggesting he is given special leeway to depart from the party line to speak up for London. But some around the leadership are nervous about Mr Johnson's future leadership ambitions.
Reader views (40)
We will have to change our system of justice completely under the Lisbon Treaty. All the other countries in EU have had fascist governments if you think about it, so their legal system is correspondingly appropriate. Our governance is also different and will have to change. In our system, the people grant a veto of governance to the Crown (an institution which is occupied by the Monarch) bymeans of a legal contract - the Coronation Oath. The House of Lords which is supposed to hold Parliament in check has been "reformed" and is full of Tony's cronies so no democracy there. Parliament is out of control and does everything and anything it wants - no democracy there. The Monarch is silent, so BORIS COME TO THE PEOPLE'S RESCUE
- Anne Upton, bristol UK
The EU giving Britain something for nothing? If it wasn't such a serious subject, I would just laugh and laugh about such a statement, it is plain ludicrous.
For Britain to stay in the punitive little club known as the EU is political and monetary suicide. Europhiles poor and badly thought out, argument as to why Britain should be a part of Europe, is that if we were not, then we would be the "odd man out" in the world, and loose out on all the fantastic trading deals to be done within the EU community.
I wonder if it has ever crossed their tiny little, politically motivated minds, that Europe has a population of roughly 830.4 million, or approximately just 11% of the world's population, which is approaching 7 billion?
A good idea to belong to such a small club? I don't think so!
We should be forging ahead and leaving these piddling little EU countries where they belong, in the gutter of international monetary dealing. We need to deal more with the big boys, such as China, Japan, Equatorial Guinea, United States, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Kuwait, and Qatar.
That is where Britain's future lies, not with tinpot Tony and his cronies.
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK
when will boris learn its not what he says, what he does, or what he believes in, the problem is who he is.
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Quickly save £5Bn, delete the Regional Assemblies which were Tony Blair Common Purpose Socialist sop to the EU. Be handy when Boris puts himself forward as saviour to the Conservative Party faithfull, after his stint @ Telegraph.
Luckily he managed to miss the expenses scandal which damaged so many MP's. Don't ya just love it when a plan comes together.
- William, Hay~Heath UK
I think Doudoupa's question about the money 'we get from Europe' is a bit of a misnomer - we actually pay something like £7 billion a year excluding contributions to the EU overseas aid programme.
Gordon thoughtfully crashed our exchange rate at the end of 2008, so our contribution got adjusted upwards.
Why should we subsidise our competitors and the fat cat bureaucrats when essential services have to be cut at home?
No wonder conniving politicians like Gordon and David don't want us to have a vote on whether we want to be ruled by Europe.
- Jools, London
@ Doudoupa, London
".. do without the EU's money .."????
You are an utter moron. We are NET contributors to the tune of billions and have been for decades now. Not only would we do fine without the EU we would have a couple of billion in spare change to boot.
But the whole point here is not about leaving Europe, it is the differentiation between having them as trading partners and agreeing on weights and measures, and being ruled by an unaccountable unelected executive which will include unelected President Blair.
We need them as trading partners as much as they need us. I for one however, will not sacrifice democracy to a Totalitarian State that is unelected unaccountable and most certainly doesn't give a damn about the people of their respect countries. The EU monster is profoundly corrupt, you think our politicians are bad? You have to be a criminal in most European nations to get into politics.
80% of Law will come from Brussels. Does that not scare you Europhiles at all?
Where is my vote on the EU Constitution vile Labour?
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Give the British people a referendum on Europe. Take into account what the electorate want for their country or forget becoming PM. Outrageous. Cameron could well lose votes if he doesn't.
PS. What's that massive black chainlink necklace around Theresa's May's neck? Has she got tangled up with a fence or a toilet? Unreal.
- Dr. Derek Pickle-Branston, UK
Boris is streets ahead of Cameron and Osborne, who look weak in comparison. Boris is right to address what concerns the British people and is unafraid of speaking out on the issues that really matter to everyone. Cameron really needs to make sure the British people have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty or he will certainly lose many votes. This is a very serious issue and people just aren't going to give their country away. Many Toris are outraged by Cameron's silence, so give us an answer. I have yet to be convinced by Cameron's leadership. He doesn't understand his public.
- Jenny P. L., London UK
Boris you look and act like a buffoon, when are you going to do spomething actually good for the capital? If London was worth coming back too I would and so would 1000s more. But who wants to live in a hell hole????
- Anthony, Fribourg, Switzerland
I've been to Switzerland Anthony, and I've never been so bored in all my life.
- Wyn, London
tojo Labour hasn't heard of democracy-they won 3 general election
- John, london
"Look at the state of the economy and thinking you could do without the EU's money is an utopia.
- Doudoupa, London"
Sorry, what money are they offering us, precisely? Our net contributions are just about to go up to £6.5bn a year. Thinking the EU could do without OUR money is a utopia you mean, surely?
- Robert C, London, UK, Second biggest EU net contributor after Germany
Doudoupa, London
Your comment doesn't make sense. We give a lot more money to the EU every year than we receive. Financially, we would be better off out of europe. It would save us untold billions every year.
- Margy, London
The Mayor needs to cut the fares on London Transport.
- Mick, London, England
Hands up those who think both out local and national Government are run with utmost efficiency. I don't think there will be many people with their hands up right now. Government for career politicians is all about empire building and fighting for bigger and bigger budgets to show how important they are. Billions could easily be saved from spending, it just take someone who isn't a coward to point them out. Boris is probably the most honest politician there has been for years and we should have people who are not afraid to speak out instead of the spineless jellyfish currently on offer to the public.
- Dan, Manchester
Quote: Anthony, Fribourg, Switzerland. But who wants to live in a hell hole????
I do Anthony, and its not that hellish really, I actually love the place.
As Samuel Johnson once said; When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.
I personally find; that people that do not live in London, are its biggest critics.
Much like I find people that live in Switzerland agree with secret bank accounts.
Which is much the same as those people that have never seen England, think all Englishmen wear bowler hats and have umbrellas etc.
If London could be improved at all; it would be to import more cockneys from the shires, and new towns etc, we are running a little short on cockneys today.
- Mickinlondon, london
It seems quite amazing how some people ditch the potential for a free democracy, to join a club where its rulers a decreed by a class – the Political Class.
Democracy is when you get government by the People for the People. The EU is control of the People by the Elite Political Class. Being allowed to put a cross against an appointed member of the new ruling EU Political Class is a million miles from democracy.
- Ian, Reading, England
To All the Eurosceptics who would like to to see England pulling of the EU. Do you think the Pound makes you a strong nation economically speaking? The time when the economy was solid belongs to the past now. England has put all its eggs in the same basket (property market and the financial services) thinking that it will never crshed. Look at the state of the economy and thinking you could do without the EU's money is an utopia.
- Doudoupa, London
Cameron's policy is. I fear, the tactic employed regularly by British governments in dealing with the EU - the art of the 'concession'.
This consists of much publicised and supposed giving way by the EU in the face of resistance to new powers it wishes to acquire. The 'concessions' are trivial and temporary.
Following the well-trodden path, Cameron will be thrown a few bones after a contrived 'row' with the other EU countries and we will sail on into the superstate.
The rational answer for us is associate membership of the EU but that is anathema to the federal obsessives who resemble in their religious zeal the days when people still believed in communism.
- Mike Newland, London, England
Boris for PM. Or, better still, Boris for EU President
- Peace Maker, Battersea
Buses. There everywhere now and it doesnt work. In the suburbs people use the buses at certain times and then the rest of the time they are almost empty. But at rushhour they are stuck in traffic and what is meant to be a 10 minute service becomes a 3 buses together every half hour. It doesnt make sense to have buses running every 10 mins outside of peak hours. Every 20 mins is probably too much but its a start.
- Stuz Graz, Wimbledon, London
We the British public do have the final say on the Lisbon treaty,even if rich boy dictator and his party of no policies,no democracy seems to think otherwise.By voteing in the next election,all we need to do is vote for any party that has the guts to give us our Democratic right to vote on this treaty.Sad that we are no longer a Democratic country but a country ruled by dictators.
- Dave, london
Boris you look and act like a buffoon, when are you going to do spomething actually good for the capital? If London was worth coming back too I would and so would 1000s more. But who wants to live in a hell hole????
- Anthony, Fribourg, Switzerland
Come off it Johnson, you could have a referendum whenever you like. You have the powers, use them!
I suspect, however, you will chicken out. If you do, for heavens sake keep your loose mouth shut.
- Michael John Murphy, Brightlingsea
It is highly unlikely the Conservatives will hold a referendum once the Czech Republic ratifies the treaty. To all the Eurosceptics out there shrieking from behind their twitching net curtains, I doubt most of the country would be cheering upon finding itself out of the EU, having badly lost trade relations with most of the Continent, the pound shrinking to the value of the Libyan Dinar, the cost of Ibiza holidays going through the roof with £20 able to just afford a Barcardi Breezer over there, thousands of UK ex-pats finding their residential status in France or Spain now "questionable" and tens of thousands of Little Englander's beloved Eastern Europeans on holiday here en masse to take advantage of our shrunken currency. Get real! If Cameron really does hold a referendum after winning office, I'll eat my Reeboks. In relation to BoJo "keeping up the good work", he has no intention of running for a second Mayoral term, which by the way I think is unfortunate, as he consequently does not appear be thinking about London beyond this term. He will be keeping an eye out for plum Cabinet roles come 2012, at which point we will not be hearing much of his Eurosceptic tub-thumping.
- David, N10
If wasteing £3 million on extra costs on running 3 bus routes is Boris idea of saving money then Dave and Boris deserve each other.
As to 521 passengers crammed into BOJO cattle trucks or left on the pavements "Did you get wet?". I remember when Tories were described as wets or drys now they are just a load of drips!!
If Boris can save money well he has a nearly 2 years so where are the savings?
I suppose he and his supporters will quote cancelled transport schemes as savings which shows how little they know about the difference between revenue and capital expenditure.
As for referendums on europe well it was Cameron and Eric in a Pickle who failed to confirm THEY would hold a referendum. They even used the excuse they did not want to affect the outcome of the remaining decisions in eastern europe! So why talk about it before Ireland voted?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex ( formerly Islington, London)
Quote: Keith Price, Luton England. The way to save a vasy chunk of pointless expense is to do away with the post of London mayor. Both mayors have proved to be hugely disappointing and completely unnecessary
Wrong again Keith; Thatcher got rid of the GLC, and London suffered through that etc.
New Labour set Frank Dobson against Ken Livingstone to be the first mayor of the new GLA etc.
New Labour lost again, Keith.
Love or hate Ken, he did get London going again, and everyone said the congestion charge would not work, but it did work in the centre of London, the extension was not so wise, this is true, but you have to start somewhere etc.
But in a democratic society, Keith, don't you think 6 or 7 million Londoners have a right to elect who they want or like, as mayor of their own city etc?
Yes I know New Labour are not democrats in anyway under Blair and Brown's ideas of democracy, aided and abetted my Mandelson of course; but Londoners are not fools, Keith.
But you in Luton; would have no idea about London living, Keith; and even less an idea about real honest democracy etc.
Your ship is sinking fast Keith, New Labour is like the Titanic, and the sea floor awaits you,
- Mickinlondon, london
Three cheers for the former Bullingdon club duo !!!
What would we do without them ?
- Bernard Parke, GUILDFORD
I'm with Bob in Cheam. I'm not voting Tory next time, it's UKIP for me. Cameron has all the signs of being a Tory Tony Blair. I live in a Tory run authority and my poll tax wasn't frozen this year, and doubt it will be next year. I would like a vote as we could fair much better pulling out of the EU and save billions in the process!
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
We are told that Europe's nations have ratified the Lisbon treaty, but they have not, only the ones allowed a vote have. The Tories have to offer a vote to the nation that Labour reneged on. It should be a two stage vote. Do we ratify Lisbon? Yes - game over, the people have spoken. No - then the next referendum is do we want to leave Europe or stay in? That would be a true democratic process, with all sides able to make their case to the public at every step of the way. There can be no half measures. Lisbon is a fact of life now. It was a travesty of every democratic principle, but it's now done. If Britain wants it, then nothing Cameron can do will change that. If Britain does not want it, we have to leave the EU, and go with the North American Free Traders.
- Stephen Rothbart, Prague Czech Republic
Boris needs to remember and understand this simple logic; he is the mayor of London.
Ken rejoined the Labour Party; this was a big mistake on his part, because people started seeing him as a member of the labour party, and not the independent mayor of London we elected etc.
Boris needs to remember that he owes his position to London voters alone; and not to David Cameron in anyway etc.
London elections are not like National Elections were people follow two main parties, or narrow minded political dogma etc; Londoners will elect independent candidates at the slightest personal whim, or make an instant decision that could change in just a few days; so National Politics means very little to the average Londoner when it comes to our home city etc.
Tread carefully Boris, or you will soon be gone, govern with London being your total responsibility and duty; and you will go on to win again, we know what we want from our Mayor, and we know what we do not want.
Good Luck?
- Mickinlondon, london
London's LOSS:
Boris's early action was to Cancel CROSS-RIVER TRAM, linking KINGS CROSS, EUROSTAR, ST PANCRAS, EUSTON, WATERLOO, BRIXTON, Elephant & Castle and PECKHAM, with an on-street TRAMLINE.
Extensive costly PLANNING, has ALREADY been Carried-Out and Paid-for.
A High-Passenger Carrying-Capacity, swift, attractive means of Transport-RELIEF, to Central London's Grid-Lock, has had a lot of money spent on it-to-date to no
avail!
- Roger, london
The way to save a vasy chunk of pointless expense is to do away with the post of London mayor. Both mayors have proved to be hugely disappointing and completely unnecessary
- Keith Price, Luton England
Boris is definitely saying the right thing, but unfortunately, at the wrong time!
Europe is such a massive issue, undoubtedly the biggest issue facing our nation, or indeed the world, as it threatens to take away all our human rights to govern ourselves.
But it could definitely undermine the Conservative Party Conference, if it is allowed to dominate at this particular time. It is playing right into the hands of Labour and their unconstitutional dogma on this issue.
Cameron needs to announce a separate debate on this, at a later date.
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK
Its called democracy something the Labour Party under Blair,Brown and Meddlesome have never heard of.
- Tojo, Hythe UK
Does that mean every other country should also have a referendum on whether or not Tony Blair should be the EEC President? What would be the benchmark if there is a divided vote? Do we keep on having referendums ad infinitum until the whole of Europe agree on a President? How daft is that? Does Boris really believe this drivel he opines, or is he just trying to establise David Cameron?
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
Once again Boris is showing that, despite the outward appearance of someone with an oddball character, there is a highly intelligent and politically astute brain at work. Boris is not setting himself against David Cameron, or his shadow cabinet, he is merely reflecting the fears and doubts of many British people even if they do not support the Conservative party politically. Boris keep up the good work!!
- Paddy, Croydon Uk
Boris is absolutely correct.
What will it take for the UK to hold a referendum on the EU?
Do not hold your breath!
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
Cameron is utterly spineless, he sits on the fence waving his arms around and backtracks if the public don't like what he's said, he's just Blair mkII. Not that the Liberals or Labour are any better, I'm voting UKIP this time, I have at least one thing in common with them, and as far as I can tell there's no one else worth voting for.
- Bob, Cheam
Boris is saying what most of us are thinking, good on him for doing it.
- St, London
Boris is right. unlike Europe we are liberal England. Exit Magna Carta if we have no referendum, DID SHE DIE IN VAIN?
- Alan Green, England. The forgotten country.
