There appears to be an interesting development in the Tory primary selection this London. Andrew Boff's campaign has just issued a statement saying that the "The Tories' selection process for London mayor has turned into a referendum on the Congestion Charge and all Londoners can vote. Andrew Boff will scrap it when the contract comes up for renewal while Henley MP Boris Johnson wants it to continue in some form."
Clearly Boff is aware that beating Boris is the main challenge that he and the other contenders face, but making the primary a matter of a referendum on a single issue may very well backfire. I called the Back Boris team who told me that "the primary is about all the matters that affect London, not a single issue". On that point they are absolutely right.
The London Mayor has power over policing, planning, housing strategy, environmental policy, transport to name but a few things. To try and turn it into a single issue of such narrow, and frankly minimal reaching impact is just silly. The fact is that most Londoner's do not drive into the Congestion zone anyway, and as such most Londonders have no actual problem with it.
What they do have a problem with though is the fact that the congestion charge has not been as effective as it might have been; that it is no longer about tackling congestion; and that the revenue that it does generate is not effectively spent on the transport and road infrastructure across the entire city.
Andrew Boff's strategy of turning the primary into a matter of principle on the single tax that doesn't actually impinge on the lives of the majority of Londoners seems to be an strange way of making a pitch that you care about the whole of London and the wealth of issues that fall within the scope of the Mayor's office.
Declaration of Interest: I support Boris Johnson.
8 comments:
I think it is a bad strategy by Boff. Lots of people in the Tory party dislike the CC but it's quite popular London-wide.
It's a shame he's gone down this route because I like most of the rest he says.
I actually like the idea of the CC but I think it should be reformed.
Boff is a side show and in any case he would not eb my second choice. perhaps he would bear that in mind . What Boris says about the congestion charge is sensible . It needs review ( badly) but striking silly attitudes is not helpful and more to the point offputting to voters .
Good One Dizzy
Oh goodness, what a surprise, Newmania has been here dribbling also?
I can see what you're saying Dizzy but Boff has a point. Over and over again he has positions and Bojo has nothing but muttering.
Boff is taking one sample policy to show up the fact that Bojo is a, some say loveable, buffoon.
Declaration of interest: I also support Bojo, Boff is scarily competent and focused.
I also support Bojo, Boff is scarily competent and focused.
Scarily he thinks thats clever ( well you have to remember that sentience and genius are interchangable words over there). They have not spent the last few weks undermining Boris for no reason. If Chris wants Boff we need Boris. Simple
There's our Chris!
Erm .. this is politics, politics is about policies. If I emphasise the difference between the candidates doesn't that help people make a choice?
Some people WILL vote on a single issue. For those whose issue is the congestion charge this is a referendum and some clear choices can be made.
The Congestion Charge was introduced without any other measures being considered. I’ve clearly stated that prior to the end of the contract those measures will at last be put into place. This entails a bottom up process of removing obstacles to travel, encouraging alternate means of transport, reducing the number of signal controlled junctions on major routes, putting in some sensible measures for cyclists (at this point I declare an interest) and ending the knee jerk car hating culture of TfL and replacing it with an understanding that it’s not just the rich who drive cars.
As to whether or not I think of the whole of London, for goodness sake, I was a leader of an Outer London Borough! Is it credible that I am only concentrating on one issue? You only have to visit my website or have mentioned any of the previous press releases about a wide range of issues that I've sent to you Dizzy.
There are also other issues in which I disagree with Boris's policies and he disagrees with mine. He wants to introduce another layer of government below the Mayor in the form of a cabinet; I want to reduce the distance between Mayor and citizen and involve the boroughs more. It is not a capital crime to disagree with respected colleagues during a selection process. It's part of the debate.
You know, this open primary process is just a little too controlled for my liking. I would much rather have had the candidates debating rather than the question and answer session that the people attending the hustings have had to date. Debates can be held with mutual respect and I have a GREAT deal of respect for the other candidates: Warwick for his razor-like intellect; Victoria for her battling style and determination and Boris for the ease with which he engages with people from all walks of life.
That doesn't mean we can't talk frankly about the issues.
The innovation of the open primary is a remarkably forward looking step by our party. It should be about having fresh ideas and testing them through debate. What on earth is wrong with that!
As to the comments here from members of other parties: There's really no point trying extrapolate the Machiavellian intentions from their endorsements - that way madness lies. Whether it’s Livingstone saying that Boris is the biggest threat or Labour bloggers saying it's me is irrelevant to the task of developing Tory policies for a modern London. I could wholeheartedly endorse any of the other candidates for Mayor after the selection process is over. Any one of us could beat the over-centralising incumbent.
During his recent interview on 18DS I thought Boris said he would abolish the congestion charge.
I listened to Boff last night at the hustings in Hillingdon. I'm not a member of any political party so it's me you have to convince to vote for a Tory mayor.
After last night's performance it was quite clear that out of all the candidates Boris didn't have a clue about what Londoners want but says what we want to hear, the best performer in my view was Boff, I heard things I didn't want to from him but he's believeable and we (the voters outside of politics) can relate to him.
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