Why would anyone trust Boris Johnson to build a river crossing?

After four years of doing nothing, aside from cancel existing plans for a river crossing, Boris is now trying to convince us that he's the man to build another one:

 "within ten years."

Except he's already told us that *at most* he will only be in the job for another four years.

And even if he sticks around, why would you trust his pre-election promise on Silvertown Crossing this time, when he so blatantly broke his pre-election promises on Blackwall Tunnel last time?

And why would you trust such a huge project to a man who can't even set up a bike hire scheme or cable car without busting the budget?

And even if by some fluke the thing does get built on time and on budget, would it even be worth doing?

Because the Silvertown Crossing isn't a new river crossing in the same way that the Thames Gateway Bridge would have been.

It's essentially just a widening of the existing crossing at Blackwall, which would pump more traffic onto the same already massively congested approach roads.

But this is all by the by. The Silvertown Crossing isn't meant to be built. It's meant to make the Mayor appear like he's doing something for motorists and for SE London. 

And in that at least, the project has already been a resounding success.

Boris Johnson launches campaign for something that will happen anyway

Boris Johnson has called on his supporters to launch a letter-writing campaign for something that will happen anyway.

In an email to supporters, Boris's campaign chief Lynton Crosby claims that "he needs your help" in order to freeze the Mayor's share of the council tax precept.

"he wants to freeze your council tax - for the fourth year in a row. But he needs your help. His budget needs to be approved in a vote by London Assembly members... Boris will work hard to persuade them that your council tax should be frozen. But in 11 years, Labour have never once voted in favour of freezing your council tax...

You can help by writing to your Assembly member and urging them to vote for the Mayor’s budget, so send an email to your Assembly member now: www.borisbudget.com"

Except Boris doesn't need his supporters' help to freeze the council tax. In fact he doesn't even need the Labour, Lib Dem, or Green Party's help.

Under the GLA act all he needs is more than one third of the London Assembly to support his budget and it passes.

And as Conservative London Assembly members make up more than one third of the Assembly,  his budget will pass regardless of whether the other parties support it.

As it has done for the past the past three years!

So unless the Tory AMs are planning to oppose their own Mayor's precept freeze then Boris Johnson's supporters can save themselves a lot of pen, ink and tweets:

How Boris Johnson also uses "Tourette's" slur

David Cameron is in trouble this morning for comparing Ed Balls to a Tourette's sufferer.

However in this matter he is one step behind his rival Boris Johnson. 

Two years ago during Mayor's Questions he said of London Assembly Member John Biggs:

"He keeps up a constant babble like he is a Tourettes syndrome fellow. He is like an old chap on a park bench rambling. I do not mind. We have to put up with it. It is care in the community!"

His comments were greeted with loud guffaws from Tory London Assembly Members, as they were when he repeated them almost word for word several months later:

"In spite of old care in the community here [gestures to John Biggs AM] with Tourettes and his constant barracking, I think we run a very harmonious operation."

David Cameron has swiftly apologised for his offensive comments. Two years on, there's little sign that Boris Johnson will ever do the same.

Boris Johnson on using City Hall for party political purposes

A spokesperson for Boris Johnson on a cheeky attempt by Ken Livingstone to rent the top floor of City Hall for a campaign event:

“The Mayor has no intention of using City Hall for pre-election party political purposes, so does not expect others to do so.”

Of course Boris would never consider using City Hall for party political purposes.

Well apart from when he used it repeatedly to hold secret meetings with his party political campaign manager of course.

And when that same campaign manager had un-minuted meetings with non-political City Hall staff.

Oh and when he gave that same campaign manager an access all areas pass reserved solely for City Hall employees.

But apart from all that Boris would never ever consider using City Hall for pre-election party political purposes. Oh no. Perish the thought!