It has not been Easy Establishing London's Government

Written by Graham Tope on Thu 3rd Oct 2002

Ken Livingstone became Mayor of London two and a half years ago, and even though I didn't support him at that election, I did have some hope that he might fight a good case and stick up for London and Londoners.

Sad though it is to relate I have been disappointed. If I were to give the Mayor a half term report it would read "A+ for self-publicity but a big D for delivery." What really worries me that is that all the while the Mayor doesn't deliver London suffers.

To take just one example look at the Draft London Plan published earlier this summer. This vast document sets out the Mayor's vision and objectives for London for the next 15 years. Many of the visions and objectives are admirable, but the ways in which these might be achieved are not clear. For instance there are only two brief mentions of upgrading and improving the existing tube network, and no targets set. Thus the main system for moving people around London is almost totally ignored. Ken has rightly complained and fought (and lost) battles about the way in which the Tube will be funded, but despite high profile media appearances has never said how he will take the Tube network forward, never mind telling us how he will stop the rail unions causing chaos to passengers, when he takes control of the Tube network.

Instead what we have been subjected to is Ken commenting on everything and anything except what really matters to the people of London. The Mayor almost seems to enjoy the battles he gets into with certain sections of the media in London, and as his style Ken Livingstone has been very good with the jokes. Whether it is calling the management at London Underground "dunderheads" or making statements about a possible war with Iraq, the Mayor features regularly in our press, TV and radio.

But as passengers stand waiting for an over crowded Tube train - that is when they are not on strike - or sit waiting for the Mayor to outline in detail how he might help tackle the shortage of nurses and other key staff in London, they might be forgiven for asking what the Mayor and the GLA are for.

That's why over the next weeks, months and years I, and other members of the London Assembly will continue to scrutinise the Mayor and try and get from him less outrageous statements and more delivery. It won't be an easy task, but wish us luck!