"Next six months will be the real test" - Caroline Pidgeon

4.15.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Aug 2008

Commenting on Boris Johnson's first 100 days as the Mayor of London Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon said: "There have been some embarrassments for Boris in the last three months. Firstly, he forgot the existence of a memo outlining the financial support from government for the 2012 Olympics. Also he hired, and then fired, advisers and what he claimed were to be independent advisers to counsel him on finance turned out to nothing of the sort. He seems to have relied on the Tory's favourite think tank, the Policy Exchange, to come up with all his ideas.

"However, the next six months will be the real test as there are severe financial issues that need confronting.

"In one of the main areas of his responsibilities we need to see Transport for London, and especially middle management in London Underground, pruned to become leaner and more efficient. They have to balance staying within budget on the £16 billion Crossrail project with keeping the costs of upgrading the Tube within bounds. They also need to commit to other vital projects to keep London competitive like phase two of the East London line extension and the Cross River Tram project.

"Seemingly though all the real decisions are being made away from City Hall, probably in Conservative Central Office and so I think we should be seeing the London mayoralty as a real test of whether David Cameron's Tory Party can run an effective administration if they get into power at the next General Election."