Scrutinising the Mayor articles

Mayor overestimates revenue from Barclays sponsorship

Dave Hill at the Guardian writes about the Mayor's exaggeration of the benefits of the cycle hire sponsorship contract with Barclays, pointing out Caroline Pidgeon's questioning that highlighted the true figures:

"Barclays," proclaimed the Mayor, has "saved Londoners about £50 million" through its sponsorship of cycle hire and superhighways. The key word in that assertion is "about."

As in the past the Mayor appeared at best unclear about how much money Barclays has and eventually will transfer to London's savings account in return for his inviting it to carpet brand its streets.

4 July 2012 - 10:41pm

Met's loss of expertise is a serious concern for London's policing

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and deputy chair of the Police and Crime Committee, commenting on the sudden departure of both the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, said:

“It is shocking that two public servants with such vast experience should be departing so quickly from the Met when the Deputy Mayor for Policing is so clearly not up to speed with the key policing issues facing the capital.

4 July 2012 - 10:11pm

Assembly launches investigation into cyclist safety in London

With 16 deaths on the capital’s roads last year and injuries also on the rise, where is London going wrong on cyclist safety? What more needs to be done to make Londoners safer on their bikes? And what could the capital learn from cities with good cycling records?

The London Assembly Transport Committee has recently launched an investigation aimed at drawing together issues around cycling in the capital, assessing how effectively improvements are being delivered, and identifying further solutions.

27 June 2012 - 8:03pm

The Mayor is evasive and misleading on Murdoch links

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on reports that Boris Johnson failed to declare to the London Assembly a dinner he attended at Rupert Murdoch's home just days before the Metropolitan Police launched a new inquiry into phone hacking, said:

“Boris Johnson failed to declare the hospitality he received from Rupert Murdoch in both his monthly report to the London Assembly, and in the GLA's Register of gifts and hospitality. In addition to this evasiveness he then provided a misleading written answer to a London Assembly Member.

20 June 2012 - 10:53pm

Mayor makes a poor start on cycle safety

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s response to her questions about his plans to implement the three key policies of the London Cycling Campaign’s Love London, Go Dutch campaign, said:

“The Mayor might have signed up to the London Cycling Campaign Love London, Go Dutch campaign but there is a huge gap between his pledge and actual delivery on the ground.

23 May 2012 - 10:50pm

Oyster overcharging costs passengers millions - again

Passengers using Oyster Pay As You Go were ripped off by many millions of pounds last year at tube and train stations across the capital.

Passengers wrongly faced maximum fares for their journeys at every London Underground and National Rail station, with the weekly amount of incorrectly charged maximum fares exceeding more than £1 million.

Across London Underground, National Rail network stations, the DLR and London Overground stations, the total amount of maximum fares charged reached a staggering £63,950,000 in 2011.

1 May 2012 - 10:47pm

Caroline supports campaign for Dutch-style cycling revolution

Caroline joined an estimated 10,000 cyclists in the Big Ride in central London in support of the 'Going Dutch' campaign organised by the London Cycling Campaign.

The massive crowd, representing every age and background, braved at-times atrocious weather to be part of the UK’s largest-ever bike ride supporting safer streets for cycling. Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick and Simon Hughes MP, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats also took part, reinforcing the strong support of the Liberal Democrats to safer streets for Londoners.

Caroline was one of the first politicians to formally endorse the campaign and over the last four years has repeatedly raised issues relating to cycle safety in her work on the London Assembly.

You can read more about the London Cycling Campaign Go Dutch campaign, and sign the petition, at the LCC's website.

30 April 2012 - 10:16pm

We need more Youth Hubs like the Harrow Club

On Wednesday Caroline Pidgeon joined London Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick and former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown and met young people to talk about issues that concern them and about the Lib Dem plans for Youth Hubs in every Borough In London

The visit took place at Harrow Club in Ladbroke Grove and included a chat with the group Hard Talking Ex-Cons, reformed ex-offenders who formed the group to work with youngsters and encourage them to follow the right path.

The club is a wonderful place for young people to go and such clubs should be supported across London.

28 April 2012 - 10:54am

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