After two periods in office (a total of eight years) he achieved quite a lot in raising the image of London, reducing traffic congestion, and encouraging new development. On the flip side, his traffic congestion charge became controversial when the charges started going up, and the control zone was extended. The London Underground private finance initiative went belly up, and Ken was also criticised for his allocation of large financial grants to some pretty weird and questionable organisations. He also liked to play host to controversial political and religious figures, especially from the Muslim community; and whilst he was happy to organise St Patrick's Day parades, he would not give house room to any demonstration of English pride on St George's day.
He was, and is, in many ways a bit of a comedian with a controversial love life and a passion for newts (though I hasten to add there is no connection between the two!)
Londoners were really given the chance of voting for one of two comedians, because along came Boris Johnson for the Conservatives out of the blue - he of the tousled hair, TV show performances, posh voice, and frequently voiced political gaffes.
Boris is such a loose cannon in the Conservative Party that he was soon assigned a team of advisers to try and keep him away from his role of comedian and firmly on the straight and narrow political message. But anyone who knows Boris knows that this is a waste of time. Indeed this is part of his success: he is so outspoken, so "un-PC", so good at appearing to be a complete buffoon whilst actually concealing a sharp intellect and huge knowledge that even those would rather stick pins in their eyes than vote Conservative grudgingly acknowledge their affection for him.
It was, then, perhaps no great surprise that he should manage to come along and upset Red Ken's applecart.
Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick (ex-police commander) was out of site. He is a decent man who nevertheless seems to have suffered a charisma bypass and was therefore completely unable to compete against the two larger-than-life characters fielded by the Labour and Conservative Parties.
Other News
Petty Bureacracy is alive and well
It's good to know that we still employ pea-brained "jobsworths" in public service to remind us just how stupid human beings can be. Last week an 82-year old woman disabled with Parkinson's Disease parked her car in Kendal to take a rest as she was feeling unwell. It was a no-parking area, but she possessed a "disabled" permit to display in her windscreen, so she was legally parked with the permit on display. Unfortunately she had not noticed that the permit was on display upside down. A parking warden came along, and rather than waking up the sleeping woman to politely draw attention to her oversight he just slapped a penalty notice on her windscreen. South Lakeland Council rejected her appeal.
In the same week, at the other end of the country, in London, a woman was prosecuted because her "Oyster" pre-paid bus card was 20p short of the amount for the journey. She swiped the card on the machine next to the driver and didn't notice the bleep indicating it was short of funds. The driver said nothing. During her journey an Inspector boarded the bus, and on checking her ticket said she was 20p short. The woman apologised and immediately got our her purse to pay the difference. The Inspector was having none of that: he said he would have to report her, she would get a form in the post on which she could explain herself. She got the form, explained the circumstances and submitted it. Next thing she knows is she's been summoned to appear before Sutton magistrates later this month.
What kind of country have we become, with such idiots messing up our lives? Is it a reflection of our education system that such people are produced and given paid jobs?
1 comment:
itTook mum and dad to our local super market, Mum as a disabled card.We parked in the disabled bay and went into the store .Half way round with our shopping mum was taken badly,the staff were really good. Some of then are trained in first aid (I did'nt know that)the chap said we should call an ambulance suspected heart attack. Dad was feaking out thought he thought was going to have one to. Ambulance came took mum and dad to the Hospital,Left the shopping to follow in the car,got out side this guy was looking at me.Excuse sir but you don.t look like the photo on the disabled card,well full marks I said go to the top of the class.Don't adopted that attitude with me mate, oh where's the sir gone now. I tried to explain what had happened, I don't think I believe you sir,its more than my jobs worth,(I got my title back)I don't care its the truth,so I started to get into my car, he grabed my shoulder so I push him off.He ran off into the store,there were loads of people about.Started the car and off I went to the hospital, any way mum was ok and still is. That was 2 years ago,that night knock,knock I was taken to the station and charged with assault.Humiliating experience for me and my family,I now have a criminal record thanks to a jobsworth.Mitigating cercumstances in my defence judge said the chap had overreacted to the situation, I was find the min fine of 50 pound.Thats live we just get on with it.Cracking web site keep it up if its only for guys like me to get things off my chest. John Morris,Solihull.
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