A crusade against corruption, or simple self interest?

Boris Johnson has written to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to call for a limit to the number of terms a Mayor of London can serve.

In his letter to Hazel Blears, Johnson states that “It’s about time that the Government changed the law to give Londoners a mayoral system which is accountable and open.”

Is the new Mayor fighting ‘cronyism, misconduct and corruption’ or merely planning ahead for the next election? By 2012 the Londoners who cast their votes in support of Boris might have grown tired of him as Olympic costs spiral further under his leadership and election promises go unfulfilled. Meanwhile most of the weariness of Ken Livingston’s two terms may have ebbed away. Perhaps Boris is attempting to insure himself against his most powerful opponent.  

Photo: Bruno Girin

From little acorns

Boris does indeed seem to be keeping to his election night promise to run London as ‘new Boris’, because he yesterday announced the laudable but disappointingly sensible policy of abolishing City Hall’s freesheet, the Londoner. What’s more, some of the £2.9m (according to the Mayor’s team) that used to go into producing the capital’s own version of Pravda will be directed into a new tree-planting programme.

Ten thousand trees, perhaps a drop in London’s ocean of six million but a welcome drop, will be interred in areas which can benefit from them most. So get ready to see more of our lovely, hardy old London Plane near you.

Strangely The Londoner, whose byline is ‘News from the Mayor of London’ hasn’t yet reported the new policy. In fact there has been no Mayor’s Message for a few months now, a development that looks certain to continue.

No more booze on the Tube

“Too many people have the unpleasant experience of sitting opposite someone swigging a can of lager,” said the London Mayor who had celebrated his election win at a Champagne fuelled party on Friday night. The ban will be backed by a new bylaw, but the only penalty for offenders will be ejection from the bus or train.

Passengers travelling out of London to their second homes in the countryside will still be able to enjoy a glass of Sancerre in the First Class carriage though, as national rail trains will be unaffected.

New Tube poster (photo: Annie Mole)

The last word though, should go to RMT transport union chief Bob Crow, who succinctly pointed out a small flaw in Johnson’s plan: “Perhaps the mayor will come out with his underpants on over his trousers like Superman one Saturday to show us how it should be done, and maybe tell a crowd of Liverpool supporters that they can’t drink on the train.”

UPDATE: The Tory supporting, evening Standard run website This is London reports that the Government are considering adopting the alcohol ban on public transport nationwide.

• Elsewhere today, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg visits London to give Boris some advice on law and order