A. When it thinks its a referendum.
Earlier this week, Mayor Boris Johnson launched his consultation on the future of the western extension of the London Congestion Charge. Whilst on the surface this looks like a manifesto pledge fulfilled, dig a bit deeper and its an interesting case of reality catching up with a politician who has had to learn pretty damn fast that populism in opposition just doesn’t cut it in government.
Let’s flash back a mere nine months to January 2008 and take a look at this BBC News article about an interview with Candidate Johnson.
The western congestion charge zone would be scrapped if London mayoral hopeful Boris Johnson won the election, the Conservative candidate has said. In an interview with BBC London he said the western extension – introduced in February 2007 – was not working.
And a little further on: (more…)
