Comments on: Boris’ hypocrisy on (economy) class

By: Anon E Mouse

Anon E Mouse — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:00:04 +0000

Will – Agreed but I actually do like the monarchy if I’m honest. Well not Charles but you get the point…

By: Will Straw

Will Straw — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:28:33 +0000

Mark – we wrote about this last week when it barely touched the headlines: http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/university-participation-will-fall-if-fees-rise/

The only developments yesterday was that the already announced cuts were passed on.

Anon – I understand where you’re coming from on Kinnock & Mandelson but where do you stand on the American system of a genuine separation of powers between Executive and Legislative. I can, for example, see a case for having an expert become Science Minister (I just don’t see why we have to ennoble them).

By: Anon E Mouse

Anon E Mouse — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:52:50 +0000

Mr.Sensible – When will it come into law?

Mandelson should not be in that job – same with Kinnock’s wife. Remind me again when a single member of the people whose life she has (partially) the power to change voted for her. Not a single voter has ever cast a vote in her favour. It’s almost as bad as Baroness Ashton in Europe.

More importantly though are the Labour MP’s so poor that brown can’t find two of them to fill these posts?

(That’s probably rhetorical actually considering how useless the Milibands, Byrne, Burnham, Cooper and Balls are – to name but a few…)

By: Mr. Sensible

Mr. Sensible — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:50:58 +0000

Anon E Mouse, I think there is a proposal to make Peter answerable to the commons.

And, I think a proposal in the Constitutional Reform Bill will allow Lords to stand down and stand as MPs.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:10:28 +0000

Peter, just google “£411,471 taxi”. But you’re right, the number probably isn’t a reasonable comparison. I was just trying to point out that first or economy to Zurich, it doesn’t make a difference. Did you know the Treasury has booked a private jet to fly the Chancellor to the next G8 fin min meeting in Canada? And rightly so, the likes of the Mayor of London and a senior Minister like Mandelson should not be quibbling over airfares.

Especially today when Mandelson is cutting the university budget, discussing taxi bills is a sorry distraction. Any chance of a blog post about these sorry cuts?

By: Peter Carrol

Peter Carrol — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:52:35 +0000

Mark, do you have a source on BIS’ £411k taxi spend please?

I suspect it isnt a reasonable comparison, an army of civil servants working for BIS regularly have to visit businesses, trade unions and constituencies across the UK, where the transport infrastructure is not quite as developed as London.

A better way to approach a Labour/Tory comparison is with Boris’ predecessor. Ken spent £729 on taxi’s during his final year in office, an average of £2 a day.

By: Anon E Mouse

Anon E Mouse — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:59:59 +0000

If the electorate in London aren’t happy with Boris they’ll boot him out.

Only Gordon Brown could put Lord Mandelson in the cabinet where he can’t be questioned AND the electorate can’t boot him out.

Do you not see the difference Peter? Who’s side are you on?

Typical control freak Brown actions… next you’ll be telling me the man is considering staying on as (unelected) leader when he’s cost Labour the next General Election….

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:55:47 +0000

In fairness, the latest figures show Lord Mandelson’s Business and Skills department spent £411,471 on taxis alone.

It’s a shame the likes of Johnson and Mandelson feel the need to go to Davos, they could spend the time more productively at home, whether fixing London’s crap and expensive transport system or finding ways not to cut the university budget.

By: Guido Fawkes

Guido Fawkes — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:56:19 +0000

I spend more on taxis than Boris. Won’t catch me cycling uphill…

By: Jay Baker

Jay Baker — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:46:39 +0000

RT @leftfootfwd: Boris’ hypocrisy on (economy) class: http://is.gd/7u0b8