Council Leader Has Every Confidence in Boris

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Peter Thompson believes Conservative colleague will be Mayor of London

The announcement of Boris Johnson MP as the Conservative candidate to be the next Mayor of London was warmly welcomed by Conservative Borough Leader, Cllr Peter Thompson.

Speaking about the colourful Conservative who notoriously claimed to be backing Cameron’s campaign to become party leader “out of pure cynical self-interest”, Cllr Peter Thompson said, “I fully support Boris Johnson as our candidate for Mayor of London and I am confident that he will win for Londoners. He is the candidate that Labour’s Ken Livingstone most fears and his personal attacks on Boris show that he’s clearly rattled – and he has good reason to be worried.

"Despite a rise in the Mayor’s tax (the GLA Precept on our council tax bills) has gone up from £122 per year to over £300, Londoners are still waiting to see real service improvements and value for money. Livingstone’s tired policies offer nothing new. His record of refusing to listen to local voices, especially on planning matters, his constant hunger for more powers without taking responsibility for his repeated failures to deliver, his out-dated centralising approach – these are all serving London badly."

He continued "To go forward, London needs a Mayor who will work closely with all the boroughs, regardless of party political differences, to meet the city’s many challenges. Rather than seeking to divide our many communities, London’s Mayor must seek to lead a unified city, speaking up for all Londoners. Londoners want change; they want fresh thinking when it comes to transport, policing and housing. Boris offers Londoners a fresh vision, full of hope and aspiration for a greater London – that’s why Boris is London’s choice."

"I look forward to working with Boris to win for London in May 2008 – and then as the next Mayor of London.”

A book entitled "The Little Book of Boris" which contains 108 pages of Boris Johnson's amusing gaffs and witticisms was published recently and sold over a quarter of the print run on its first day.

October 9, 2007