Boris has posted an open farewell and thank-you to his constituents in the Henley Standard (click the link).
Boris Johnson is the new Mayor of London. In a contest that has fascinated media all over the world, Boris beat his rival, the eight-year incumbent Mayor Ken Livingstone, by 139,772 votes. The election drew a record turnout by London voters, reflecting the high profile of the two main candidates.
Political commentators describe Boris as the most powerful elected Conservative politician in Britain today. As such, he has promised to work “flat out” to repay the confidence of Londoners and to make Greater London “greater still”.
Boris is one of the most original thinkers on the political landscape and we know he will bring radical improvements to the government of our capital - with a special eye on crime, transport, housing, environment, and social integration. The world’s greatest city deserves nothing less.
Despite his massive London commitments, Boris is still (somehow) fitting in his constituency work. See this week’s Henley Standard where he is reported at two quite different Watlington events: one reopening the Watlington Memorial Club and the other welcoming the new M40 Watlington-London bus route that should ease the daily commute for many.
Checkendon Post Office and shop is, as reported, safe for the next few years but elsewhere in the constituency the fight continues. Boris joined Danny Goffey, the drummer of Supergrass, to support the post office at Stanton St John and, at Crowmarsh, he told a crowd of about 200 protesters that they need their Post Office and “I will do everything I can to help you keep it”. The Post Office consultation period ends on March 17th so do send Boris (or the Post Office) comments and ideas soon if you are in the affected areas.
As airports expand, Boris asked for clarification on how the most recent survey findings on Attitudes to Noise from Aviation should be understood in relation to the 1986 survey that set a 57 dBA noise limit. In his written reply, Jim Fitzpatrick (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport) stated that the current expansion of Heathrow did not increase the “noise contour compared with summer 2002, a contour area of 127 sq km”. Click for the full written answer.
ThamesNews.net has a report on the clear letter of support that Boris recently sent to Parish Councils in his constituency affected by the Government proposal to expand Oxford and build on Green Belt land. Boris is pursuing this matter within Westminster, calling for the protection of the Green Belt to be maintained and for an end to the delay in making a decision that is affecting so many.
Boris has recently asked how many police officers in England as a whole and, separately, in London live in key worker housing. Click for the written response.
Yesterday, Boris spoke of his wish to increase ‘on the beat’ policing to improve safety in the streets and on public transport. Click here for more information.
This afternoon, Boris stopped in Checkendon, in his Henley constituency, to inaugurate the combined village shop and Post Office which was taken over by Bal Budesha in 2007. Despite the biting wind and the hour of the day, over 70 local people of all ages turned out for the occasion. After cutting the inaugural ribbon and viewing the wide range of local, organic and staple, everyday produce in the shop that, like so many others around the country, also fulfils functions as the surgery transport waiting room, newsagent, information centre and more besides.
Some of the children presented Boris with some excellent ‘Save our Post Office’ posters for his office and Boris selected Isobel Willis’s well-written defence of the shop as the one to read to the assembled crowd. Boris then gave a short speech recognising the vital role of post offices and shops in communities such as this.
Jane Barker of the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council presented Bal with its Best Independent Retailer award before Boris moved on to a meeting with various local officials.
February 07, 2007 Update
Much to the delight of all, the post office and shop has been reprieved. Thank you, Boris, for your support.
Well, here it is - the new, shiny, official Boris Johnson website!
Hopefully you’ve managed to find your way around by now - if not, you can explore the archives, visit the photo gallery, read about Boris and contribute to the enormous community on the official Forum.
A web monkey (well, me) has been tinkering under the bonnet for the past week, putting the finishing touches to the various functions on the site. Let us know your thoughts, either in the Forum or using the Contact Form. Enjoy! I’m off to watch the final lick of paint dry…
Political Activity