Forum Topic

Just received voting papers for May

Looks like Shaun Bailey it is then, to reverse all the trouble and lost money Sadiq Khan has wasted. Then you can keep your lovely old cars and visit your old gran without having to pay to go out of your turning.

Barbara Stevens ● 1901d44 Comments

Craig the ULEZ as with similar taxes it has a dual purpose which is to raise revenue - which can conflict.Sadly when it comes to air quality in the UK there are no enforcement mechanisms.Some people may recall the proceedings that the EU was taking against the UK:"In February 2014 the EU Commission began infraction proceedings against the UK for its failure to meet air quality targets for nitrogen dioxide set by The Air Quality Directive in certain parts of the UK"https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8195/

Ed Robinson ● 1898d

Sorry, I’m confused.  Surely the whole point of ULEZ (and XR) is they are both about caring for others ie the health of those who currently breathe heavily polluted air and the generations that will inhabit this planet after we’ve all gone.  I’m afraid I fail to understand how anyone driving a polluting vehicle is benefitting anyone but themselves...unless I’m missing something?!

Craig Fordham ● 1898d

Andy, ULEZ is to do with health and emissions, lot of good spreading the virus, I see no difference still to do with the lungs. There having a meeting in Barnes re: ULEZ.

Barbara Stevens ● 1898d

I think it was the new seekers who sangShes in a world of her own

Andy Pike ● 1898d

I don't see how this relates to the ULEZ Barbara?Feel free to start yet another thread banging on about XR if you like but why not stay on topic on this thread?

Matt Palmer ● 1898d

Really Matt, it just proves you don't care about anybody else. You spread the virus with all your cronies, then moan about people who go out in cars and don't spread it they keep themselves to them selves. There's one rule for one.

Barbara Stevens ● 1898d

or they can pay the ULEZ charge which they will have been paying since 2019 anyway if they deliver anywhere in the current ULEZ zone.

Matt Palmer ● 1898d

Why if they have a van over a certain age do they not need to get a new van. ULEZ not congestion charge.

Barbara Stevens ● 1899d

deliveries to central london didnt stop in 2019 Barbara, why would they stop now?

Matt Palmer ● 1899d

Oh Richard, it may be pointless to you, so you obviously don't have parcels delivered too you. I didn't write down the whole registration number. I thought you new everything as your trying to get rid of every thing. Or are you annoyed you have found out you have to get rid of your car.

Barbara Stevens ● 1899d

Instead of asking pointless questions, check for yourself at https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle-35896

Richard Carter ● 1899d

Going to the High Street today in a matter of seconds, I saw two vehicles, so FED EX delivering your parcels in a van Reg year 58 and the large red tow truck for the Buas garage had 04 year. So what happens to all these vehicles. IN the ULEZ.

Barbara Stevens ● 1899d

Ha, Ha, well he wasn't stupid, his dad used to be a copper, and his brother is one in London.

Barbara Stevens ● 1900d

It's very common Barbara.Sometimes the actual target is not the person they clone.Perhaps the investment stuff was a cover to extract a good cinnamon roll recipe.....

Ed Robinson ● 1900d

Don't forget he also suggested building a bridge to France!

Matt Palmer ● 1900d

Ed, My Facebook was a bit of a problem. One of my son's friends had a message not from me saying Hello How are you. Another got asked Investment Questions, but lucky he was younger and new it was a hoax just so he could argue with them.

Barbara Stevens ● 1900d

Yes, but the bridge from Scotland to Northern Ireland is a brainwave BoJo had as PM and not as Mayor of London.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1900d

Barbara - they do say imitation is the greatest form of flattery. It's the only positive thing I can think of regarding your fbook experience. Well that and we should write to Nick Clegg about making their platform secure against fake accounts!Lucille - Apparently Boris has suggested building a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland. I be happy if we can build a bridge less than a couple of hundred metres across the Thames.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bridge-northern-ireland-scotland-boris-johnson-tunnel-irish-sea-a9379706.html

Ed Robinson ● 1900d

It hasn't Lucille, that was Boris. I'm afraid I got pre occupied as my son contacted me from Sweden to tell me I had been hacked on fbook. I've been trying to contact my friends to tell them don't accept a friend request as it isn't me. Some have been asked Investment questions, Lucky they new it wasn't me and wasted their time winding them up.

Barbara Stevens ● 1900d

What has a bridge to Ireland got to do with the Mayor of London, Barbara?

Lucille Grant ● 1900d

Barbara I fear that will not be enough.If passenger numbers are drastically down this year due to:   Covid restrictions on work and entertainment  Increased Remote working  Fall in London's Population  International students learning remotely  International tourism non existent  More people cycling/walkingIf the government are still playing hard ball then a complete rethink will be needed.What do we keep and what do we get rid of?Unless there is someone brilliant waiting that is not on the current list - I do not see how changing Mayor would help.

Ed Robinson ● 1901d

Yesterday in the evening standard page 11. Mayor plans £5.50 charge for drivers to enter capital.  Canary Wharf may join Zone 1 in bid to solve Tfl cash crisis. Khan's border with the Home Counties - his Checkpoint Chigwell is not the answer Paul Scully, London Minister.

Barbara Stevens ● 1901d

Count Binface seems to have some interesting policies:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Binface

Ed Robinson ● 1901d

What about another bridge to Ireland.

Barbara Stevens ● 1901d

And BJ's water cannons, disposing of the bendy buses (thank goodness as they were dangerous), reintroducing the routemaster, the garden bridge, but to name a few.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1901d

I haven't had time to look at the accounts in detail. The IanVisits website seems to have attempted that. Looks like Johnson racked up nearly £7bn in debt during his tenure, and it does seem to have continued with c£2½bn under Khan, but it seems that most has been CapEx expenditure rather than operating losses (excepting last year). I'm sure Johnson thought Cross rail was a good investment when he kicked it off? https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2020/10/08/the-arguments-over-tfl-debt-numbers/

Michael Ixer ● 1901d

Sue - the funding model was agreed by Johnson in 2015 while he was Mayor. The deficit looks like it was heading in the right direction. Also the fare model that Khan followed has withstood the test of time unlike those who now seem to have abandon austerity. It is strange that we do not hear from any of those that were austerity advocates.My view is that he has done a few things - fares being one and finally got the bus fleet to Euro VI. Sadly not as much as I would like but far more than the previous mayor IMO. The reality is that all mayors since Ken are largely on autopilot with the odd tweak but nothing very imaginative (in a positive way) in terms of Transport. TfL’s deficit, measured on a like-for-like basis, has fallen from £1.479bn in 2015/16 to £422m in 2018/19, and a forecast £307m in 2019/20.https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/63064/tfl-grapples-with-short-and-long-term-financial-challenges

Ed Robinson ● 1901d

Lack of fares revenue has only been an issue since the lockdowns began.  What's the excuse for the rest of the time he's been Mayor?

Sue Hammond ● 1901d

Sue you can't have a fares based funding model if you cant collect the fares, it is that simple.

Ed Robinson ● 1901d

So who is responsible for the shortfall if not Khan? Oh I know, it's the Govt's fault!  Khan's go-to answer to any criticism. 🙄

Sue Hammond ● 1901d

Sue the budget shortfall was in the billions even if all those posts disappeared it would only make a tiny dent in the budget.I'm not commenting on the salaries it depends on the position and responsibilities etc. But a quick google seem to suggest that some of those listed are not salaries but severance payments. If so the article should make that clear.https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/local-transport-today/news/61356/crossrail-s-talent-chief-quit-with-480k/

Ed Robinson ● 1901d

You seem to be under this idea that the only way to not pay to drive in the ULEZ is to have a brand new car, which is totally incorrect.I do agree with your point on the diesel stuff though so that's something!

Matt Palmer ● 1901d

TFL finances would be helped enormously if Khan stopped inflating the salaries budget.  Copied below is an extract from the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) 9th June 2020:Over 500 TfL staff earned more than £100,000 despite £1.6bn taxpayer bailout - TaxPayers' Alliance"Transport for London (TfL) had by far the highest number of staff receiving over £100,000, with 518. Of these, 114 received more than £150,000 last year. The highest remunerated employee, TfL boss Michael Brown, received £508,301 in total remuneration, including taking home the biggest bonus of £133,586. The largest expense claim was by the managing director of London Underground who received £16,385, including reimbursement of travel expenses.Last month Transport For London received a £1.6bn bailout from taxpayers, saying emergency funding was required to prevent the public body going bust. Since 2015-16, TfL, the GLA and the Mayor's Office have seen substantial increases in the number of staff receiving over £100,000, while there has been a reduction at the London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police.Meanwhile, the band D council tax precept set by the mayor has increased by just under nine per cent in 2019-20. London taxpayers have gone from paying £295 in 2015-16 to £332 in 2020-21."https://www.taxpayersalliance.com/over_500_tfl_staff_earned_more_than_100_000_despite_1_6bn_taxpayer_bailout

Sue Hammond ● 1901d

People can afford cars that meet ULEZ without being company car. We have 6 series GC for example which is 2015 petrol!

Gabrielle OMahony ● 1901d

According to some reports alot of people have moved out of London already. TFL budgets I think assume a 80% return to pre covid levels. If the population drops so will passenger levels and that is without factoring in new home working patterns.The TFL funding formula was agreed by Johnson who is now PM so not very much TFL can do about that.The extension of the ULEZ has two possibly conflicting purposes. If set too high it will become uneconomical to keep old vechiles and TFL will not collect the expected revenues. Set too low and pollution will not be addressed.Who ever is Mayor, TFL funding will have to look beyond their published plans IMO.

Ed Robinson ● 1901d

Barbara, perhaps check your facts first. I was born and have lived in London most of my life, so the ULEZ won't be going very far 🙂 

Michael Ixer ● 1901d

Michael, people moved near London to get larger wage packets. Property in Putney is expensive, but then you all wanted to move here, it's a bit like moving next to a Pub and then moaning about the noise. Years ago the air quality was probably at lot worse with coal fires etc. But this is also to do with large lorries and traffic jams and having to go 20mph if you can even go as fast as that. A lot who are moaning about this area didn't even come from here, but are telling us to move. So take your ULEZ to where you came from and upset everybody.

Barbara Stevens ● 1901d

Perhaps there are people who own businesses and commute to London but live outside it so don't get to vote, whereas those of us who live and suffer from the pollution in London get to vote for someone who will tackle the problem?

Michael Ixer ● 1901d

What vehicle do you have Matt, what does Philippa Bond have. I can't imagine you having a brand new vehicle unless it's a company car. In another 10yrs are they going to tell you to get rid of your electric vehicle, they have already done this a few years ago, telling people to get diesel. Got to be a 3rd time. So what will they have planned then Matt.

Barbara Stevens ● 1901d

ULEZ, is a wide radius outside of central London and will affect millions of people with improved air quality.I finished your sentence for you Barbara, you missed a bit off!

Matt Palmer ● 1901d

Which ever way you look at it none of them are any good once they get in the door. Perhaps Shaun will hand all the homeless £5000. But I think they would need a lot more than that to put down on property and with furniture as well and bills. Trouble is the price of property has got so high years ago £5000 you could buy a flat. ULEZ, is a wide radius outside of central London and will affect millions of people.

Barbara Stevens ● 1901d

Khan will win largely due to the awful set of candidates opposing him. Bailey is very poor.

Andy Pike ● 1901d

I've seen Shaun Bailey in action.  He is a weak candidate and is not generating much enthusiasm even in the Tory ranks.I understand the UKIP candidate is a Mr Gammons.  He left the Brexit Party in disgust - it was too moderate apparently.And Piers Corbyn is standing as an independent, just so all you conspiracy enthusiasts are aware.Khan leads Bailey by 49% to 28% in the latest polls.

Jonathan Callaway ● 1901d

The same Shaun Bailey who believes homeless people can save up £5k for a deposit? I don't think so.

Lucille Grant ● 1901d