Time to get rid of Ken

The latest controversy to hit the Mayor of London is his plan to increase the congestion charge to £25 for gas-guzzlers. I have no particular sympathy for people who drive big cars in London, for the most part it's not needed when the public transport can adequately (not always on time and with comfort) transfer you to your destination, but this is a tax that is going too far.

Cuddly Ken has been mired recently in a series of controversies regarding his relationship with some of his staff and the financial dealings of the London Development Agency (LDA). He accepts that he uses the public purse to launch attacks on his opponents and accepts that public money is channeled through the LDA to some organizations which have nothing to show for it. To most people this would be the trigger for resignation, but not Ken. He wears it as a badge of pride. For some reason the public seem to let him off with it too.

When Mr Livingstone launched the congestion charge in 2003, only 5 years ago, the price was £5 to drive into central London. The majority of the profits were due to go into public transport. Ken announced that there were no plans to increase the charge, but soon increased it to £6. A proposed extension of the charge zone into West London was put out to consultation, but when the results indicated that the majority did not want the extension Ken trampled all over the exercise and imposed it anyway.

A second increase in the fare to £8 has since occurred, with the prospect of £10 not far away. And now £25 for bigger cars, for anyone short on Maths that's £125 in a week and £500 per month. It's nearly extortion! The original proposal was to reduce congestion, but recent evidence shows that congestion is now back to pre-charge levels. The scheme's profits have been minimal, the money has mainly gone into the administration of the scheme. Improvements to public transport have been marginal.

This is what happens when the public allow Socialists to get their hand on a new tax. It may seem reasonable at first but soon becomes an albatross around the public's neck. Give an inch and they'll take a mile. It is now time to set Ken free.

Squiffy.