Who to believe Ken Livingstone or Ken Livingstone?

Last week I read in The Standard one of the most incredible headlines that I have ever read 'Ken vows to freeze C-charge in a car-friendly transport manifesto'. The story explained that:

'Ken Livingstone today promised to freeze the congestion charge at £10 for the next four years if he wins the race for City Hall.

 Labour's mayoral candidate ruled out reinstating the zone's western extension which was scrapped by Boris Johnson.

And he rejected a £25 gas guzzler charge - a key pledge at the the last election - saying it would be too expensive'

Hmm those are some interesting promises for the usually anti-private motoring Ken Livingstone.

So should I believe the above promises made by Ken Livingstone in full cuddly vote-garnering mode or look at his history and previous statements?

Remember it was Ken Livingstone that introduced the congestion zone in the first place, before that Londoners could actually drive into the centre of their city without having to pay for the privilege; imagine that. Ken also introduced the western extension to the congestion zone during his second term despite massive opposition to it. It was Boris Johnson who kept his election pledge when he scrapped the western extension, with none of the dire consequences that Ken and others predicted.

As to the £25 charge for family sized 'gas guzzlers', Ken Livingstone introduced this policy in 2007 when mayor, here is the TFL proposal leaflet. Please remember that this wasn't just an idea Ken Livingstone was just considering, he had even decided on the date it was to be introduced - 27th October 2008. Thankfully Boris Johnson was elected mayor and scrapped the policy immediately. On 6th April last year Ken Livingstone was asked about this £25 charge and replied "Oh yes the £25 charge for gas guzzlers we’ll be straight back for that’, he also told the Guardian "It's definitely an idea we will revisit."

So who to believe: Ken Livingstone or Ken Livingstone? Well I tend to discount anything Ken Livingstone promises those, other than his core constituency, during an election campaign when he is just looking for votes and instead believe what he says when in his normal mode. So I believe Ken Livingstone wants to extend the congestion zone to the west again and to introduce a £25 charge for 'gas guzzlers' and these are jut two more reasons not to vote for Ken Livingstone.

A Ken Livingstone double

'Ed Miliband. "It's a breakthrough," he says. "For the first time since Michael Foot, we've got a leader of the Labour Party who likes me."'

From The Telegraph

'Pity those on Ken Livingstone's campaign trying to get across his campaign message on the Congestion Charge Extension. Only in December he denounced Boris for lifting it. Now Livingstone says he would not bring it back in.'

From Conservative Home

Bye bye western extension of the London congestion charge area?

The public consultation into plans to scrap the western extension of the congestion charge area end today, you have until the end of the day to give your views on London Boris Johnson's proposal to remove the unwanted and unloved western extension to the congestion zone.

Boris wants to scrap the charging area, which was introduced by nasty Ken Livingstone in February 2007, by this Christmas.

We will wait and see...

Mixed news on London Congestion Zone charging

The Western extension is finally going to be scrapped at the end of 2010. However the charge is going to rise from £8 to £10 (a 25% increase), however there will be an auto-pay system that will 'only' cost £9 per day but have a £10 registration charge. Swings and roundabouts I suppose, the benefit of never missing a payment is a definite plus but even that is at a cost 12.5% higher than the current cost. Don't forget that the Congestion Charge will have doubled in seven years by the time of this increase; somewhat above the official rate of inflation.

Is the BBC a news or a campaigning organisation?

The way the BBC have covered the Manchester "NO" vote on the Congestion Charge vote is a total disgrace. First they pushed the line that the vote was close right up until the vote, 50:50 was the line. Then the radio news report I heard the evening the result was declared concentrated almost completely on the views of the unsuccessful "NO" campaign and not a word with the winning side. Today I find the BBC page devoted to the Manchester Congestion Charge result and apart from reporting the result the "report" seems happiest concentrating on pointing out what the "NO" vote has cost Manchester:

"Greater Manchester votes NO! - The people of Greater Manchester have delivered a resounding ‘NO!’ to plans to introduce a congestion charge alongside £2.7 billion of investment in public transport . Find out what the region has rejected:

On the table was £1.5bn of government investment in public transport with the opportunity to borrow £1.2bn to be paid back through a weekday-only, peak time only congestion charging scheme.

This is what Greater Manchester has rejected along with the congestion charge:
Buses:

- An increase in bus services in Greater Manchester;
- Extra journeys at peak times into town centres;
- Earlier and later services;
- More weekend services;
- Additional circular routes to connect areas outside the city centre;
- Rapid Transit bus services to connect Leigh-Salford-Manchester; Bolton-Farnworth-Manchester; and Didsbury-Manchester
- New bus stations at Altrincham, Bolton and next to Salford Central with links to the city centre and Stockport;
- A new coach station next to Piccadilly Station.
Metrolink tram in Manchester


Metrolink:

- Expansion of the network with 41 new stops and 20 miles of additional track;
- 62 new trams;
- More seats on existing trams;
- Tram lines to East Didsbury, Manchester Airport, Oldham and Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne, the Trafford Centre and a second city centre crossing;
- Smartcard ticketing machines to allow payment by credit/debit cards;
- An additional 1,400 park and ride spaces at Metrolink stops.


Rail services:

- More rail carriages with capacity for 3,000 extra passengers in the morning peak;
- Improvements at 31 minor stations;
- A new station at White City in Trafford
- Improved stations at Altrincham, Bolton, Hattersley, Rochdale, Salford Central, and Manchester city centre;
- Two new platforms at Lostock station;
- An additional 2,000 park and ride spaces at rail stations.


Yellow school buses:

- 180 new yellow school buses;
- Improved safety and security, with CCTV on the school buses.


Cycling:

- 125 miles of cycle routes;
- 2,500 extra cycle parking spaces at rail, bus and Metrolink stations;
- A bike hire scheme in Manchester and Stockport.


Other passenger improvements:

- Improved connections allowing people to change more easily between buses, trams and trains;
- More security staff on the tram network;
- Help with journey planning to make public transport easier to use;
- Electronic real-time display boards at tram, train and bus stops;
- CCTV, help points and better lighting at stops and stations;
- Improved Metroshuttle waiting facilities at Piccadilly;
- Improved links between Wigan Wallgate and Wigan North.


Park and ride:

- Metrolink park and ride sites at Ashton Moss, Ashton West, Sale Water Park, Shaw and Crompton and close to the Trafford Centre;
- Park and ride extended at Atherton, Stalybridge and Rochdale, Mills Hill, Horwich Parkway, Heald Green, Cheadle Hulme, Hazel Grove, Romiley and Birchwood;
- New park and ride sites serving the Leigh-Salford-Manchester Rapid Transit bus service at Leigh, Tyldesley Interchange, Tyldesley (Hough Lane), and the M61/ A580"

The BBC just don't understand views that differ from their own and they certainly don't respect referenda that give the "wrong result".

Congestion charge - Manchester style

I see that the proposed Manchester congestion charge would only apply in the rush hour. So people actually daring to go to work to earn money and so pay Income Tax and National Insurance will be faced with an additional daily work tax, whilst the shopping classes will be exempt.

Of course this congestion charge in Manchester shows that this Labour government is no more in listening mode, if it ever was - remember the largest ever petition on the Number 10 website? That petition was against road pricing...

Compare and contrast

The government might charge immigrants an extra £20 each to enter the UK, meanwhile Londoners will be charged £25 to enter London if they drive a mid range car. Odd isn't it?