[Politics] Count Binface's manifesto for the 2024 London Mayoral election.

[Simster]

In all seriousness I don’t understand the London election, Khan has apparently brought London to its knees, yet he’s 30% ahead in the polls


Binface aside, are the alternatives that bad?

That's because he's done nothing of the sort.

The Tories and right wing cheer leaders (Reform etc) have spent 2 years telling anyone who'll listen that London knife crime has rocketed on his watch. The reality is that it has indeed risen - but actually at a slower rate than the the rest of the country over the past 14 years during which the Tories decimated police numbers.

To anyone sane, Khan really isn't the problem is he?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Exactly. Currently it's only the poorest that are penalised as they cant afford new cars, and then when those cars are gone the system will need a new way to cover the cost of the massive investment and its all ready been stated the tech can manage pay per mile . It doesn't affect me at all at the moment I drive an electric car, but I see the misery it is causing some of the parents at our childrens school that struggle to make ends meet and now CPZs are being introduced to roads that have no parking problems.

It’s just been explained to you that they could lease a complaint one for less than the ULEZ charge and sell the existing one online.

 

[chickens]

Do you live in London? It's not as bad as often presented but it's definitely not fine. The support systems that used to help the working classes have pretty much gone (leading to significant risk of people turning to crime), property and rent is completely unaffordable to the cities youth, and councils are trying to raise funds through any charges they can dream up such as described above to try and stave off bankruptcy. Khan is going to win by default as he's probably the only candidate that anyone really knows. There has been almost no campaigning by the Libs, and no one wants to vote for a tory.

I don’t, but most of what’s left of my friend circle do. Property has been completely unaffordable in London for about three or four decades, so that can’t be laid at Khan’s door. When Right to Buy was implemented with a nasty little clause that prevented reinvesting the funds in new social housing, we sowed the seeds of this crisis.

Similarly, the settlement given to local authorities is set by central government (Conservative) so again, this can’t be blamed on Sadiq Khan. We haven’t stopped paying income tax or VAT, but under Osborne and subsequent chancellors we haven’t seen the real world settlement figures keep up with inflation/increased demand. That leaves local authorities scrabbling to raise revenue, but the fix for this comes from central government, not the mayor’s office.

This also explains the closure of many youth and other services, the continuing cost of austerity as practiced by the Conservative Party, which is “plenty for our mates, the general public must tighten their belts.”

I’m surprised Khan’s predicted share of the vote isn’t higher tbh. There isn’t a single issue you’ve mentioned there that doesn’t have this Conservative government at the root of it. I’m far from a Labour fanboy, but what we’ve had in Westminster for the past ten years is rotten to the core.

 

[Dibdab]

It’s just been explained to you that they could lease a complaint one for less than the ULEZ charge and sell the existing one online.

People in poverty running an old car don't tend to lease cars.... and their old car usually wouldn't cover the cost of a new compliant one....

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Do you live in London? It's not as bad as often presented but it's definitely not fine. The support systems that used to help the working classes have pretty much gone (leading to significant risk of people turning to crime), property and rent is completely unaffordable to the cities youth, and councils are trying to raise funds through any charges they can dream up such as described above to try and stave off bankruptcy. Khan is going to win by default as he's probably the only candidate that anyone really knows. There has been almost no campaigning by the Libs, and no one wants to vote for a tory.

Same in Faversham. Same everywhere I suspect. This is due to HMG cutting funding across the piece over the last 14 years. It has been a deliberate agenda, with austerity the smokescreen gleefully seized to enabling the Great Rebalancing (aka money out of the hands of the workers and into the hands of the wealthy).

My health has deteriorated in the last 5 years. At one time, 15 years ago, I could get a next day appointment, and have things like my diabetes indicators, blood lipids etc checked every other year. Now it is such a faff to get an appointment I have actually let slip some of the 'maintenance' issues I used to deal with. A GP actually told me off when I rocked up with two issues (this was before covid), and was told I should have made a double appointment. Really cross she was. When did that come in?

It will take at least two parliaments to sort out this and all the other mess created by successive chaotic and venal tory governments.

 

[chickens]

People in poverty running an old car don't tend to lease cars.... and their old car usually wouldn't cover the cost of a new compliant one....

ULEZ compliant cars are on Autotrader from £500 up. Anyone who’s running a non-compliant car can afford to P/X.

 

[Guinness Boy]

People in poverty running an old car don't tend to lease cars.... and their old car usually wouldn't cover the cost of a new compliant one....

If you’ve got a car you’re not in poverty

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Exactly. Currently it's only the poorest that are penalised as they cant afford new cars, and then when those cars are gone the system will need a new way to cover the cost of the massive investment and its all ready been stated the tech can manage pay per mile . It doesn't affect me at all at the moment I drive an electric car, but I see the misery it is causing some of the parents at our childrens school that struggle to make ends meet and now CPZs are being introduced to roads that have no parking problems.

Who on earth wants to drive a car in London when you have numerous rail services, overground and underground trains, and multiple bus routes (with free transport for disabled and elderly)?

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Who on earth wants to drive a car in London when you have numerous rail services, overground and underground trains, and multiple bus routes (with free transport for disabled and elderly)?

This

A car is less of a necessity in London, than anywhere else in the country.
As a non-driving Londoner - I don't even consider the cost for my travel needs.

 

[clapham_gull]

In all seriousness I don’t understand the London election, Khan has apparently brought London to its knees, yet he’s 30% ahead in the polls


Binface aside, are the alternatives that bad?

Mostly on Twitter from people who have no connection with London and don't like the colour of Khan's skin.

The myth is also fueled by other parties who want to scare people off a Labour run country.

It isn't working.

If you want to understand the London election, just understand that if you piss the electorate off and slag off their home city - they won't vote for you.

London is also such a complex place with it's own different "regions" and authorities. It's a country within a country, but it isn't a devolved nation.

Most people are intelligent enough to realise than man at the top is only really responsible for so much.

And yes, the alternatives really are that bad. Easily the worst opposition any sitting Mayor has faced.

 

[clapham_gull]

It's not as bad as often presented but it's definitely not fine. The support systems that used to help the working classes have pretty much gone (leading to significant risk of people turning to crime), property and rent is completely unaffordable to the cities youth, and councils are trying to raise funds through any charges they can dream up such as described above to try and stave off bankruptcy.

That's the country mate, not just London.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

That's the country mate, not just London.

Yep, youth services disappeared along with youth clubs, playing fields sold off, and Sure Start was cancelled all in the name of 'austerity'.

 

[clapham_gull]

London is the slowest city in the world to cross by car due to congestion, something has to give.

The minority of people still wanting to drive their car would be better off getting together and asking for better bus routes...

( but they probably have them already)

 

[Bodian]

It’s less a wishy-washy promise, more a wishy-dryie one.

Just hot air really!

Like most politicians' statements and promises.

 

[GT49er]

If the tiny number of people with cars that don’t meet ULEZ standards got one that did then Khan wouldn’t make a penny AND the London air would be the cleanest it’s been for decades.

For 12.50 a day they could probably lease one.

Yes, the work-shy sods could easily afford £4500 a year. All those people bleating about the oppressed poor can just sod off and stop moaning, eh?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Yes, the work-shy sods could easily afford £4500 a year. All those people bleating about the oppressed poor can just sod off and stop moaning, eh?

Well, yes, they obviously could.

If you have a car in London you've either already paid for it lump sum or you are paying car loan or lease. Insurance is incredibly expensive and you will have to fuel, MOT and tax it. People in poverty in London don't have cars.

And where do you get £4,500 from?

 

[Stat Brother]

I'm not entirely sure this thread is still in keeping with The Count's manifesto.

 

[AstroSloth]

Exactly. Currently it's only the poorest that are penalised as they cant afford new cars, and then when those cars are gone the system will need a new way to cover the cost of the massive investment and its all ready been stated the tech can manage pay per mile . It doesn't affect me at all at the moment I drive an electric car, but I see the misery it is causing some of the parents at our childrens school that struggle to make ends meet and now CPZs are being introduced to roads that have no parking problems.

I got my first car two years ago, a 2012 Peugeot 207 for less than £2,000 and it's ULEZ compliant. You can get ULEZ compliant cars even cheaper than that too, especially considering cars are extremely expensive where I live vs other parts of the country.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I'm not entirely sure this thread is still in keeping with The Count's manifesto.

21 years on Nsc and you wonder why a thread about one candidate's manifesto has broadened out into other candidates' abilities?

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

London is fine,

It it?

Is it really?