Boris in race to boost London’s growth by 2020
BORIS Johnson yesterday issued a rallying cry to his staff, demanding they do everything possible “to create jobs and growth” in the capital, in a speech seen exclusively by City A.M.
Addressing employees of the Greater London Authority (GLA) at City Hall, the mayor asked them to produce a “2020 vision” for London that will encompass “everything from spatial and transport developments, river crossings to air quality, cycling, health outcomes” and will be implemented over the next six years.
“The need is urgent because the population is growing and we can so easily slip behind – we must not repeat the mistakes of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. One thing that the Crossrail argument has taught me is that if we can build a consensus around the future then we are much more likely to make it happen,” he said.
Johnson also pledged to be “much more pro-active about statistics” and to open a room in City Hall where “members of the public can see what is happening on gun crime or affordable home starts or educational outcomes or air quality and we can use that clarity to drive performance”.
He said the masterplan, which does not yet have a defined format, could appear by the end of this year: “I see no reason why the GLA’s 2020 vision for London should not be ready well before Christmas. We know what it is [but] we need to articulate it and sell it to the treasury and to the rest of the country.”
Yesterday Johnson also revealed that he has offered Ken Livingstone, his defeated opponent in last week’s election, tickets to this summer’s Olympic games.