By: James Ford

James Ford is a former adviser to Mayor of London Boris Johnson, specialising in transport, environment and technology policy. He subsequently advised several blue-chip companies in the capital including London City Airport, the Ministry of Sound and the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He has appeared on LBC and writes regularly for Conservative Home.

All 55 Articles

Why are so many London buses crashing?

Opinion

The number of buses crashing in London is up by a fifth in seven years, but City Hall seems unconcerned. James Ford is worried Something is going badly wrong with London’s buses. On average, every day a staggering 44 London buses crash. That is an increase of nearly 20 per cent on 2019 (which is [...]
A tourist tax will be bad for all business, not just hotels

Opinion

Increasing the cost of hotel rooms and Airbnbs is not just a blow to the hospitality sector, it will hammer all businesses, argues James Ford.
The Bayeux Tapestry is British – we should keep it

Opinion

Despite its name, the Bayeux Tapestry is British…and it should therefore be kept permanently in the British Museum, argues James Ford I have a big problem with the Bayeux Tapestry. Firstly, it is not a tapestry, it is an embroidery. Secondly, it was not made in Bayeux. Historians believe it was stitched and sewn in [...]

Londoners can no longer afford the Notting Hill Carnival

August 27, 2026

Around 2m people flock to Notting Hill Carnival each year. But there is no such thing as a free lunch, or free street party, says James Ford.
Which is the smelliest Tube line?

August 20, 2026

Nobody would say the Tube is the freshest part of our transport network. But which line stinks the most? James Ford has the answer.
Is it ever ok to wear shorts to the office?

August 6, 2026

During a long, hot summer in the capital, an age- old debate has reared its head: should men ever wear shorts to the office? James Ford explains why it is never, ever ok. No. It isn’t. Not even in a heatwave. End of. Full stop. At the risk of incurring my editor’s ire, I’m tempted [...]
Andy Burnham should show London he cares by funding this one transport project

July 23, 2026

The ascendancy of the ‘King of the North’ has spooked London. James Ford outlines that this can easily be fixed by greenlighting the West London Orbital Railway London is anxious. The new Prime Minister is not just something of an unknown quantity, but – worse still – he is (whisper it quietly) Northern. Now, we’ve [...]
In praise of Count Binface

July 15, 2026

By standing in the impending by-election in Clacton, Count Binface has more than proved his worth to both comedy and democracy, says James Ford I must confess to having a conflicted attitude to Count Binface. On the one hand, the former political adviser within me (who is, of course, a profound political snob) tends to [...]
No air conditioning on the Tube? Blame Sadiq Khan

July 9, 2026

You could be riding in new, air conditioned trains on the Piccadilly Line and DLR but City Hall has botched their introduction. James Ford is getting hot under the collar... Do you find the tube to be oppressively hot in the summer and unbearable in a heatwave? Ever found yourself sweating on the Central Line? [...]
Why English literature graduates shouldn’t be Prime Minister

June 30, 2026

Andy Burnham is set to be the first ever English Literature graduate to serve as Prime Minister. James Ford is very concerned I have a problem with Andy Burnham. It isn’t his litany of U-turns and policy flip flops. It isn’t that he wears a t-shirt with a suit (a bad look on anyone, but [...]

G7 agrees to release diesel reserves after crisis meeting

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What’s on in October

By: James Ford

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