Sadiq Khan made one eye-catching election pledge in the race for London mayor — he vowed to end the Tube-strike misery that so often blights the capital.
Damning as a ‘disgrace’ the record of his predecessor (one Boris Johnson), Khan said of action by hard-Left unions: ‘Every day there’s a strike, it causes misery and inconvenience.’
Well, he broke this pledge less than a year into office, when London’s transport network was thrown into chaos by a 24-hour walkout by RMT and TSSA union members in January 2017.
During Khan’s first tenure as mayor, transport strikes hit an average of 5.3 days a year. Boris had 4.4 strikes.
The situation has gotten worse since. During Khan’s first tenure as mayor, transport strikes hit an average of 5.3 days a year. Boris had 4.4 strikes.
Only last week, the RMT withdrew labour again, cynically timing the walkout to hit ‘Black Friday’ sales on the High Street: one of the biggest days in the retail calendar, especially for flagship stores in the West End.
At the weekend there was another strike and many more were planned until Christmas.
Khan will preside over the next strike in five years, more than Boris experienced during his eight years of mayoralty.
Khan, who is rarely seen on either bus or Tube, uses a chauffeur-driven Range Rover, said in his mayoral campaign: ‘Strikes are ultimately a sign of failure.’
At least, he did it correctly.
Joanna Lumley isn’t getting too excited ahead of the New Year Honours list. ‘I don’t deserve a Damehood!’ she modestly insists. ‘I’ve got an Obi-Wan Kenobi (OBE). That’s good enough.’
Perhaps her touching portrait of Elizabeth II in A Queen For All Seasons (a book she wrote) will win favor with the monarch.
Lumley says she sent an advance copy to the Queen — whose assistant private secretary ‘said very nicely he would “place it before Her Majesty,” ’ she says. ‘I like that wording.
‘I don’t imagine she need open the cover.’ I agree: it’s absolutely fabulous.
Boris, the Tory foe, is a Remainer
It’s been a rough few weeks for Boris Johnson — but even one of his greatest foes on the Tory side thinks he will survive.
David Gauke, a Remainer ex-minister who Boris kicked out of the party in 2019, writes: ‘When he is going through a rocky spell . . . It is clear that the end of his life is imminent. On this point, I am not so sure.’
Gauke (pictured) says ‘fledgling leadership campaigns are being formed’, but adds: ‘The chances of Johnson falling this side of a general election look slim.’
Gauke (pictured) says ‘fledgling leadership campaigns are being formed’, but adds: ‘The chances of Johnson falling this side of a general election look slim.’
PS: Boris’s former leadership rival Jeremy Hunt also had fond words for the PM after his Peppa Pig speech to the CBI fell embarrassingly flat.
During a radio interview, Hunt admitted: ‘You are talking to someone who as Foreign Secretary called his Chinese wife Japanese.’
Wishful thinking from Labour’s Kevin Brennan who has recorded what is thought to be the first album by a serving MP.
Last week, he asked Culture Secretary Nadine Dories to invite Tom Gray, who is a songwriter eager to discuss royalties for streaming music.
Tom Gray is the same Tom Gray, who also praised Edward Colston statue-toppers from Bristol.
Bizarrely, Gray opined, ‘As acts of political vandalism go, it’s better than having voted for Brexit.’ Brexiteer Dorries, no friend of statue topplers, has no plan to meet.
And Brennan’s album, The Clown & The Cigarette Girl? In any format, I believe royalties will not be high.
Labour deputy Angela Rayner is on her high horse after hearing Test and Trace firm Deloitte has won a £900,000 contract to prepare strategy for the Covid inquiry, and has complained.
Deloitte doesn’t seem to be a problem with her coworkers. Shadow justice minister David Lammy was paid £4,100 for speaking at two of its events.
Labour deputy Angela Rayner is on her high horse after hearing Test and Trace firm Deloitte has won a £900,000 contract to prepare strategy for the Covid inquiry
Eric Zemmour’s presidential rivals in France may be dispirited the married 63-year-old and his PA, 28, are expecting a child.
His history is his friend. Tory Benjamin Disraeli refused to use the illicit love life of Liberal Lord Palmerston, 70, saying: ‘If he could provide evidence of his potency in his electoral address, he’d sweep the country.’