Good ol' Tone in london
Discussion
Just been talking to one of our London drivers.
He said that as he was driving through Westminster, there was Tony being escorted in his limo by 4 police bikes. Whenever they got to traffic lights (no matter what colour they were) the bikes stopped and held up traffic to let the limo through.
This has caused massive congestion so far and it will probably echo throughout the day.
I thought he was trying to make traffic better through London. How can he say that when he himself is making it worse!!!!!
He said that as he was driving through Westminster, there was Tony being escorted in his limo by 4 police bikes. Whenever they got to traffic lights (no matter what colour they were) the bikes stopped and held up traffic to let the limo through.
This has caused massive congestion so far and it will probably echo throughout the day.
I thought he was trying to make traffic better through London. How can he say that when he himself is making it worse!!!!!
Well good. I don't want the bloke I voted into power getting assasinated by an al Quaeda attack. I hardly think it would be sensible to have him sitting in traffic jams around whitehall, where any would be attacker can take a pop at him.
Sheesh, the things peopls find to whine about. He's the leader of one of the world's most powerful (and hence despised) powers. It's fully approprate that he's driven round in that fashion.
Sheesh, the things peopls find to whine about. He's the leader of one of the world's most powerful (and hence despised) powers. It's fully approprate that he's driven round in that fashion.
spnracing said: More of your opinion.
Not shared by the voting masses it seems.
I'm with Northernboy (I'm from Gateshead myself).
People would moan if he wasted his time sat in traffic jams too. He just can't win.
Yeah 76% of the country couldnt be arsed voting for the obnoxious empire building nouveau rich little twat.
He's real leader
Matt.
Northernboy - hang on there, buddy - this is PistonHeads.Com - not www.transport2000.com - you can hardly expect - thank God - for this to be a cauldron of people of the opinion you have just expressed.
I've personally got no problem whatsoever with the system that worked to Labour's benefit, just as it did for the Tories in '79 and '83. Oh, and '87 and '92 too.
My view is that large numbers of the populace, not as analytical or principled as yourself, rather mindlessly voted for Labour because they (and the media) simply fancied a change. Good God, I know quite a few blue rinsers who even did the deed in '97 on this basis.
It's utterly naiive to think that vast swathes of punters suddenly had a road to Damascus type conversion based on a serious appraisal of all the socio-economic factors. Many simply fancied a change and it is really that simple. Media say Tories bunch of bad eggs: Tony nice man with caring nature - why not?
Tone's a much better bet than any previous Labour leader I could have imagined, granted but his brinkmanship barely conceals the salivating jaws of an army of traduitional pro-union grass roots activists who through nought else but sheer pragmatism are keeping mum.
And whilst some may take the 'thank God the Tories have gone/ they're history' view (fair enough; I recall dancing on Labour's grave during the Foot/Kinnock era), the wheel will inevitably come full circle over the next few years.
Labour look good for another term because of Tory division but sooner or later the blues will regroup with something a little more inspirational than a quite unconvincing attempt at befriending that which cannot/will not be convinced (the media) and a package of policies that will appeal to the ranks of dissaffected, soundbite weary taxpayers, rather than the lukewarm oxo of mass compromise and betrayal in Europe.
I know comments are fired back to you and SPN about the validity of Labour's mandate but don't misinterpret where most complainants on this forum are coming from; I doubt many are frankly too bothered about the mechanics of the current electoral process; it's just the diametric reverse of what you may have done since the early 1980s.
>> Edited by Derestrictor on Tuesday 12th November 17:40
I've personally got no problem whatsoever with the system that worked to Labour's benefit, just as it did for the Tories in '79 and '83. Oh, and '87 and '92 too.
My view is that large numbers of the populace, not as analytical or principled as yourself, rather mindlessly voted for Labour because they (and the media) simply fancied a change. Good God, I know quite a few blue rinsers who even did the deed in '97 on this basis.
It's utterly naiive to think that vast swathes of punters suddenly had a road to Damascus type conversion based on a serious appraisal of all the socio-economic factors. Many simply fancied a change and it is really that simple. Media say Tories bunch of bad eggs: Tony nice man with caring nature - why not?
Tone's a much better bet than any previous Labour leader I could have imagined, granted but his brinkmanship barely conceals the salivating jaws of an army of traduitional pro-union grass roots activists who through nought else but sheer pragmatism are keeping mum.
And whilst some may take the 'thank God the Tories have gone/ they're history' view (fair enough; I recall dancing on Labour's grave during the Foot/Kinnock era), the wheel will inevitably come full circle over the next few years.
Labour look good for another term because of Tory division but sooner or later the blues will regroup with something a little more inspirational than a quite unconvincing attempt at befriending that which cannot/will not be convinced (the media) and a package of policies that will appeal to the ranks of dissaffected, soundbite weary taxpayers, rather than the lukewarm oxo of mass compromise and betrayal in Europe.
I know comments are fired back to you and SPN about the validity of Labour's mandate but don't misinterpret where most complainants on this forum are coming from; I doubt many are frankly too bothered about the mechanics of the current electoral process; it's just the diametric reverse of what you may have done since the early 1980s.
>> Edited by Derestrictor on Tuesday 12th November 17:40
fatbob
wrong - ken uses the tube - I have seen him do so mysel - without bodyguards ...
a pleasant chap in himself - but not the right mayor for london. (by some distance)
You shouldn't resort to name calling by the way - politics is a difficult business - decisions won't suit everyone
argue on the politics by all means - but keep the personalities out of it where possible
wrong - ken uses the tube - I have seen him do so mysel - without bodyguards ...
a pleasant chap in himself - but not the right mayor for london. (by some distance)
You shouldn't resort to name calling by the way - politics is a difficult business - decisions won't suit everyone
argue on the politics by all means - but keep the personalities out of it where possible
Gargamel said: fatbob
wrong - ken uses the tube - I have seen him do so mysel - without bodyguards ...
a pleasant chap in himself - but not the right mayor for london. (by some distance)
Fair enough.
You shouldn't resort to name calling by the way
The price of power and the cult of personality.
politics is a difficult business - decisions won't suit everyone
Didn't Hitler/Stalin/Thatcher say something along those lines?
argue on the politics by all means - but keep the personalities out of it where possible
I will if they will. They won't.
I'm not sure that whether Ken (lovely man) can actually drive is relevant. Public transport is getting worse 
and the strain that congestion charging will put on it will be very damaging.
I feel sorry for the poor sods who live on the cusp of the new charging zone. The only way they will survive is through very tight control of the parking restrictions around the newly created rat-runs. Another nail in the coffin of small businesses and a good excuse for business to pull out of London, as if it needed one.
and the strain that congestion charging will put on it will be very damaging. I feel sorry for the poor sods who live on the cusp of the new charging zone. The only way they will survive is through very tight control of the parking restrictions around the newly created rat-runs. Another nail in the coffin of small businesses and a good excuse for business to pull out of London, as if it needed one.
Well if this measure makes businesses pull out of London, then good!
There are far too many businesses here that could quite happily be located in another city, or even in the countryside. My bank is a good example. If more firms located elsewhere, we might get some prosperity spreading to the regions, less congested roads, and overall, a generally happier country all round.
London is beyond critical size. I am unfortunate in that since moving jobs, I have to drive to get to work on time (work 0645 to 19:30), and the traffic is truly horrendous. I don't mind if we remove my job form London, or lots of other people's. Either route is fine.
I don't like the fact hat it's being done in this way (hitting the poor hardest, leaving folks like me still able to drive), but I DO like the thought that, we might se some firms deciding to do the sensible thing and get out.
Actually, I'd prefer it to be me that goes.
There are far too many businesses here that could quite happily be located in another city, or even in the countryside. My bank is a good example. If more firms located elsewhere, we might get some prosperity spreading to the regions, less congested roads, and overall, a generally happier country all round.
London is beyond critical size. I am unfortunate in that since moving jobs, I have to drive to get to work on time (work 0645 to 19:30), and the traffic is truly horrendous. I don't mind if we remove my job form London, or lots of other people's. Either route is fine.
I don't like the fact hat it's being done in this way (hitting the poor hardest, leaving folks like me still able to drive), but I DO like the thought that, we might se some firms deciding to do the sensible thing and get out.
Actually, I'd prefer it to be me that goes.
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