The last eight years under Boris Johnson as Mayor of London have seen tremendous achievements and benefits for Londoners.
After eight years of “Red Ken” Livingstone which saw Mayoral precept rises (153% over eight years!), invitations to Dictators and intrusions on planning matters year on year, we had a Mayor determined to put things right. Almost immediately he froze his share of the Council tax, got rid of the biased Londoner newspaper which saved £3m a year and retained the Freedom Pass. Other noteworthy achievements include:
· Banning drinking on the tube and increasing Police presence
· Those on JSA or Employment Support getting reduced travel fares
· Extending the Oyster Card to National Rail and ensuring CCTV on all Buses
Councillor Peter Thompson
Hounslow Conservative Leader
· Promoted capital cycling with his infamous “Boris Bikes”
· Promoted St George’s Day in Trafalgar Square
· Led a tremendously successful 2012 Olympics
Londoners can take confidence in Zac Goldsmith preserving these longstanding achievements and ensuring they are further protected under his Mayoralty. Zac’s record speaks for itself. He is not afraid to challenge the status quo. Already, Zac has guaranteed protecting the Freedom Pass, plans on seeing through a 24 hour tube for a 24 hour city and most importantly, continuing to freeze the Mayoral precept.
Do we really want to risk London with Sadiq Khan? The candidate that Feltham and Heston MP Seema Malhotra as well as Brentford and Isleworth Member of Parliament Ruth Cadbury supports? He has already said he would “freeze fares” but Transport for London have identified a £1.9bn black hole as a result and Khan is speechless as to how he would plug the gap.
What would this mean for Hounslow?
To fund his fares freeze, Socialist Sadiq supported by all Hounslow Labour Councillors would have to punish Hounslow with a £175 increase in Mayoral Council Tax, cut Police and Fire Service funding, scrap the Freedom Pass or bring back the western extension of the Congestion Charge. All options severely affecting hardworking families in Hounslow.
He said he would dip into reserves, however reserves are just a one-off. If we are to ensure sustained investment in our transport system and let’s face it, with the capital projected to grow even more in the next decade alone with more houses than ever going to be built, we need the infrastructure for it.
So why vote Zac Goldsmith?
I would simply say three things. He is someone who gets things done and we can see this with his increased 2015 General Election majority. Secondly, he has the ability to unite all Londoners whether they are on the left or right of the political spectrum. As a Conservative, he believes in “Government off our backs” and safer streets whilst retaining PCSOs and Bobbies on the Beat. Yet also, he is one for a clean, green environment. No Heathrow Expansion as well as protecting and cherishing our much loved green spaces by keeping planning as local as possible.
Lastly, I would just say, London is a worldwide city and is the envy of the world. We have done so much for Londoners these last eight and we cannot see it go to waste and be ruined under the Socialist Labour Party. A party which has been bitterly infighting since the election of Jeremy Corbyn and which represent a tiny militant minority. As Conservatives, we will stand up for the workers through building 50,000 homes a year by 2020. We will stand up for the elderly and vulnerable through protecting the Freedom Pass and keeping Mayoral Tax frozen. Above all, we will stand up for Londoners with saying NO to Heathrow Expansion and continuing the legacy of Boris Johnson by providing value for money, always.
(L to R) Zac Goldsmith MP, Conservative Mayoral Candidate with Tony Arbour, Conservative GLA Member for South West London (Hounslow, Kingston and Richmond)
On 5th May Vote Tony Arbour, your Conservative GLA Member for South West London (Hounslow, Kingston and Richmond) and Vote Zac Goldsmith for Mayor of London.