Comments on: Another Boris deputy jumps ship! http://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/08/19/another-boris-deputy-jumps-ship/ creating a new liberal-left force Sun, 21 Mar 2010 10:19:53 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Adam Bienkov http://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/08/19/another-boris-deputy-jumps-ship/#comment-18915 Adam Bienkov Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:53:11 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=1136#comment-18915 Update now on my blog. Update now on my blog.

]]> By: Tom http://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/08/19/another-boris-deputy-jumps-ship/#comment-18894 Tom Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:02:53 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=1136#comment-18894 The structure of the GLA pretty much means the Mayor is the only elected official whose say actually matters, which is possibly a clue to what's at the heart of this - if Parker ran TfL like a failing business needing turning round (i.e. slashing projects off the budget, outsourcing and sacking bureaucrats) Boris was going to get it in the neck politically without being able to do anything about it (it would also directly conflict with any of his transport plans he might actually want to implement, since they're mostly money pits). It was (conjecture alert) possibly the realisation of this and Parker's subsequent realisation that he wouldn't be allowed to be top dog that is behind it. Whatever happened, it's a major embarrassment and a realignment of the Mayoral priorities back to where the current structure implies they should be. You can't fight the system, as Warder McKay would say. Really, though, TfL is the last thing the Mayor should delegate, it's the biggest item on the budget and the area of GLA responsibility that touches most people most often (I'm never likely to get an LDA grant, but I'm very likely to get a bus). Boris has never 'got' transport, but did campaign vigorously on crime, so ditching the TfL chair in favour of the MPA was probably obvious, even though with 78% of the Met's money coming from central government, the Home Secretary being very much in charge of hiring and firing and there are no real levers of power he can pull beyond putting a bit of cash in for extra coppers here and there it was never going to be exactly a showpiece seat, which is why Livingstone never sat in it. Boris does now face an extremely busy schedule with his five jobs, and his pick of TfL deputy will be interesting (currently it's the Livingstone-appointed businessman Christopher Garnett, who's at least an experienced safe pair of hands. Livingstone basically left TfL to Dave Wetzel, with everyone understanding that it was still Ken's name over the door and Wetzel was very much His Master's Voice, so if Boris reverts to this model it would call for an experienced close friend of Boris, like Steve Norris. That would, of course, be cronyism, but I'm coming round to the view that cronyism is built in). The structure of the GLA pretty much means the Mayor is the only elected official whose say actually matters, which is possibly a clue to what’s at the heart of this – if Parker ran TfL like a failing business needing turning round (i.e. slashing projects off the budget, outsourcing and sacking bureaucrats) Boris was going to get it in the neck politically without being able to do anything about it (it would also directly conflict with any of his transport plans he might actually want to implement, since they’re mostly money pits). It was (conjecture alert) possibly the realisation of this and Parker’s subsequent realisation that he wouldn’t be allowed to be top dog that is behind it. Whatever happened, it’s a major embarrassment and a realignment of the Mayoral priorities back to where the current structure implies they should be. You can’t fight the system, as Warder McKay would say.

Really, though, TfL is the last thing the Mayor should delegate, it’s the biggest item on the budget and the area of GLA responsibility that touches most people most often (I’m never likely to get an LDA grant, but I’m very likely to get a bus). Boris has never ‘got’ transport, but did campaign vigorously on crime, so ditching the TfL chair in favour of the MPA was probably obvious, even though with 78% of the Met’s money coming from central government, the Home Secretary being very much in charge of hiring and firing and there are no real levers of power he can pull beyond putting a bit of cash in for extra coppers here and there it was never going to be exactly a showpiece seat, which is why Livingstone never sat in it.

Boris does now face an extremely busy schedule with his five jobs, and his pick of TfL deputy will be interesting (currently it’s the Livingstone-appointed businessman Christopher Garnett, who’s at least an experienced safe pair of hands. Livingstone basically left TfL to Dave Wetzel, with everyone understanding that it was still Ken’s name over the door and Wetzel was very much His Master’s Voice, so if Boris reverts to this model it would call for an experienced close friend of Boris, like Steve Norris. That would, of course, be cronyism, but I’m coming round to the view that cronyism is built in).

]]> By: Sunny Hundal http://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/08/19/another-boris-deputy-jumps-ship/#comment-18893 Sunny Hundal Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:55:58 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=1136#comment-18893 This is really bizarre given that Boris spent a lot of time and effort playing up Tim Parker's role. He was going to be the cost-cutting king and all sorts. There are several ways in which there could be more to this: 1) Remember it took ages for Tim Parker's registration of interests to be issued. I think there could be more to this, and Boris wanted him to play a lesser role in case that bit him on the butt later. 2) Tim Parker didn't realise or appreciate the level of scrutiny he's been under, which he's not used to. Of course when I mean scrutiny I certainly don't mean the likes of Andrew Gilligan or the <i>Evening Boris</i> newspapers :) 3) They had a falling out over something. Who knows. Either way, I'm glad to see the back of the Prince of Darkness, as Adam quite rightly branded him. This is really bizarre given that Boris spent a lot of time and effort playing up Tim Parker’s role. He was going to be the cost-cutting king and all sorts.

There are several ways in which there could be more to this:

1) Remember it took ages for Tim Parker’s registration of interests to be issued. I think there could be more to this, and Boris wanted him to play a lesser role in case that bit him on the butt later.

2) Tim Parker didn’t realise or appreciate the level of scrutiny he’s been under, which he’s not used to. Of course when I mean scrutiny I certainly don’t mean the likes of Andrew Gilligan or the Evening Boris newspapers :)

3) They had a falling out over something.

Who knows. Either way, I’m glad to see the back of the Prince of Darkness, as Adam quite rightly branded him.

]]> By: Charlieman http://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/08/19/another-boris-deputy-jumps-ship/#comment-18888 Charlieman Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:02:11 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=1136#comment-18888 I'm not a Londoner, so this is little of my business. But this statement surprised me: "I also agree with the Mayor that my position as adviser does not justify my full time and exclusive commitment to the Greater London Authority..." Is Parker really saying that appointees should have a lesser role in managing London? That elected members and permanent officials are the best people to make decisions? And does Boris agree? I’m not a Londoner, so this is little of my business. But this statement surprised me:

“I also agree with the Mayor that my position as adviser does not justify my full time and exclusive commitment to the Greater London Authority…”

Is Parker really saying that appointees should have a lesser role in managing London? That elected members and permanent officials are the best people to make decisions?

And does Boris agree?

]]> By: sally http://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/08/19/another-boris-deputy-jumps-ship/#comment-18887 sally Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:54:15 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=1136#comment-18887 It is like an edition of the Fast Show. One funny sketch after another It is like an edition of the Fast Show. One funny sketch after another

]]> By: Leon http://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/08/19/another-boris-deputy-jumps-ship/#comment-18886 Leon Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:43:49 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=1136#comment-18886 Change of heart seems a little far fetched, why would a businessman of his calibre not have done his homework on the role? Conflict of interest sounds possible but again, what type that they chose to cover it up rather than make something of his honourable actions? He was probably caught banging his secretary/aide on his desk by the cleaners... Change of heart seems a little far fetched, why would a businessman of his calibre not have done his homework on the role?

Conflict of interest sounds possible but again, what type that they chose to cover it up rather than make something of his honourable actions?

He was probably caught banging his secretary/aide on his desk by the cleaners…

]]> By: Adam Bienkov http://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/08/19/another-boris-deputy-jumps-ship/#comment-18884 Adam Bienkov Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:34:55 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=1136#comment-18884 Everyone I've spoken to is completely taken aback by it. Best guesses seem to be that either: He had a change of heart There was a conflict of interest. Either way though, it doesn't explain why he has gone after just one month. Everyone I’ve spoken to is completely taken aback by it. Best guesses seem to be that either:

He had a change of heart
There was a conflict of interest.

Either way though, it doesn’t explain why he has gone after just one month.

]]> By: Leon http://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/08/19/another-boris-deputy-jumps-ship/#comment-18881 Leon Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:15:44 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/?p=1136#comment-18881 There's something odd about this, I wonder what the real reason for going is? There’s something odd about this, I wonder what the real reason for going is?

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