Boris Johnson's Blog, page 48

Blue parking badge failing those most in need

~~~~~ There ought to be parking permits specifically for wheelchair users like the BBC's Frank Gardner— Boris Johnson ~~~~~ Suppose you're in the car and you are looking for somewhere to park.  In fact, you've been looking for somewhere to park for the past 25 minutes, and the kids are starting to hit each other [...]

Back Boris for Mayor 2012

  A new website has been launched for Boris's re-election campaign. The response so far has been great, with thousands signing up to receive campaign updates and become involved as volunteers. See the Blog here

The John Lewis harassment case

Maybe I have this all wrong. It could be that Mr Konstantinos Kalomoiris will one day join the Tolpuddle Martyrs in the pantheon of those who have fought for the rights of working people. Perhaps Billy Bragg will strum an anthem in his honour and the trade unions will stitch his likeness to their gaily-coloured [...]

Go on, sport, pay up ! In the name of Her Majesty.

Somewhere out there is a vaguely Left-wing Aussie professor who owes me a hundred bucks. The only trouble is that I can't remember his name, so I am shamelessly using this column to jog his memory. Come on, cobber. Cough up. You remember the bet. It must have been about 20 years ago that we [...]

Boris urges Chancellor, "Explain how you will cut taxes ?"

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph to-day, reports political editor Andrew Porter, Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, expresses himself shocked by the levels of income tax, saying he never thought he would see the day when other large European countries had lower rates of personal taxation than those in Britain.  He fears this high [...]

Fuel Duty Stabiliser

Every so often I pick up the Sunday papers at the petrol station and, as usual, I had slammed the nozzle back, and sauntered to the check-out; I was fishing for my wallet and looking down at my purchases when my blood ran cold. It wasn't the news about poor old Alan Johnson, though I [...]

Democracy in cyberspace … or mob rule ?

Internet debate can be coarse— says Boris Johnson —




but it really does hold journalists and politicians to account. 


~~~~~

But enough of me.  Let's talk about you.  Or rather, let's talk about the small minority of you who not only read but respond to these columns — sitting up late in America, rising early in Hong Kong.  [...]

Onions in India

According to my MP brother Jo, an India buff and former FT Delhi man, we are continually underselling ourselves out here, mystifyingly failing to capitalise on the advantages of language, history and culture

It may have so far escaped your notice that there is an onion crisis in India, but this thing is serious. Onions are [...]

Is the Met. Office facing relegation ?

Is it possible that everything we do is dwarfed by the moods of the star that gives life to the world?  The Sun is incomparably vaster and more powerful than any work of man.
Well, folks, it's tea-time on Sunday and for anyone involved in keeping people moving it has been a hell of a weekend.  [...]

On the existence of God

Does He exist ?  Do gods generally exist ?
This article is contributed by Pericles, not by Boris Johnson, Mayor of London ;  in particular it is not a reflexion of the Mayor's view of the subject.  Let us therefore pray, having issued this disclaimer, that we not see headlines such as 'Mayor confirms/denies existence of God'.  (Fret not, [...]