News from London Assembly Labour

“Routemaster” competition not a serious way to make transport policy

Speaking as Boris Johnson announced the winners of his design-a-bus competition, Labour’s transport spokesperson Val Shawcross said:

“The design competition may have been fun and the winning designs are extremely impressive, but this is not a serious way to make policy and not a worthwhile use of public money. If Boris actually used London’s buses or talked to those who do, he would see that London’s existing fleet is modern, accessible and well-designed.

“I have yet to hear one convincing argument for why London needs a new double-decker bus and until Boris comes up with some Londoners will see this as little more than a vanity project. There is understandably a lot of nostalgia for the old Routemaster but nostalgia doesn’t get people to work on time.”

Other news from London Assembly Labour

• Ken: "This morning's tube delays are completely unacceptable" - 10 February 2012
• Boris Johnson's comments are ill-judged and offensive - 9 February 2012
• Ken answers his critics about his support for LGBT rights - 8 February 2012