The Metropolis

The five worst ideas in the UKIP London elections manifesto

Mike Pollitt | Tuesday 3 April, 2012 10:54

1. Impose a levy of 25p on all overseas visitors to raise money for the restoration of Big Ben.

How, why, when, where, and above all how will this be collected? At the airport? What tourists are going to have 25p in change on them at the airport? And what about those who drive/train/swim over, what about them? Does this include business visitors? What if they decide to make a weekend of it? How can this possibly be done?

2. Cut rates for local businesses employing local people.
What counts as a local business, and who counts as a local person?

3. Change operating procedures in the Met to support an easy system for people to effect Citizens’ Arrests for vagrancy, drunkenness, vandalism, weapons, low-level disorder, thieving, shoplifting etc. to help improve Met clear-up rates.
“You sir, are naught but a filthy vagrant. I shall arrest thee forthwith.”

4. 20 minutes free parking across London.
Why incentivise driving?

5. Stop spending public money on public sculpture when pensioners can’t afford heating.
I like this one. Burn the sculptures for fuel!

Here are a couple of ideas worth having a debate over:

1. 70-minute multiple bus journey tickets
Brian Paddick has proposed something similar, it’s attractive for a number of reasons, but I’ve yet to see a costing.

2. Cut Council waiting lists in half by filling empty properties from a central register and prioritising the needs of long-term Londoners.
Housing is long term problem number one for the city. Could more central direction help? Or are councils best placed to administer it locally? I don’t know, but it’s an argument worth having.

Here is the manifesto (PDF). And here is the campaign website.

See also:

Let’s look at the UKIP’s candidates for London Mayor
Vote small, and vote often if you really want to make a difference this election

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