The Metropolis

Mayor Johnson's new campaign video makes £3.10 go a hell of a long way

Mike Pollitt | Tuesday 7 February, 2012 11:19

Last week the Mayor announced he was cutting his share of the council tax by 1%, or £3.10 a year for a band D property. Everyone had a lot of fun with that figure, and it was all quite LOL, but now we get to see why he bothered – so he could make videos like this one. Subtle it aint.

You’ll note that there’s no mention of £3.10. And there’s a repetition of the disingenuous implication that Labour assembley members don’t support freezing or lowering the council tax. Dave Hill debunked this Johnson campaign meme here.

So, we’ve got to February, and the dividing lines for this campaign are now clear. Ken Livingstone says Boris Johnson means higher fares. Boris Johnson says Ken Livingstone means higher tax. That’s pretty much it.

Expect to hear those formulations again and again and again between now and May. So often, in fact, that as you enter the polling booth your ears will be bleeding and your head will be sore, and you’ll have forgotten that any third party candidates even exist.

Just embrace it, people. It will be over soon.

Snipe – Mayor Johnson cuts council tax by £3.10. What will you buy?
Adam Bienkov – Boris Johnson to save Londoners three whole pounds
Dave Hill at The Guardian – Ken Livingstone and council tax: porkies and possibilities

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