Reiterating his manifesto promise, Johnson said that funding of £16.5m for an extra 440 police community support officers to patrol buses and Tube stations will come from cutting Transport for London's advertising budget.
He has also promised to mount an inquiry into bureaucratic waste at City Hall, which is expected to lead to 14 jobs being cut in the mayor's 70-strong publicity and marketing team.
Johnson said that there were many talented workers at City Hall but added that he had been elected to ensure that Londoners saw "taxpayer value".
The cuts in adspend will mean less high profile campaigns such as the Metropolitan Police's Operation Trident campaign, created by Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy, to fight gun crime.
The Conservative Party has previously criticised the excessive use of public spending on such campaigns.
During a visit to Dagenham Fire Station yesterday, Johnson declared that crime would be his major focus. He said that crime is a "huge concern" for Londoners and that he would work "night and day" to make the capital safer.
There is no indication that the move will start any agency reviews. The roster agencies for the Greater London Authority include WCRS, Farm Communications and Spirit Advertising, while MCBD holds the account for the Met Police.
Comments
The picture says it all in my opinion. Boris intends to spend the money where it matters, not on perceptions and metaphorical haircuts.
And, ironically if he keeps this up, I think the job of any remaining marketing people will be made much easier.
The Conservatives have long derided 'wasting taxpayers' money' on the adequate communication of government policy and what it means for the public. We shouldn't be surprised then at this early reactionary headline-grabber from Johnson to curtail adspend to get 'more bobbies on the beat'. Recent Transport for London advertising, including public information on considerate and safe behaviour, has been well considered, well executed and reaches more people than 440 pseudo police officers spread across London's huge transport network ever will. Perhaps more than a week in office would have allowed the new mayor to consider the implications of this policy properly.
"Recent Transport for London advertising, including public information on considerate and safe behaviour, has been well considered, well executed" - The aforementioned campiagn was patronising - both the message and the creative execution, it's therefore ineffective and a complete waste of money.
the man is a baffoon...anything good that comes from his tenure as Mayor will be of zero reflection of the man himself and his political stature. He is a caricature of bad taste and political ineptness. It is a shame that the ignorance of people and their unwillingness to vote has led to this man holding the purse strings to Londons near future. And as mentioned above, this is a headline grabbing reaction that will have little impact in reality. If the money had been spent on 'real' police officers instead of glorified traffic wardens I would have commended the policy.
Saying that, I hope I am proved wrong...and his hair is crap.
I agree with Andrew entirely. Bimbo Boris simultaneously represents a fantastical number of screwed up things in British society.
The Conservatives say 'we'll increase bobbies' before every set of elections. It's cynical, predictable and unimaginative. They've lazily smeared it on every manifesto since 97. Sadly, this time it worked, with a little help from Gordon's continuing anti-honeymoon.
But now he's in, Boris knows he has to make good on the promise. Cue scratching of Ker-razy blonde hair, followed by swinging of axe in least unpopular direction.
I'm surprised he didn't cut translation services for asylum seekers - or maybe that's to come.
I think you mean buffoon. At least as ex-editor of The Spectator he can spell. Let's see what he actually does rather than pre-judging him.
We're not prejudging him, he's been in public life for sometime and we have already had a taste of his buffoonery. Now he has been given some matches to play with.
He has a long and checkered past to which we can definitely judge him on...if you look at his political career it represents a man who gives up, gets fired or hides from the truth. He seems a man incapable of following something through and turns everything into a gimmick. For this reason I think we can safely paint a picture of what the coming years will bring, my inkling will be more tabloid headlines than life changing policy. And i just hope that the man does have the back room staff that has been reported in the papers. Indeed it could be one of the single most damaging appointments to the Conservative Party attempt at winning the next election. David Cameron must have thought he had woken up in the middle of a real life nightmare. It makes me chuckle when I picture the moment Mr Cameron realised he was actually going to win. Bet he joined Mr Hague for 14 pints of good stuff.
And I do apologies for the incorrect spelling Mr Furlong, I will write it out ten times in my jotter tonight.
I think you mean apologise, better make it 20.
That's right. Let's not prejudge an Old Etonian Tory with seven jobs, God knows how many positions on corporate boards impairing his objectivity and a record of permanent absenteeism from the House of Commons, despite having been elected as one of the 700 most important and prestigious administrators in the country.
London's just the start. Next stop, Boris for Prime Minister and UN Secretary General all rolled into one! More power for laughably incompetent goons!
...noted Mr Furlong...20 it will be.
Now that is preposterous, even Boris knows he can't hold all those positions at once, Lord Archer might fancy his chances though.
I think that's exactly what Babboon has in mind. Take over the world, job by job.
If anyone sees him by the way, tell him I'm looking for a part time cleaner in case he's interested. No expenses, but very generous beverage allowance (one cup/90 mins of working time)
Comments
James Cooke - 07/05/2008
The picture says it all in my opinion. Boris intends to spend the money where it matters, not on perceptions and metaphorical haircuts. And, ironically if he keeps this up, I think the job of any remaining marketing people will be made much easier.
Craig Smith - 07/05/2008
The Conservatives have long derided 'wasting taxpayers' money' on the adequate communication of government policy and what it means for the public. We shouldn't be surprised then at this early reactionary headline-grabber from Johnson to curtail adspend to get 'more bobbies on the beat'. Recent Transport for London advertising, including public information on considerate and safe behaviour, has been well considered, well executed and reaches more people than 440 pseudo police officers spread across London's huge transport network ever will. Perhaps more than a week in office would have allowed the new mayor to consider the implications of this policy properly.
Charlotte Broadribb - 07/05/2008
"Recent Transport for London advertising, including public information on considerate and safe behaviour, has been well considered, well executed" - The aforementioned campiagn was patronising - both the message and the creative execution, it's therefore ineffective and a complete waste of money.
Andrew Harrison - 07/05/2008
the man is a baffoon...anything good that comes from his tenure as Mayor will be of zero reflection of the man himself and his political stature. He is a caricature of bad taste and political ineptness. It is a shame that the ignorance of people and their unwillingness to vote has led to this man holding the purse strings to Londons near future. And as mentioned above, this is a headline grabbing reaction that will have little impact in reality. If the money had been spent on 'real' police officers instead of glorified traffic wardens I would have commended the policy. Saying that, I hope I am proved wrong...and his hair is crap.
Nuts n Seeds - 07/05/2008
I agree with Andrew entirely. Bimbo Boris simultaneously represents a fantastical number of screwed up things in British society. The Conservatives say 'we'll increase bobbies' before every set of elections. It's cynical, predictable and unimaginative. They've lazily smeared it on every manifesto since 97. Sadly, this time it worked, with a little help from Gordon's continuing anti-honeymoon. But now he's in, Boris knows he has to make good on the promise. Cue scratching of Ker-razy blonde hair, followed by swinging of axe in least unpopular direction. I'm surprised he didn't cut translation services for asylum seekers - or maybe that's to come.
ROSS FURLONG - 07/05/2008
I think you mean buffoon. At least as ex-editor of The Spectator he can spell. Let's see what he actually does rather than pre-judging him.
Gordon Macmillan - 07/05/2008
We're not prejudging him, he's been in public life for sometime and we have already had a taste of his buffoonery. Now he has been given some matches to play with.
Andrew Harrison - 07/05/2008
He has a long and checkered past to which we can definitely judge him on...if you look at his political career it represents a man who gives up, gets fired or hides from the truth. He seems a man incapable of following something through and turns everything into a gimmick. For this reason I think we can safely paint a picture of what the coming years will bring, my inkling will be more tabloid headlines than life changing policy. And i just hope that the man does have the back room staff that has been reported in the papers. Indeed it could be one of the single most damaging appointments to the Conservative Party attempt at winning the next election. David Cameron must have thought he had woken up in the middle of a real life nightmare. It makes me chuckle when I picture the moment Mr Cameron realised he was actually going to win. Bet he joined Mr Hague for 14 pints of good stuff. And I do apologies for the incorrect spelling Mr Furlong, I will write it out ten times in my jotter tonight.
ROSS FURLONG - 07/05/2008
I think you mean apologise, better make it 20.
Nuts n Seeds - 07/05/2008
That's right. Let's not prejudge an Old Etonian Tory with seven jobs, God knows how many positions on corporate boards impairing his objectivity and a record of permanent absenteeism from the House of Commons, despite having been elected as one of the 700 most important and prestigious administrators in the country. London's just the start. Next stop, Boris for Prime Minister and UN Secretary General all rolled into one! More power for laughably incompetent goons!
Andrew Harrison - 07/05/2008
...noted Mr Furlong...20 it will be.
ROSS FURLONG - 07/05/2008
Now that is preposterous, even Boris knows he can't hold all those positions at once, Lord Archer might fancy his chances though.
Nuts n Seeds - 07/05/2008
I think that's exactly what Babboon has in mind. Take over the world, job by job. If anyone sees him by the way, tell him I'm looking for a part time cleaner in case he's interested. No expenses, but very generous beverage allowance (one cup/90 mins of working time)