City Hall braced for cuts as Johnson takes office

by Gemma Charles Marketing 07-May-08, 09:15

LONDON - New London Mayor Boris Johnson has confirmed plans to cut marketing jobs at City Hall and slash the advertising budgets for Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police.

Conservative Johnson, who unseated Ken Livingstone last week in the race to become London Mayor, is to launch an inquiry into 'bureaucratic waste' at City Hall.

It is expected to lead to 14 job losses among the 70-strong publicity and marketing team for the mayor.

His election calls into question TfL's £17.5m promotion of green transport, part of its total marketing budget of £63.2m. The four-year project, handled by TfL's Travel Demand Management division, encourages Londoners to make sustainable travel choices such as cycling and walking.

TfL is currently running a series of campaigns, created by M&C Saatchi, including one that aims to improve the behaviour of bus users.

Johnson won 53% of the vote once first and second choices were calculated. When his selection was announced last year few gave him a chance against Livingstone. However, the Have I Got News for You regular managed to present a sober figure to win over Londoners.

Johnson also pledged to abolish monthly freesheet, The Londoner, produced by the Mayor's office.