London elects a new mayor on 1 May. In the third part of a series, we examine the scientific policies of the Tory candidate.
Katherine Nightingale
Boris Johnson, the Conservative candidate for mayor, is MP for Henley, former editor of the Spectator and has been the Shadow Minister for Higher Education. He is outspoken about the mayor’s duty to protect public health and is the only candidate in favour of nuclear power.
A scientific future
“London must lead the way in research and development to advance medical science, and it is fantastic news that the capital will now be the home of the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI),” says Johnson. “It’s quite clear that linking research to delivery in the NHS will significantly advance our fight against major diseases and improve health care.”
He’s concerned about the numbers of young people being turned off science, an issue he is outspoken on “It is crucial for London, and the rest of the country, that we reverse the trend of the last 20 years that has seen dwindling numbers of students in key scientific disciplines like physics and engineering.”
Though education is not in the mayor’s remit, he will make use of the new powers for the mayor as the chair of the London Skills and Employment Board to support more scientific education for adults.
Dousing the big smoke
Thousands of Londoners die every year from illnesses relating to poor air quality, says Johnson. Part of reducing this problem is campaigning against the current expansion plans for Heathrow on the basis of increased noise and atmospheric pollution.
But this hasn’t stopped him from announcing plans for a Heathrow-on-Sea on artificial islands in the Thames Estuary, where he says planes wouldn’t disrupt residents. This has drawn criticism from green campaigners, who prefer flight cuts.
On the roads, Johnson favours the Low Emission Zone, with charges for large vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards. “The ‘polluter pays’ principle that lies behind the Low Emission Zone is fair. We believe the LEZ is a step in the right direction,” says his environment manifesto.
On transport technology he says, “Hydrogen buses could be the answer, but at the moment they cost £1 million per bus. In the short term, I will ensure all bus companies include more hybrid vehicles in their fleet, and use more biofuels.”
And like all the other main candidates, Johnson wants to make London a safer and easier place to cycle. He’ll introduce a free bike scheme like that in Paris.
Energetics
Johnson will lead by example in reducing energy consumption. “I want City Hall and the bodies of the GLA to have a clean carbon conscience under my Mayoralty,” says his environment manifesto.
Homes also have a role to play. “We can improve energy efficiency by improving home insulation, and this is one area the Mayor has failed on,” he says. “Just 3,098 Londoners have signed up to the Mayor’s scheme to insulate their homes.” Johnson will ask London boroughs to offer council tax rebates to those who insulate their homes.
He’s keen on the use of combined heat and power generators and says that wherever possible, renewable energy should be used. Geothermal heat pumps in the foundations of the Crossrail project are a possibility, for example. He’ll also commission a study into hydroelectric power on the Thames and support the London Array windfarm in the outer Thames Estuary.
To help stimulate innovative research into renewable energy, he’ll introduce a Mayoral Prize in the field of urban low-carbon technology for graduate students in London with a £20,000 prize.
As for nuclear energy, he believes, “We need a mix of provision, and it would be short sighted to rule anything out”.
Tree power
Johnson will launch a £6 million, 10,000-tree project to line the streets that need them most, and try to add street trees to protection under the London Plan—London’s planning rules. “Not only do trees improve the street environment, they absorb CO2 and traffic noise, provide habitats for wildlife and help cool streets when temperatures rise.”
For larger patches of green, Johnson will instigate The Priority Parks Programme. By scrapping the mayoral publication The Londoner and using its £2.5 million budget, he’ll work with local councils to improve green spaces.
Johnson will also introduce schemes to pay Londoners to recycle, based on the weight of recycled material. He will promote ‘freecycling’ schemes, where unwanted items are found new homes rather than ending up in landfill.
Health from Haringey to Richmond
At present, the mayor doesn’t have any control over healthcare in London, but Johnson says he’ll close the ‘health gap’ between the rich and poor boroughs of London.
He’ll ring-fence London’s spending on public health, funds that are “frequently raided in London when Primary Care Trusts are in deficit”, and reform the existing London Health Commission, to work with the Mayor’s office and individual boroughs to fight health inequality in the areas, such as transport and housing, that are in the mayor’s remit.
Previously
Sian Berry, Green Party
Brian Paddick, Liberal Democrats
Image courtesy of Richard Davies of Richard Davies Photography