Greens agree with Conservative mayoral candidate, Steve Norris, that Capita should be sacked but Greens are calling for congestion charging to be administered directly by Transport for London.
Darren, who is Leader of the Green Party Group in the London Assembly commented, “The Greens are big fans of congestion charging. But we believe the system should be run for the public good, not so that incompetent fat-cat companies like Capita can make a huge profit. Congestion charging is a public service to reduce traffic and reduce congestion and it should be run by the public sector.”
As part of the congestion charge deal, Capita operates call centres, maintains cameras, monitors traffic and is responsible for the transaction website. The company has been heavily criticised for poor performance.
Darren Johnson has defended congestion charging and dismissed the transport plans of Steve Norris as a return to the congested shambles of a previous era. Congestion charging is due to generate £60m a year for transport schemes in London and has successfully reduced traffic by over 15%. Latest opinion polls show that support for congestion charging in London has increased rapidly since the scheme began.
Darren concluded:
"Steve Norris is right in wanting to sack Capita but Londoners are not going to elect someone whose big idea is to bring back traffic jams by scrapping the congestion charge and cutting bus services."
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NOTES FOR EDITORS:
· Darren Johnson is 37 and was selected as the Green Party’s candidate for Mayor of London in May 2003. He was elected to the London Assembly in May 2000 where he is Leader of the Green Party Group. He was also elected to Lewisham Council in May 2002.
· The Mayoral election will be held on June 10th next year at the same time as the elections for the London Assembly and the European Parliament. At the last Assembly elections the Greens scored one of their best ever results in the Party’s history, securing 11.1% of the vote across London and winning three seats on the 25-member Assembly.
· Darren Johnson’s vision for a sustainable Green London can be found on his website www.johnsonformayor.org.uk
For further information and to arrange interviews with Darren Johnson contact: Penny Kemp on 07711 760692
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