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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Cameron backs 'brilliant' Johnson | Cameron backs 'brilliant' Johnson |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Boris Johnson would "do a brilliant job" as London mayor and is "exactly the kind of leader" the capital needs, Tory leader David Cameron says. | Boris Johnson would "do a brilliant job" as London mayor and is "exactly the kind of leader" the capital needs, Tory leader David Cameron says. |
| He was "twice as charismatic, twice as energetic" as rival and current mayor Ken Livingstone, Mr Cameron said. | He was "twice as charismatic, twice as energetic" as rival and current mayor Ken Livingstone, Mr Cameron said. |
| Mr Cameron spoke out at the official launch of Mr Johnson's campaign in Edmonton, north London. | Mr Cameron spoke out at the official launch of Mr Johnson's campaign in Edmonton, north London. |
| Mr Johnson, who polls suggest is in the lead for the 1 May election, said that tackling crime was his top priority. | Mr Johnson, who polls suggest is in the lead for the 1 May election, said that tackling crime was his top priority. |
| He said if elected he would set up a mayor's fund to encourage London's "wealth creators" to support voluntary sector projects tackling the city's social problems. | He said if elected he would set up a mayor's fund to encourage London's "wealth creators" to support voluntary sector projects tackling the city's social problems. |
| Mr Johnson said he believed it was possible to get more police on the streets of London and said creating a safer city was central to everything else that he wanted to achieve. | Mr Johnson said he believed it was possible to get more police on the streets of London and said creating a safer city was central to everything else that he wanted to achieve. |
| Earlier, Mr Johnson met the family of teenager Ofiyke Nmezu, who died after an assault last month. A teenager has been charged with the boy's murder. | Earlier, Mr Johnson met the family of teenager Ofiyke Nmezu, who died after an assault last month. A teenager has been charged with the boy's murder. |
| 'Shocking' statistics | 'Shocking' statistics |
| Mr Cameron said crime was the "single biggest factor undermining our quality of life in this great city. | Mr Cameron said crime was the "single biggest factor undermining our quality of life in this great city. |
| "Violent crime is up. Twenty-seven teenagers were murdered in London last year. Twenty-seven young lives senselessly destroyed - that's a truly shocking fact. | "Violent crime is up. Twenty-seven teenagers were murdered in London last year. Twenty-seven young lives senselessly destroyed - that's a truly shocking fact. |
| "And it's getting worse. Already this year, 11 teenagers have been killed. Two of them last week and we are just at the beginning of April." | "And it's getting worse. Already this year, 11 teenagers have been killed. Two of them last week and we are just at the beginning of April." |
| I don't always agree with him but I respect the fact that he's absolutely his own man David Cameron on Boris Johnson | I don't always agree with him but I respect the fact that he's absolutely his own man David Cameron on Boris Johnson |
| Mr Cameron said: "London's real problem is a lack of leadership - there's no excuse for it. One person has the job of running this city ...the mayor of London." | Mr Cameron said: "London's real problem is a lack of leadership - there's no excuse for it. One person has the job of running this city ...the mayor of London." |
| While the Tory leader conceded that Mr Livingstone "did do some good things" when he came to power in 2000, he added that "now it's obvious he's lost touch with the people who once supported him". | While the Tory leader conceded that Mr Livingstone "did do some good things" when he came to power in 2000, he added that "now it's obvious he's lost touch with the people who once supported him". |
| He said Mr Livingstone's administration was "badly run and bogged down in corruption investigations". | He said Mr Livingstone's administration was "badly run and bogged down in corruption investigations". |
| And having been an independent who returned to the Labour fold, Mr Livingstone was now "displaying the same arrogance and intolerance of criticism we associate with Gordon Brown". | And having been an independent who returned to the Labour fold, Mr Livingstone was now "displaying the same arrogance and intolerance of criticism we associate with Gordon Brown". |
| In contrast, the Conservatives' candidate, Boris Johnson" was "as big a figure as Ken Livingstone - and twice as charismatic". | In contrast, the Conservatives' candidate, Boris Johnson" was "as big a figure as Ken Livingstone - and twice as charismatic". |
| 'Open-minded' | 'Open-minded' |
| "I was delighted when Boris decided to run for mayor because I knew he'd do a brilliant job, not just as a candidate but as exactly the kind of leader that London needs," he said. | "I was delighted when Boris decided to run for mayor because I knew he'd do a brilliant job, not just as a candidate but as exactly the kind of leader that London needs," he said. |
| "I don't always agree with him but I respect the fact that he's absolutely his own man. He's a proper Conservative - practical, open-minded and keen to get things done. | "I don't always agree with him but I respect the fact that he's absolutely his own man. He's a proper Conservative - practical, open-minded and keen to get things done. |
| "And he's someone who has a properly thought-through plan to make London better." | "And he's someone who has a properly thought-through plan to make London better." |
| The appearance of Mr Cameron alongside Mr Johnson comes amid signs that the Conservative leader is growing more confident of his candidate's chances of success on polling day. | The appearance of Mr Cameron alongside Mr Johnson comes amid signs that the Conservative leader is growing more confident of his candidate's chances of success on polling day. |
| Mr Johnson, an ex-magazine editor and MP for Henley, says he will leave Parliament if he wins the mayoralty. | Mr Johnson, an ex-magazine editor and MP for Henley, says he will leave Parliament if he wins the mayoralty. |
| Bendy buses | Bendy buses |
| He has already spoken out on crime, promising to divert funds from the mayor's "publicity budget" to pay for 440 more police community support officers on buses | He has already spoken out on crime, promising to divert funds from the mayor's "publicity budget" to pay for 440 more police community support officers on buses |
| He would also pay for more police officers to patrol railway platforms, and encourage union bosses to agree not to strike on the London Underground, in a deal with Tube bosses. | He would also pay for more police officers to patrol railway platforms, and encourage union bosses to agree not to strike on the London Underground, in a deal with Tube bosses. |
| His transport manifesto includes scrapping bendy buses in favour of Routemasters - which would have conductors and disabled access and be run on environmentally friendly fuel. | His transport manifesto includes scrapping bendy buses in favour of Routemasters - which would have conductors and disabled access and be run on environmentally friendly fuel. |
| He would tackle the intimidation felt by Londoners on the buses by teenagers "acting up". | He would tackle the intimidation felt by Londoners on the buses by teenagers "acting up". |
| "I want to challenge the assumption that there is nothing cooler than the gangs," he said. | "I want to challenge the assumption that there is nothing cooler than the gangs," he said. |
| And he would target low-level disorder, such as fare evasion, which he said would make a "real difference" on crime. | And he would target low-level disorder, such as fare evasion, which he said would make a "real difference" on crime. |
| Housing battle | Housing battle |
| Mr Johnson says he has policies on the issues "that really matter" to Londoners, including housing, improving public transport and crime. | Mr Johnson says he has policies on the issues "that really matter" to Londoners, including housing, improving public transport and crime. |
| Later, Mr Johnson will join mayor Mr Livingstone and Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick in a debate entitled: "Who should be the next mayor?" | Later, Mr Johnson will join mayor Mr Livingstone and Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick in a debate entitled: "Who should be the next mayor?" |
| Mr Livingstone is also outlining his housing manifesto, with an appeal to first-time buyers priced out of the market. | Mr Livingstone is also outlining his housing manifesto, with an appeal to first-time buyers priced out of the market. |
| The London mayor has plans to deliver 50,000 affordable homes in three years. Mr Johnson pledges the same level of housing by 2011. | |
| Ten candidates will take part in the London mayoral election on 1 May. | Ten candidates will take part in the London mayoral election on 1 May. |
| Local and London Assembly elections take place on the same day. | Local and London Assembly elections take place on the same day. |