This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/07/boris-johnson-nick-clegg-radio
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Boris from Islington' needles Nick Clegg on LBC radio phone-in show | 'Boris from Islington' needles Nick Clegg on LBC radio phone-in show |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| As if trying to soothe increasingly disgruntled members of the public wasn't enough, the deputy prime minister has now found himself harangued on his radio phone-in show by one Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. | As if trying to soothe increasingly disgruntled members of the public wasn't enough, the deputy prime minister has now found himself harangued on his radio phone-in show by one Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. |
| The London mayor, who introduced himself simply as "Boris from Islington", recorded a message for Nick Clegg's LBC 97.3 radio programme in which he attacked ministers for driving around in their "posh limos" and demanded that the government spend more on the capital's transport system. | The London mayor, who introduced himself simply as "Boris from Islington", recorded a message for Nick Clegg's LBC 97.3 radio programme in which he attacked ministers for driving around in their "posh limos" and demanded that the government spend more on the capital's transport system. |
| "Hi Nick, it's Boris here from Islington," said the mayor (video). "I just want to ask you when are you going to get all those government ministers out of their posh limos and onto public transport like everybody else? | |
| "How can we possibly expect government to vote for increases in infrastructure spending, which we need in this city, and upgrading the tube, which we all need, when they sit in their chauffeur-driven limousines – paid for by the taxpayer – rather than getting down on public transport with the rest of us?" | "How can we possibly expect government to vote for increases in infrastructure spending, which we need in this city, and upgrading the tube, which we all need, when they sit in their chauffeur-driven limousines – paid for by the taxpayer – rather than getting down on public transport with the rest of us?" |
| Johnson then signed off in his own inimitable way: "Nick, get them out of their limos! Boris, over and out." | Johnson then signed off in his own inimitable way: "Nick, get them out of their limos! Boris, over and out." |
| Clegg, who had not expected the mayor to hijack his show, was quick to point out that the mayor's decision to pre-record the message was "easy for him, isn't it?" | Clegg, who had not expected the mayor to hijack his show, was quick to point out that the mayor's decision to pre-record the message was "easy for him, isn't it?" |
| He added: "Boris, if you're listening – and I suspect he isn't – I think we have actually cut the amount of taxpayer money which is used to pay for the cars and everything for ministers by, I think, about 70%. We have massively slashed it and changed it. | He added: "Boris, if you're listening – and I suspect he isn't – I think we have actually cut the amount of taxpayer money which is used to pay for the cars and everything for ministers by, I think, about 70%. We have massively slashed it and changed it. |
| "Clearly, ministers – myself included – drive in cars, but not all the time. I am about to jump into a train to go up to Sheffield this afternoon." | "Clearly, ministers – myself included – drive in cars, but not all the time. I am about to jump into a train to go up to Sheffield this afternoon." |
| In a show of coalition unity, the Liberal Democrat leader then claimed that the government had cut the ministerial car bill it had inherited from Labour by almost three-quarters. | In a show of coalition unity, the Liberal Democrat leader then claimed that the government had cut the ministerial car bill it had inherited from Labour by almost three-quarters. |
| Clegg also informed the ether that he "completely" agreed with the mayor on the issue of infrastructure spending, adding that the chancellor, George Osborne, had promised to make funds available for big projects. | Clegg also informed the ether that he "completely" agreed with the mayor on the issue of infrastructure spending, adding that the chancellor, George Osborne, had promised to make funds available for big projects. |
| "We should, wherever we can, find whatever available money we can to invest in housing, in transport and in energy, and the kinds of infrastructure we need to create jobs today and help the economy in the future. | "We should, wherever we can, find whatever available money we can to invest in housing, in transport and in energy, and the kinds of infrastructure we need to create jobs today and help the economy in the future. |
| "We have got Europe's largest infrastructure project – Crossrail – here in London. George Osborne and the Treasury, to be fair to them, have offered £15bn worth of Treasury guarantees to get infrastructure projects going in London. | "We have got Europe's largest infrastructure project – Crossrail – here in London. George Osborne and the Treasury, to be fair to them, have offered £15bn worth of Treasury guarantees to get infrastructure projects going in London. |
| He then challenged Johnson to use the Treasury guarantees for projects that would benefit Londoners. | He then challenged Johnson to use the Treasury guarantees for projects that would benefit Londoners. |
| Hearing that the mayor would himself be appearing on the programme with host Nick Ferrari next week, Clegg said: "Tell him to get out of his limo and get the infrastructure projects we are offering moving." | Hearing that the mayor would himself be appearing on the programme with host Nick Ferrari next week, Clegg said: "Tell him to get out of his limo and get the infrastructure projects we are offering moving." |