Mayor of London challenger Luisa Porritt has today launched the Liberal Democrat manifesto to Take London Forward.
In a sign of the Liberal Democrats’ strength in London, Porritt was joined by London MP and Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey as well as Lib Dem Council Leaders Gareth Roberts (Richmond) and Caroline Kerr (Kingston).
Speaking at a shared working space in Richmond, Porritt’s speech is expected to focus on the big changes accelerated by the pandemic, such as the shift towards flexible working, and a plan to Take London Forward.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:
“Luisa Porritt is the only candidate in the race speaking up about the big challenges our capital faces and has a clear plan for its recovery. She has the energy and ideas we need to Take London Forward.
“Having beaten the Tories in Camden and winning London-wide in the European elections, Luisa knows how to defy the odds and win. The Liberal Democrats are a real force in London and this manifesto proves that the party is full of the big ideas the capital needs. I’m delighted to be backing Luisa – the only credible and progressive challenger to the Mayor.”
On the Mayoral race, Luisa Porritt said:
“We have a Mayor who has wasted his five years in office, seeking re-election on the basis that he’s not the Conservative candidate.
“London is a vibrant, diverse, liberal city. The Conservatives can’t win here.
“So if you feel let down by Labour and the current Mayor, send them a message. Tell them you want more. Tell them you want change. Tell them you want something better.”
On the lasting impact of the pandemic, Luisa Porritt said:
“The rise of online shopping. The shift towards homeworking. What would have been ten years of steady change has been accelerated in a year by the pandemic.
“So we face a choice. Do we try to reverse these big changes? Run promotional campaigns telling people to get back to the office?
“Or do we embrace change? Make a plan for it and make it work for Londoners.”
Announcing a plan for a new Flexible Travel Card, Luisa Porritt said:
“The office isn’t dead, the daily commute is. So why is it that the shortest travel card we can currently get is a seven-day pass?
“The Liberal Democrats will move with the times, introducing a flexible travel card. This will give Londoners the option of buying a four-day pass, saving flexible workers over £500 a year and making it more affordable for them to work in the office when they need to.”
On converting offices to homes, Luisa Porritt said:
“If people are spending less time in the office, then businesses are inevitably going to see it as an opportunity to reduce the space they need.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity to finally fix our housing crisis. More of the same won’t do. We must challenge ourselves to convert these spaces into quality, affordable, zero-carbon homes.”
Rejecting the Silvertown Tunnel on environmental grounds, Luisa Porritt said:
“It’s the Mayor’s dirty little secret… an expensive, polluting new road project that will drive a hole through our zero-carbon ambitions and take funds away from public transport projects we need.
“The Liberal Democrats will say no to the Silvertown Tunnel. No to building more polluting roads. And back investment in clean, green public transport projects.”
On Community Policing, Luisa Porritt said:
“By doubling the number of neighbourhood police officers, reopening police stations closed by Sadiq Khan, and putting the focus on building relationships in the community, we can make our streets safer again.”
