Shared values for London
War in Iraq
Ken's policy: Opposed the war in Iraq from the start and spoke at the anti-war demonstration in the run-up to the start of hostilities in Iraq.
Lib Dem policy: Opposed the war in Iraq from the start, with Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy sharing a platform with Ken at anti-war demonstration. Lib Dems voted in the House of Commons against invasion being launched.
Boris Johnson's policy: Johnson voted for the war, as well as writing and speaking in favour of it.
Support the Kyoto Treaty and strong action to tackle climate change
Ken's policy: strong supporter of the Kyoto Treaty, established C40 group of world's largest cities to cut emissions
Lib Dem policy: strong supporters of the Kyoto Treaty and established reputation as Westminster Party with strongest green policies.
Boris Johnson: opposed the Kyoto Treaty and backed George Bush in blocking it saying "when Bush says no, he is doing what is right not just for America but for the world."
Building London's link with Europe
Ken's policy: strong supporter of Britain's membership of the European Union and actively supported Britain's membership of the euro.
Lib Dem policy: strong supporters of Britain's membership of the European Union and actively supported Britain's membership of the euro.
Boris Johnson's policy: played leading journalistic role in opposition to Britain's full integration into Europe, opposed Britain joining the euro.
Higher parking / congestion charges for most polluting vehicles
Ken's policy: Increase congestion charge for cars with CO2 emissions over 225g/km from £8 a day to £25 a day (threefold increase); zero charge for least polluting cars with CO2 emissions below 120g
Lib Dem policy: Supported increasing the congestion charge for cars with CO2 emissions over 225g/km. Geoff Pope, at the time Liberal Democrat chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee responded to Ken's CO2 charge (supported by the Green Party) by saying: 'It's great to see the Mayor following in the footsteps of Richmond Council and bearing down on gas-guzzlers.' Lib Dem Richmond Council was the first authority in the UK to introduce a CO2 parking charge for cars with emissions over 225g/km.
Boris Johnson's policy: Scrap the CO2 charge.
Cutting emissions from air travel
Ken's policy: Oppose new runway at Heathrow, Stansted, or Gatwick.
Lib Dem policy: "Liberal Democrats believe that for the foreseeable future, and at least until 2030, limits on air flight capacity in the South East in particular should be set by limiting the amount of runway space to a level that is roughly equivalent to what is currently available. This is why we have opposed a second runway at Stansted and the third (and short) runway at Heathrow." A Soft Landing: Creating a Sustainable Market in Aviation, 21 December 2005
Boris Johnson's policy: Hoodwinked environmentalists by winning plaudits for coming out against Heathrow and then immediately announcing plan for new airport in the Thames Estuary, which he now calls his ‘big idea' for London.
London Low Emission Zone
Ken's policy: London-wide Low Emission Zone, with tough air quality limits for the most polluting vehicles - lorries, buses and coaches.
Lib Dem policy: "We support Low Emission Zones from which vehicles causing the most harmful air pollution would be barred at all times." (Lib Dem manifesto for London 2004)
Boris Johnson's policy: Described the LEZ as "the most punitive, draconian fining regime in the whole of Europe".
20mph zones
Ken's policy: 20mph to be the norm on residential roads, to reduce road deaths and injuries
Lib Dem policy: "We support ‘Home Zones' for all residential side streets of London, restricting the speed limit to 20mph. This will reduce noise pollution and improve safety on the roads for Londoners of all ages." (Lib Dem manifesto for London 2004)
Boris Johnson's policy: Opposes 20mph zones and calls pedestrians "the most dangerous thing on the roads".
Keep the tube in public ownership
Ken's policy: Opposed the Public Private Partnership for the Tube in 2000. After debacle of Metronet PPP contract, now bringing maintenance and operations back within control of Transport for London.
Lib Dem policy: Opposed Public Private Partnership for the Tube and Lib Dem candidates in 2000 London elections stood as ‘Lib Dems against Tube privatisation'.
Boris Johnson's policy: Long-term supporter of rail privatisation. Attacked opposition to the Tube PPP as ‘ideological warfare.' Has failed to set out any serious plans for the Tube. Won't say whether or not he will bring Metronet maintenance and operations back within control of Transport for London.
50% affordable housing
Ken's policy: 50% of all new housing should be affordable to ordinary Londoners to rent or to buy
Lib Dem policy: Lib Dem House of Commons housing spokesperson, Lembit Opik MP, said in Parliament that "unlike the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats are committed to the principle that 50 per cent. of new housing developments should be affordable housing. I do not understand why the hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Johnson), whom I regard as a personal friend, takes a contrary view, when it is absolutely clear that to remove that requirement would simply make matters worse."
Boris Johnson's policy: Opposes 50% affordable housing policy
Public funding for free cultural festivals
Kens policy: Mayoral funding for a diverse range of cultural festivals and events on Trafalgar Square and throughout London, including the London Film Festival, The Thames River Festival, and the annual Gay Pride Festival.
Lib Dem policy: "Enhanced support and high-level promotion of the London International Film Festival, The Thames River Festival, London International Festival Theatre and the annual Gay Pride Festival." (Lib Dem manifesto for London 2004)
Boris Johnson's policy: Said he will continue to 'put on some festivals', but only if he ‘can sponsor them with private cash rather than public funds'. Boris Johnson said 'I wouldn't mind if they were sponsored by food companies, or whatever it happens to be.'
Safer-neighbourhood police teams
Ken's policy: Ken ensured that Safer Neighbourhood police teams were introduced in every ward in London.
Lib Dem policy: "every neighbourhood (communities of 5-10,000) in London is provided with its own designated ‘community police force' by 2006". (Lib Dem manifesto for London 2004)
Boris Johnson's policy: Conservatives on the London Assembly voted against all the budgets that made new neighbourhood teams possible, and have said that we are "spending too much money" on policy in our city.
Civil Partnerships
Ken's policy: Ken introduced the first civil partnerships register, which was opened in 2001. This paved the way for the 2004 Civil Partnerships Act.
Lib Dem policy: Supported civil partnerships register
Boris Johnson's policy: Compared to gay marriage to the right to "the union between three men and a dog".
Tuition fees
Ken's policy: Ken opposed tuition fees, and later, the introduction of top-up fees. In 2004, publishing a report setting out the evidence base against the government's plans for top-up fees, Ken spoke of his "irrevocable" opposition to fees.
Lib Dem policy: In 2005, the Liberal Democrats pledged to scrap tuition fees in the party's election manifesto.
Proportional representation
Ken's policy: Long-time supporter of Proportional Representation (PR)
Lib Dem policy: Long-time supporters of Proportional Representation (PR).
London Living Wage
Ken's policy: Introduced the London Living Wage to promote better pay for London's poorest workers. The London Living Wage is backed up by a GLA team who research and promote its use by London firms.
Lib Dem policy: Welcomed the launch of the London Living Wage and backed it on the London Assembly.
Boris Johnson's policy: Opposed the introduction of the National Minimum Wage.