The unions and Val Shawcross are pointing out that Boris’s ‘proudest achievement’ is another case of our beloved Emperor having omitted to get dressed in the morning. How beastly of them:
The RMT’s Steve Hadley said: “They’ve brought it in without financing it properly, and brought it in without adequate staff, and to be quite honest it hasn’t really worked.
…
Labour’s transport lead on the London Assembly, Val Shawcross, said: “Boris says that the ban is his proudest achievement, but he has done nothing to make it work.
Indeed, falling crime on the tube was a fact of life anyway, I believe we said something along those lines at the time, so if you do nothing and it falls, you’ve not actually achieved it, have you? What’s also interesting is that Kulveer Ranger has been shoved up front to respond to this:
The Mayor’s transport adviser, Kulveer Ranger, said: “We feel it’s been a good thing for Londoners, it has improved the environment on the Tube, there’s aren’t those empty cans and bottles of beer rolling around.
“It’s really about having a cleaner, safer environment for people to travel in,” he said.
Now, I’ve a sneaking suspicion that Mr. Ranger is a motorcyclist, so how much time does he actually spend travelling on public transport? I’ve seen people drinking on the buses post-ban and have on a number of occasions seen empty cans rolling around, although obviously these days I’m looking out for them:
So, Kulveer’s right, this particular can of Polish lager wasn’t rolling around the top deck of the bus, because someone had trodden it flat.
In any case, the main point about the ‘ban’ was that it was mistargetted – the problem is people already being drunk getting on trains, not people seeking out the refuge of a Tube carriage for a quick half. If that’s declined in the last year it’s good news but possibly not surprising – fewer people are in the party mood these days, there’s a recession on.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
“Indeed, falling crime on the tube was a fact of life anyway, I believe we said something along those lines at the time, so if you do nothing and it falls, you’ve not actually achieved it, have you?”
Prohibiting the consumption of alcohol by law is not doing nothing. The credibility issue that you have, is that you won’t give any credit to Johnson no matter what happens…whether crime goes up, down or stays the same.
“I’ve seen people drinking on the buses post-ban and have on a number of occasions seen empty cans rolling around…”
You don’t say. You mean some people have no respect for the law? Nah, just wouldn’t happen in London.
“In any case, the main point about the ‘ban’ was that it was mistargetted – the problem is people already being drunk getting on trains, not people seeking out the refuge of a Tube carriage for a quick half.”
That is not the main point about the ban, at all. The main point about the ban is that people shouldn’t have to put up with some mangy chav slobbering over a tin of vile lager, in the next seat.
The vast majority of people, who are already tanked up when they board a train, know how to behave themselves.
More analysis, less Pravda please.
“Prohibiting the consumption of alcohol by law is not doing nothing.”
It’s not a law. It’s a rule of carriage. The most staff can do is ask you to leave the tube.
That said, I don’t think it’s done any harm and probably has cut down on some anti-social behaviour.
It’s no great achievement though even if the likes of AofE are wonderfully grateful for being spared the sight “some mangy chav slobbering over a tin of vile lager”.
AdamB said…
“That said, I don’t think it’s done any harm and probably has cut down on some anti-social behaviour.”
Good. Then that would be a lot more credit than Pravda were allowing for. How refreshing debate is in the pursuit of truth — even in a place like this.
“even if the likes of AofE are wonderfully grateful for being spared the sight “some mangy chav slobbering over a tin of vile lager”.”
Whatever “the likes of AofE” actually is, I think you’ll find a lot of people are in agreement with me on this point, even if their turn of phrase is something less colourful. People know exactly what I’m referring to.
“I think you’ll find a lot of people are in agreement with me on this point”
I think you’ll find a lot of people won’t have noticed any difference, as with most of Boris’s policies.