Paddick Accused of 'Copying' Taxi Plans

Paddick Accused of 'Copying' Taxi Plans
http://www.mayorwatch.co.uk/article.php?slug=Paddick-Accused-of-Copying-Taxi-Plans&article_id=1320
First Published: Tuesday 29 January 2008

LibDem Mayoral Candidate and former 'top cop' Brian Paddick has been accused of stealing policy ideas by Conservative rival Boris Johnson after announcing a series of policies aimed at promoting licensed black cabs.

Describing the cabs as "an integral part of London’s public transport system" Mr Paddick said he would give drivers a seat on the Transport for London board and promised consultation to license or ban pedicabs in London.

However the idea of driver representation on TfL's board had been suggested two weeks ago by Mr Johnson when he addressed a group of London taxi drivers at the Royal Oak Taxi Centre in Paddington.

Johnson seized on Paddick's apparent lifting of his policies, saying commenting: "Nothing in these plans is new. A seat on the board of TFL for black cabs is overdue but is something I have proposed already and a consultation on licensing Pedicabs was run by TFL in 2006."

"It is flattering that Brian Paddick has used his first policy launch to endorse my plans for black cabs in London. What Londoners are calling out for is a change of Mayor, not a copycat Mayor."

A YouGov poll conducted last week for ITV suggested Mr Paddick was trailing behind incumbent Mayor Ken Livingstone and Mr Johnson with just 8% of those interviewed saying they'd vote for him.