The Green Choice for London

As Londoners prepare to make their choice of a Major for the capital on the 1st May, they face a choice of candidates all keen to promote their green credentials.

Ken Livingstone

Tthe incumbent Mayor and Labour candidate, Ken has proved hugely successful in promoting a green agenda that has seen increased bus use against the national trend, and Britain’s first congestion charge. Recently he pushed through proposals for a £25 congestion charge for drivers of 4x4s and other polluting vehicles, and announced plans for a £500 million scheme for 6,000 hire bikes that will be available from stands throughout the city, and new cycleways. He has pushed a wider greener agenda of reducing carbon emissions from offices and houses within the capital. Like the other candidates he is opposed to the expansion of Heathrow airport through cancelling a sixth runway and third terminal. He has trialled hybrid buses and pioneered a low emission zone that penalises the drivers of the most polluting vehicles. Ken is in favour of carbon rationing: "I think every citizen in the world should have the right to their share of carbon, at whatever the globally-sustainable level. That would mean a huge shift of power, both within nations and between nations. " At times he has been a controversial figure with allegations over a "Nazi" jibe at a journalist, and his fondness for a drink. Yet he remains the front runner, the newt-loving survivor of the Greater London Council. Ken’s sheer determination in bringing in, extending, and making the congestion charge more punitive is one of the single greenest measures ever achieved by a leading politician, and for this alone he deserves enormous credit.

Boris Johnson

Bumbling Boris the Conservative clown is a candidate whom it is hard to take seriously, although he has tried to improve his image through getting a haircut and some sharper suits. He has promised more renewable energy, and to teach Ken how to ride a bike. He has seriously damaged any case that he is a green candidate by opposing the Kyoto Treaty, and backing President Bush. He supports building a new airport to the east of London. Boris cannot see the point of carbon rationing: "I cannot for the life of me see how that will work.". Out of the four main candidates he is probably the least green.

Sian Berry

Sian is one of the Green Party’s two principal speakers, a confusing system that will thankfully be replaced when the Party finally elects a single leader later this year. As one would expect she has excellent policies for the environment. Ms Berry said she would cut public transport prices by 20p a journey, triple the budget for cycling measures and use "every measure in the book" to help London generate more of its own energy. She also said she would not build the proposed Thames Gateway bridge and would close HeathrowAirport.

Brian Paddick

The Liberal Democrat candidate, and former policeman, Brian claims only to have had his heating on for less than an hour this winter, and does not own a car. He has called for the extension of tram use, and the removal of the concession on the congestion charge that means that the least polluting vehicles do not currently have to pay. He would boost high streets to encourage people to shop locally. He has a strong record on equality and diversity issues.