Big Brother

Written by Simon Hughes on Tue 25th May 2004

It was Brent & Barnet for me on Tuesday. I was at the Metroline bus garage at Willesden Green talking about my ideas for London buses. I want to see the introduction of modern technology to our bus system - using Global Positioning Satellite systems to track and manage bus movements - as successfully used in Brighton. One thing I most certainly want to sort out is that useless 'Countdown' system - as mayor I would provide Londoners with accurate real time information at bus stops. It's simple things like this that make London living that much easier.

My evening saw me cross swords with messrs Norris and Livingstone at the NHS mayoral Health hustings. The two of them were advocating a ban on smoking in all public places something that I don't agree with. Whilst I support a ban on smoking in workplaces I would leave it up to the individual bars and restaurants to decide for themselves whether they want to ban smoking on their premises. Rather than implementing some nanny state solution I want to see a mature approach to the issue. We need a co-ordinated campaign across London, particularly targeted at certain communities, encouraging people to quit smoking and providing the necessary information to help them quit. Lets keep big brother on our TV screens where he belongs.