Boris Johnson webchat, TODAY, Mon 16 Apr, 11.30am-12.30pm

[FrancesMumsnet]

In the run up to the London Mayoral elections in May, we're very pleased to announce that Boris Johnson will be joining us for a webchat on Monday 16th April from 11.30am to 12.30pm. In May 2008, Boris was elected the first Conservative Mayor of London. He was the MP for Henley-on-Thames from 2001 to 2007, and held the posts of Vice Chairman, Shadow Minister for the Arts and Shadow Minister of Higher Education.

Do please join us for the webchat. Boris is keen to hear your views and to answer your questions. As ever, if you can't make it, please post up your advance questions here.
Thanks, MNHQ

Hero

@painterlyswoosh

Boris - cycling. What are you going to do to make sure that fewer cyclists die in London on bikes this year? And to make cycling safer and easier?

Any particular plans for the Kings cross junction that is incredibly dangerous and has already claimed lives?

I am a cyclist first and foremost. I do it every day, so I am acutely aware of what needs to be done. We?re reviewing those difficult junctions (I will ask my transport officials to consider King?s Cross) and we?ve got the budget to make the improvements. We?re working with companies who use large lorries to fit bigger mirrors so they can see cyclists in time. All of our bus drivers are thoroughly trained to watch out for cyclists.

I think we all have a responsibility to improve cycle safety. The most effective thing cyclists can do to be safe is wear a helmet, be visible, be patient and respectful. Let?s be honest ? we?ve all lapsed on these things from time to time. But the recent tragedies remind us that it?s the most important thing we can do to stay safe.

Also, what are you going to do to maintain links with other main cities in the UK- Birmingham, Coventry, Manchester, Leeds, which can bring London investment and vice versa. As the nations largest city we also have a responsibility to help other cities prosper too. So, if I vote for you, how will your office be not only good for London but good for the UK??

To all those who have asked embarrassing questions about my hair:-

i apologise for any scruffiness and am grateful to an assortment of hairdressers/barbers for their efforts

if spared by the electoral reaper i promise to be as tidy as i can possibly be for the Olympics

Please don't, we've met and I like your hair just the way it is

Boris, what will you do to make good quality childcare more affordable for Londoners? My partner and I are in the adoption process, want to adopt a sibling group (of little Londonders), and despite having good jobs probably can't afford to taken on more than two children because of the cost of care!

Boris, a word to the wise, do take your hands out of your pockets at the Olympics, won't you, not like the launch at Beijing? Or we will have to send one of the more stern Mnetters to tell you off most severely.

Leave him alone, Stratton.

Boris, your hair always looks clean. HTH.

Hi Boris!
I want my kids to be safe cycling to school - when are you going to commit to 20mph on TFL controlled roads? In Holland half of all kids cycle to school - we could have the same and reduce the shocking rate of 1 in 5 obese kids in London.

@crazynanna

How do you feel about the Leader of your Party's Housing Benefit reforms' and how they will in reality make many families leave London,uprooting their children from school,losing their jobs and so on? I live,like you,in Islington,and quite frankly it is quite alarming on how many of my daughter's school friends are leaving the school and the borough due to the changes'.

When they were proposed, I was very worried about their impact in London and the upheaval on families with deep roots in their areas. The principle of making work pay better than benefits is something I agree with, but I argued that London was an exceptional case because of the high cost of housing. I persuaded the Government to give us more time for existing claimants (an extra 9 months) and more money for boroughs to help households either move or, in some circumstances, stay where they are or within their area. I hope this will make the changes more bearable for the families affected.

Boris - how did you choose the middle name Lettice for your daughter?

Dear Boris, have you actually reviewed the studies on cycling with a helmet?

There is no consensus on whether they improve safety at all and they certainly have behavioural disadvantages in terms of both cyclists AND motorists compensating for their perceived protection by cycling and driving more dangerously.

A helmet is NOT a substitute for safe cycling and safe roads, and it's very irresponsible to tell people to just put a helmet on and it will magically protect them from the tipper trucks and killer HGVs.

I could do that, Bups and I could hold a hand each.

@gazzalw

Hi Boris!

Have noticed that whilst Borough Education Departments are having to rapidly step up to the mark regarding schooling the ongoing baby-boom (of 2002/3 onwards), there seems to be a certain reticence to address the fact that these children are rapidly approaching secondary schooling (think the oldest of the cohort are now in Year 4). What are you planning to ensure that there will be enough quality secondary schooling to meet demand in the coming years? The emphasis here is on schools that parents will want to send their children to, not ones that have spare places but are not up-to-standard!

Many thanks

Although the Mayor has no direct say over education, I feel very strongly about our school standards. It?s simply not good enough that literacy and numeracy are still so poor.

In the short term, I can make a nuisance of myself and get a better deal out of the Government. Last year, I persuaded the Government to invest an extra £260m for primary and secondary school places and just last week I secured an additional £300m for more primary school places.

But London still faces a big shortfall in school places and you?re absolutely right ? the focus cannot just be on trying to cram as many in as possible regardless of quality. That?s why I?ve set up an education enquiry in London, to make a proper assessment of what?s needed. We will then take our findings and use them to make the case to Government. I?ve also sponsored Mayoral academies. The two in Enfield recently increased the number of pupils getting five or more good GCSEs including English and Maths. If elected, I will make GLA owned land available to those wanting to start Free Schools, so parents have greater say and better choice.

@scottishmummy

Boris did you and Ken really square up to each other in that lift?resulting in the debacle about declaring individual tax

Dear Scottishmummy

This incident has been slightly exaggerated.

I am afraid the former mayor persisted in telling what i will politely call and untruth (after i had taken the trouble to correct him privately) and it was necessary to be more direct...

This election is about trust

and to a degree that some of my officials find amazing i have kept my 2008 manifesto commitments to London

and i will do so again!

Poulay last time I read the literature on this it suggested they were vital for children, who are more likely to fly over the handlebars in an accident, and who have softer skulls, and less important for adults, who are more likely to break an arm or a leg in an accident.

"If elected, I will use the position I have to persuade employers to show more flexibility and match women with the right skills with part-time job shares, creating more jobs for women who find it difficult to combine work with looking after a child."

Really - how? This kind of thing can't really be sorted between chaps, over Hurlingham G&Ts, can it Boris?

BoffinMum, there are not many children cycling on the congested, HGV-ridden roads of London.

Thanks Boris I like the sound of what you are doing. My nephews live in Camden. And the latest incident was reported to the Police with descriptions but don't hold out much hope of them being found.

On a positive note, I was burgled last year. I cannot praise the Police response enough. They arrived within 10 minute of my call the aftercare was brilliant and they even found my car that was nicked. (Probably says something about the state of my car.)

I think you are doing a good job and really hope Ken doesn't get back in.

@Norfolkmumma

What is your view re the changes to Child Benefit?

Alas I am not the chancellor

As London is special case i must tell you that i made the case repeatedly to the government that they should lift the threshold for withdrawal

The best thing I can do is keep free travel for children under 18 in full time education

and keep council tax low

and fight for funding for London

In Scotland a lot of charities & organisations have been refused lottery funding as it is being diverted to London due to the Olympics.
The Olympics does not benefit the rest of the UK despite what some may say so do you think it's fair other countries in the UK are suffering as a result?

Certainly when Glasgow hosts the commonwealth games I doubt very much that charities in London will suffer.

@thinneratforty

Is there anything you could do to extend the R11 bus route to the Princess Royal University Hospital? It currently stops at Green St Green and is the only bus that could potentially go between Queen Mary's Sidcup Hospital to the Princess Royal - would be really useful for relatives visiting patients who are no longer treated at QMS but who live in Bexley.

I will ask my transport officials to look at this, as I know many Londoners rely on these types of local bus services. As ever, it?s a question of whether we have the budget to extend these types of service ? but despite the tough financial conditions we have managed to maintain local bus services in the outer Boroughs so I hope we can do something with the R11. We certainly couldn?t if the transport budget were cut, which is what some people are advocating in this election.

Transport is not free for under 18 in london Boris, the zip card takes money off!