Boris 'must do better'
Tuesday, 3 February 2009 12:00 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
Tony McNulty, minister for London, has claimed Boris Johnson could do better as Mayor of London.
Asked to provide an end of year report for Mr Johnson at a conference of the thinktank Reform at the London Stock Exchange, Mr McNulty give a tongue-in-cheek view.
"Johnson Minor could do better.
"He shows potential but must stop claiming credit for other boys' work," the minister, who also covers employment and welfare reform, said.
Mr McNulty also stated when Mr Johnson was heading away from his predecessor Ken Livingstone's legacy he was heading "off course".
He added where the government and the mayor have a common purpose, they were working together.
The minister also called on the mayor to "rethink" the decision to not extend the Docklands Light Railway to Dagenham - as London looks to growth into the Thames Gateway.
Mr McNulty also hit out at reports in the Daily Express of his comments that there was "light at the end of the tunnel" for the economy and employment.
He explained on responding to the rise in unemployment to 1.92 million in January, while he admitted eventually there would be a turnaround there was worse still to come - but there was long to go between the two points.
"This will get worse before it gets better, but you have to look beyond."
At the conference session covering the future of the City, Mr McNulty also expressed support for the third runway at Heathrow to aid the development of London.
"The City of London remains important to London, and London remains important for UK recovery.
"The UK needs to learn from its mistakes... and need to learn the lessons to restore the City."
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