London Mayor - "We've got to get over the Neanderthal Clarksonian approach to cars."
May 24, 2011 - Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images Europe
Here’s a story that will surely warm some left-leaning hippie-green hearts…
It seems that London is hellbent on keeping congestion to a minimum and it’s willing to do so at the cost of more than £5.3 million to American taxpayers. That’s the tab the US Embassy has run up in “C-Charges”; and the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, says he intends to collect.
But wait, it gets even better. The Mayor also says President Obama and his “Beast” – you know, the Cadillac that bottomed out the other day – will also get hit with a fine.
“Our roads were not closed during the President’s visit so his motorcade will pay. The Beast will pay the charge, I’m delighted to say.”
“We didn’t charge the Pope when he was here because all the roads were closed, so the Popemobile was exempt. But this was different.”
The US embassy’s outstanding bill is the highest, with well over 45,000 notices since the C-charge was introduced in 2003. A source there said they were unaware of the conversation between the President and the Mayor, adding: “Our position on the congestion charge is well known.
“We conscientiously abide by all UK laws, including paying fines for all traffic violations, such as parking and speeding violations.
“Our position on the congestion charge is based on the 1960 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which prohibits the imposition of this sort of tax on diplomatic missions.”
Here’s the line that tree-huggers the world over are sure to love…
Mayor Johnson: ”Using an electric car couldn’t be simpler. We’ve got to get over the Neanderthal Clarksonian approach to cars.”
“Neanderthal Clarksonian approach to cars?”
I’d grunt if I thought he would hear me.
[...] If “we the people” weren’t getting stuck with the tab, this would be funny: It seems that London is hellbent on keeping congestion to a minimum and it’s willing to do so at the cost of more than £5.3 million to American taxpayers. That’s the tab the US Embassy has run up in “C-Charges”; and the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, says he intends to collect. [...]