In one of his biggest decisions since becoming Mayor – competing with the ousting of Ian Blair and the freezing of council tax – Boris Johnson has, as expected, scrapped the westwards extension of Ken Livingstone’s congestion charge.
Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers – who differs with the Mayor on an alternative airport to Heathrow – welcomed the Mayor’s honouring of West Londoners’ views:
"Boris is today honouring an important election pledge to let local people decide on the future of the Western Extension of the congestion charge. Wherever they are in the country, it is always important that local congestion charging schemes are locally driven not forced on people from above. This consultation shows that residents in West London want the extension scrapped and Boris is right to respond to their views."