The right mayor or a nightmare? | Features

The right mayor or a nightmare
FRANK DOBSON	SUSAN KRAMER	KEN LIVINGSTONE	STEVEN NORRIS
59, Labour	49, Liberal Democrat	55, independent	55, Conservative
Former health secretary. Worked for Camden Council in the 1970s, during its “loony left” phase. Reputation: Amiable, buffoon, fond of dirty jokes.	A former vice-president of Citibank in Chicago; expert in financing transport infrastructure. Reputation: Well-informed, hard working and clever.	Socialist, former head of the GLC turned MP, restaurant critic and after-dinner speaker. Reputation: Colourful and withering turn of phrase.	Former Tory transport minister, MP and transport adviser. Reputation: Philandering, amiable and competent scouser.

On tall buildings
“London doesn’t need tall buildings in order to create an identity – most of our finest buildings are not particularly tall.” But he is not opposed to tall buildings – as long as Londoners are able to go up and look out of them.	“I don’t have a fundamental opposition to tall buildings, but they have to have some bearing on proportionality. I don’t think high-rise is a simple way to deal with the shortage of housing in London.”	“I want London to be identified with landmark modern buildings on the skyline as much as with its historic skyline. I would like to see graceful, tall buildings, not the slab-like Canary Wharf tower and the two that are about to join it – three robotic suppositories.”	In favour of tall buildings, so long as they do not overshadow anything of monumental importance. Alert to it as a prestige issue, with London having few good-quality tall buildings. May examine proposals from Labour boroughs to develop tall buildings.

On strategic planning powers
“We need to get the framework right. Brownfield first. But we need high-quality design and development integrated into the local environment, with good transport links and access to local services. I want to ensure that all Londoners have access to quality open spaces and parks, and that our open spaces are secured for future generations.”	“I am concerned that we don’t end up with a situation where people say: “Ah yes, that was the Kramer period of building. One person’s taste shouldn’t dominate. I am concerned that developers should not use an exciting architect to get outline consent and then build something else, as is happening at Spitalfields.”	“With strategic sites, I would want architects and developers to come to me at the start of the planning process. There is a huge potential for Londoners to speak up for what they want to see, so it will no longer be a case of “the planners have done it to us”. I want to have a lot more tree planting and green spaces to enhance the civic spaces.”	“I am in favour of developing areas in a holistic way, not through zoning. We need to have multidisciplinary groups of professionals to address planning applications of strategic importance.” Will require contractors working on London’s roads to finish work by morning rush hour. Will extend Westminster’s considerate contractors scheme.

On the Tube
“With the PPP, if there is an overspend it is the contractors’ overspend. The design, build and maintain contract is an incentive to get the build bit right at the start to save on maintenance costs. The PPP will allow us to start improvement to the Tube earlier than currently proposed.”	“I want to keep the Tube in public hands, raise money for improvements by issuing revenue bonds on the financial markets and put an efficient management in place. The Liberal Democrat policy will cost the taxpayer £1bn less than a public-private partnership. I want an honest cost comparison between PPP and the public sector option.”	“The consortia should give up and go home. They’re wasting their time. If I get in, I’ll seek a judicial review to stop it going through.”	“The government’s proposals for the Tube are half-baked. They will not deliver the improvements that Londoners need so badly. I urge it to abandon outdated dogma and let commercial operators take over the running of the Tube.”

On housing and regeneration
“We need to ensure that we have affordable housing for key public sector workers. Design needs to be of the highest quality – we must learn the mistakes of the low-quality, high-density estates of the past.”	“I will pursue a strategy which generates a lot more affordable housing, using the spatial development strategy and its effect on the unitary development plans. I will encourage greater use of planning gain, so that a significant proportion of new development in London is given over to social housing.”	“Most MPs have no idea of the extent of the housing need in London, We have got to make them more aware and lobby for a tenfold increase in expenditure on housing.”	He will encourage communities and partnerships to develop housing associations and PPPs to provide more low-cost housing for key public workers – teachers, nurses and police officers.

On the GLA building
“It’s in the right location; the shape we can discuss.”	“I’m delighted it’s in Southwark, but I hate how grandiose, exclusive and phallic it looks.”	“Has the potential to be a great building but we should only go in on the basis that it’s the best financial deal.”	“Right site, wrong building. I’ll use it if I absolutely have to.”