Boris Johnson has been accused of repeatedly ignoring expert advice on the viability of his so-called vanity projects as London mayor, leaving taxpayers with a bill of nearly £1bn and rising. “These projects tell us that Boris never reads the papers and isn’t great on detail,” Norris told the Guardian. Between them they had cost the taxpayer £940m by 2017 and the price has since edged up still further. The taxpayer could have been saved the bill if Johnson had listened to advice, according to Joanne McCartney, the current deputy mayor of London and assembly member under Johnson. King said Johnson first ignored his conditions for chairing the commission in a dishonest announcement to the press and then refused to published its findings.

Source: The Guardian July 16, 2019 17:04 UTC