• Question by: Richard Barnbrook
• Meeting date: 14 September 2011

Yes, I understand the question area, Madam Chairman. The comment that Joanne made in regard to the political vacuum statement by Mr Coleman was around the fact of the discussions about Plenary. If I understand this correctly, and correct me if I am wrong, Mayor, the constitution of the GLA allows the Acting Chairman or Chairwoman to call back the Assembly at any given time at all. We had people like Kit [Malthouse] here. We also had your deputy, Richard [Barnes] here, yet the Chair decided not to call back the entirety of the GLA. Can you find a reason...

• Question by: Steve O'Connell
• Meeting date: 14 September 2011

Do you not agree, Mayor, that Joanne questions about your returning is a sound question? I also was asked that question by the press at that weekend, and I am satisfied that you returned as soon as you could, bearing in mind the time zones. That is for the record. You are being criticised by colleagues on the other side for lack of action or inaction, but equally you seem to be criticised by the other side for the fact that, quite properly, you have made a very robust defence of the budget allocation from Government to Londoners, which I...

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 14 September 2011

Just very quickly, and this is in line with the question, I am wondering if you can tell us how it is possible for you to offer the moral leadership in this City, given that you have been found in the past to have been a looter yourself?

• Question by: Gareth Bacon MP
• Meeting date: 14 September 2011

Yes, hard though it is sometimes with some of the ridiculous inanities coming from across the floor. Coming back to the opening salvo from Joanne McCartney, Mr Mayor, would you describe the riots that took place at the beginning of August as a common event in this city?

• Question by: Richard Tracey
• Meeting date: 14 September 2011

I think you are right about the feelings of Londoners, Mr Mayor. Obviously, nobody likes to see fares go up. At the same time, is it not right that nobody would want to see the TfL budget suddenly find itself with a £1.3 billion black hole as you found when you came in as Mayor in 2008? Is it not right also that, in fact, in your predecessor's second term as Mayor, bus fares in London, which are really quite critical to many Londoners travelling around London, rose by 32.5%. That included the rather spurious freezing of the fares in...

• Question by: Steve O'Connell
• Meeting date: 14 September 2011

Could I urge you, Mr Mayor, to ensure through the new Commissioner that the wonderful new army of Specials on our streets will also be offered and encouraged to take up public order training? Secondly, would you also ask the new Commissioner to look at the point that James Cleverly and Roger Evans made very well around the availability of officers in the boroughs who are able to combat violence on their streets? Again I know you will join me in congratulating the bravery of the officers in Croydon and Sutton. Croydon is a good example because, on that terrible...

• Question by: Tony Arbour
• Meeting date: 14 September 2011

Given, Mr Mayor, that in my boroughs - Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow - we had very little riot action, if I can put it that way, because the Borough Commanders flooded the streets with every conceivable part of the police body who could wear a uniform and, therefore, frightened away these people, do you not think it would be a good idea if police in the employ of the MPS, while they are travelling to work and on public duties, were to wear uniforms, particularly given that they receive free fares as part of their package? If they were to...

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 14 September 2011

): During the riots, it was suggested that one of the difficulties the police had was that they were treating the incidents as protests long after they had ceased to be protests and were clearly acts of crime. Do you share my concern, Mr Mayor, that elements of the media, in particular the BBC, were referring to these people as protestors long after it was clear to the rest of us that they were criminals?

• Question by: Richard Barnbrook
• Meeting date: 14 September 2011

Thank you, Madam Chairman. I would like to follow on from Roger'scomment, Mr Mayor. I believe, 30 years ago, in the Brixton Riots, it was primarily geared around sus laws (stop and search laws). That was the purpose of their discontent and protest. Have you or this office or the Metropolitan Police Service received any sort of protest concern from the rioters across London in the recent months, or is it simply as other people have mentioned, of wanton greed and violence?

• Question by: Andrew Boff
• Meeting date: 14 September 2011

Mr Mayor, your predecessor appeared on Newsnight during the riots and indicated that the riots were a revolt against the cuts. Do you also think that there was justification for the riots?