• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 18 November 2006

But do you accept that it is not really a proper comparison, because the trams in Croydon were built on old railway lines? They were not digging up a major arterial road.

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 18 November 2006

It was just an idea.

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 18 November 2006

I welcome that, Mr Mayor, and I feel sure that when Steven Pound gives his views and says that anybody who supports the tram must be barking, I trust that he is not referring to you.

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 18 November 2006

You share my commitment, Mr Mayor, but I note that the support for the tram has actually fallen every time you have done a new survey. Do you think that Andrew Slaughter, Steven Pound and Piara Khabra, who will have to vote for this in the House of Commons, will actually vote in favour of the Transport and Works Act? Do you think they will commit political suicide on your behalf?

• Question by: Darren Johnson
• Meeting date: 18 November 2006

Why not?

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 18 November 2006

I will do, if you allow me to. If you will join me in congratulating them in undertaking and nurturing the Diwali festival for a number of years, it was a huge success. It was also a good story in the media. I am just wondering whether we can expect the same treatment for the Eid festival on Trafalgar Square on 28 October?

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 18 November 2006

As Diwali has been mentioned, Mr Mayor, can I wish you a Happy New Year, and can I also invite you to congratulate my constituent, Mr Bhatia who actually was the initiator of all of this, some three years ago?

• Question by: Richard Barnes
• Meeting date: 18 November 2006

Thank you. However, you would be amazed if I did not follow up on the West London Tram. Given that, in May this year, you laid down the political lives of your compatriots, or whatever one calls them these days in the Labour Party - comrades, that is the word - in Ealing and in Hammersmith & Fulham, I find it surprising that you are now prepared to commit political suicide over the next two years. Is this a wholly rational decision?

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 18 November 2006

Thank you for your verbal report. No doubt, there will be some follow-up from others who are on the MPA about clarifications for your conversations with the Home Secretary, and the West London Tram will be brought up later on in subsequent questions. The thing I wanted to do was actually just congratulate GLA Events and Media team for doing a very good event on Sunday at Trafalgar Square.

• Question by: Angie Bray
• Meeting date: 18 November 2006

I think it would have to be a consideration. It is about £750 million. Is that going to be more money you are going to be borrowing, which is going to, again, have an impact on fare rises?