They will criticise their predecessors, and stage a mock horror wide eyed stance at how we have been treated, especially with regards to Uber, and promise that as far as they are concerned, if they get the vote, then the London Taxi Trade can confidently look forward to the next 350 years of prosperity.
Except of course............IT'S ALL BOLLOX !
And the true facts are.......they are all as dodgy, untrustworthy, disloyal and mendacious......as each other !
Sadly for our trade, we have only ever had two Mayor's and they appear to get worse each time we get a new one.
Both Livingstone and Johnson have history of betrayal, albeit Livingstone more than Johnson. To betray their colleagues, allies, friends and family, is all in a day's work for these calibre of people, so what chance do you think we, as a trade have got ? Exactly ! Absolutely none !
Livingstone came to within a whisker of finishing this trade off. His departure certainly couldn't have come any sooner. When the clown took the chalice after him, we thought that surely there cant possibly be a worse person for our call than Livingstone, and welcomed Johnson with open arms.
He started off well. The old schoolboy, mop haired buffoon charm, often posing behind the wheel of one of our taxis, was swallowed by us, and I even had a soft spot for him myself. At least I couldn't imagine Johnson sitting with his arm around an IRA Terrorist (which offended me deeply and personally) or shaking hands with the only other hand that wasn't a hook, on another of our off shore celebrities.
How naïve I was though ! Studying mop head's past form in forensic detail, both private and professional, clearly reveals that the high command of London Mayor, was and still is, merely a Curriculum Vitae endorsement, for higher places.
And his business plan is spot on !
Boris Johnson is absolutely masterful in the art of self promotion. He doesn't require PR companies to boost his appeal. He is capable of doing it all by himself. A private PR company would charge millions to do what comes natural to Johnson.
And unless you find yourself in the unfortunate position as one of his team, one of his loved ones, one of his employees or people like ourselves who are under his command, then Johnson is absolutely adored by millions of the public worldwide.
When I saw the report of him abusing of our colleagues the other night, I knew that public opinion would go against the cab trade. I knew that the public would love the thought of "good old Boris" having a go back and standing his ground. And so did Johnson, make no mistake about that. I bet he put his hands together !
The thing is you see, the British Public love a Boys Own Hero, and Johnson fits their bill perfectly.
I know a person in the Civil Service who works quite closely to Johnson. In reality, he doesn't have very many close friends. Thousands of acquaintances, yes, but not many close friends. I also have an acquaintance who went to the same college in Oxford as Johnson, at the same time. He later went on to become a Major in the Life Guards.
See that messed up hair on interviews ? See the bumbling and under breath humour ? See the shirt tail hanging out and attending press meetings with one sock over his trouser leg, apparently by mistake ? They are all masterful acts designed to gain affectionate support.
All these personality "flaws" are not flaws at all. They have been practised, practised and finely honed to perfection to buy in the public's love and affection, for the overgrown Boys Own Hero. Does it work ? You bet your life it works ! It works like a dream ! The public adore him !
In the real world of course, The London Taxi Trade know better and differently. As do our London Fire Fighters. As do the Tube workers, and as do the London motorists. As far as we are concerned, it is Boris Johnson who has finished off the London Taxi Trade as we all knew it.
Rest assured, the gaffe prone, Have I Got News For You, overgrown school boy, is loved by millions of the British Public, hungry for a different prospective, to the same old boring political faces.
This is bad news for our trade of course. At a time when we are fighting for our professional lives, we need all the help we can get.
Obviously then, with two previous Mayor's out of two trying to kill us...............I am dubious of the relationship we have to look forward to with the third !
You know what really personally winds me up with our politicians ? Its when people like Cameron, Milliband and others sit in a sand pit with children, or have a photo call sitting in a tiny children's chair, with their knees under their chin, painting a picture of a chicken !
How do they still get away with this deception and play acting bullshit ? They still do it on every major election.
Do you reckon Cameron has been in any sandpits with kids, or sat on a six inch chair painting a chicken in the last ten days or so ? Course he hasn't ! Why do it on a pre-election campaign then ?
Very soon, the same old spiel from the new hopefuls will begin gushing out with typical synthetic and patronising emotion.
The fact of the matter is, in all truth and reality............No One Likes Us !
We need to stand shoulder to shoulder in professional trade unity and fight for our survival ourselves.
If we make the mistake of relying on the new Mayor as we have done with the other two................we only have ourselves to blame for our repeated naïve and misplaced judgement.
Be lucky all.
8829 Semtex.
