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Three weeks in and the London bike hire scheme is being hailed as a success. Cyclists, from the proficient to the not so proficient, can be seen everywhere gliding (or wobbling) about town on the distinctive blue bikes. But, there is a group of individuals who have shunned the so-called Boris Bike* and even the bus, tube or occasional taxi in favour of the chauffeur driven car. Who are these people?, I hear you cry! They are all members of the same Coalition Government which pledged to cut waste by axing chauffeur driven ministerial cars.

What was it David Cameron said? "If there is something that really annoys people it's seeing politicians swanning around in chauffeur-driven cars like they're the Royal Family." However, a few months into the Conservative/LibDem Government and seven departments show no sign of given up their cars, while many other secretaries of state continue to cling on to their own chauffeur driven car. Perhaps this was another one of those Tory/LibDem "promises" that wasn't really a promise. It's hard then for Cameron and Clegg to claim we're "all in this together."

Fellow MP Tom Watson has estimated that axing chauffeur driven ministerial cars - such as the numerous Jaguars Cameron, William Hague, Ken Clarke, Michael Gove, Eric Pickles et al refuse to let out of their grip - in favour of using cars where necessary from the Government Car Service Pool, as stated in the new ministerial code published on 21st May, could deliver savings to the taxpayer of at least £6.2 million per year. That's certainly not a figure to be sniffed at. It could keep my Oyster card - and yours - topped up for life!


* It seems a little unfair on Ken Livingstone calling them Boris Bikes given that the former London Mayor was the one who put all the legwork (pardon the pun) into getting a bike hire scheme for the Capital. Couldn't we call them the slightly less catchy, Ken Cycle instead? No? Alternative name suggestions on a postcard, please!