Congratulations to Boris Johnson: Promises now must be kept

In what was an acrimonious fight to head the governance of London, Boris Johnson once again defeated his Labour adversary Ken Livingstone. For his part, Livingstone announced his retirement from front line politics.

There are many who have said that the only bright element to come out of these elections was the Independent candidate Siobhan Benita. For a long time she ran neck and neck with two other big party machines –Liberal Democrats and the Greens- eventually coming 5th.

But it is Boris Johnson who will fly the capitals flag for the next four years, and with him the hopes and challenges for millions of Londoners. Johnson’s biggest pledge was around creating 250,000 jobs, which will require the Mayor, the banks, the industry and communities all playing a significant role if he is to deliver on this bold plan.

Specifically for London’s Black and minority ethnic communities, Johnson has made some very clear promises:

• To host a bank and Black business summit in a bid to unlock funds and support for small and medium Black businesses.
• A review of Black deaths in police custody. ‘I am deeply troubled by the levels of young men dying in police custody and the pain it is causing to families’, he told a 700-strong audience during a ‘Black Britain Decides’, hustings meeting in Kilburn.
• Help raise one million pounds for after school and business clubs.
• Help raise 50k for Black history month .
• Deliver the 1000 mentors for Black youths.

The re-elected Mayor Boris Johnson will want to fulfil all of these promises he has made, but there will be many competing priorities that will be demanding of the Mayor’s time. If the capitals BME communities want him to deliver, we must hold him and his administration to account, and where necessary help and encourage him to fulfil these pledges. It is correct that we demand the Mayor keep his promises, but we have a role to play too.

Politics and activism doesn’t end when the elections are over. On the contrary now the work begins.

Simon Woolley