Off the Rails or On Track? Evaluating Johnson and Khan's public transport policies

Seminar abstract

This presentation looks at the Mayors' policy record on Transport for London (TfL) 2004-15.

It assesses accusations of financial irresponsibility as the organisation struggles in the wake of COVID-19 by situating the political dimensions of transport policy decisions in a profit vs. utility maximising framework. 

It also suggests synonymity between politicians and managers at TfL requires consistency and consensus in long term policy making in order to preserve the appearance of impartiality in a heterogeneous and cosmopolitan city. 

In conclusion I find that all the Mayors’ have pursued a utility maximising transport strategy irrespective of their party loyalties and consequently the current Mayor’s policies have been no more, or less, financially imprudent than his predecessors’. 

Booking

This seminar is free to attend with no need to register in advance.

We welcome you to share this events with your friends, colleagues and classmates.

 Join this seminar online on Wednesday 5th May at 1pm.

Speaker bio

James joined the University of Essex in 2019 as a Lecturer in Management.

He was previously an associate Lecturer at the University of York and a regular Officer in the Armed Forces where he held a series of appointments in the Educational and Training Services branch.

His mainstream teaching work covered modules on management and leadership, military analysis of strategy, international relations and cognitive bias.

Other related work included advising on the design and delivery of promotion courses for the Royal Engineers and for some foreign Armed Forces.

He also had significant engagement with language teaching in the UK and the Middle East, serving as head of the language wing at the Defence College of Intelligence and Security. James has completed a PGCE in Further Education and an MSc in Educational Practice and Innovation.

His PhD and subsequent research interests focus on the finance, governance and leadership of organisations in a historical context.

James has recently published an article in The Conversation titled Mayoral elections: is London’s transport system on track or off the rails?