Ten Years Ago today I shook hands with Boris Johnson in Tottenham
I’m not unfamiliar with Labour leaders at least from Tony Blair on, having heard them speak and on occasion met them. Tory leaders are rather different.
However ten years ago on Friday afternoon 12th August 2011 Boris Johnson was in Tottenham. Its not the kind of place he’d usually be seen. Even 10 years on its firmly red rather than red wall.
The occasion of course was the aftermath of the Tottenham riot which had taken place the previous Saturday.
Johnson was the Mayor of London and had graciously decided to cut short a holiday to return to the UK mid-week to see what was happening.
By Friday PM he was in Tottenham. I was then President of Haringey TUC (Ive stepped down since largely due to the weight of other national trade union responsibilities) and had general advance notice of a Mayoral visit.
It was mid-afternoon when Johnson appeared at Bruce Grove station on Tottenham High Rd. There was a small crowd waiting to give him friendly advice.
I was able to shake his hand (I’ve washed my hands many times since) and press him on the need for investment in jobs in the area. He listened politely and moved on.
What happened? As with so many Johnson stunts, absolutely nothing of significance at all.
Some funding did come to the area but 10 years on Tottenham still has amongst the highest levels of unemployment and poverty in England
Leave a Reply