It’s been five years. How do I propose opening it in just one, especially when the other candidates refuse to even say if they think they can get it open?
Here’s my Twitter thread explaining.
First up – see this thread for why voting for the Labour or Conservative candidate will get you absolutely nowhere. Quick summary: they are both proposing to do the exact same thing they have been doing for the past five years with zero success: https://t.co/3EFV1uaoq0
— Kieren McCarthy (@kieren) July 3, 2024
First up: No, of course *I* can't get it done. This is the problem with career politicians – they think it's all about them. It's about the people they represent. I can get Hammersmith Bridge open in a year by channelling Putney's intense frustration. pic.twitter.com/ON9jOrUcNg
— Kieren McCarthy (@kieren) July 3, 2024
We have two problems. 1. The bridge is too old and unsuitable for modern usage. It's made of wrought iron. It's time is up. And the cost of pretending otherwise is massive – £250m. And years. Five so far; possibly another five. No one knows. pic.twitter.com/nPAevJvx0P
— Kieren McCarthy (@kieren) July 3, 2024
Answer to 1. Get everybody to recognise and agree with the reality that Hammersmith Bridge needs to be replaced with a modern bridge. We are talking about LONDON here. It is global centre. We need to preserve our history but not be pinned down by it. pic.twitter.com/ma13HtDszq
— Kieren McCarthy (@kieren) July 3, 2024
Answer to Problem 2: the money. It will far cheaper to build a new modern bridge. And it will be better and last longer. You would literally be able to build a bridge over that narrow stretch of the Thames in a month. (I have a Masters in Engineering, incidentally) pic.twitter.com/Ei1IhJ2hUi
— Kieren McCarthy (@kieren) July 3, 2024
I've been a campaigning journalist and policymaker all my life and I know how to use people's frustration to force people to act and I will make it impossible for the Treasury to ignore the problem any longer. pic.twitter.com/dMeqU9yJSS
— Kieren McCarthy (@kieren) July 3, 2024
I would make sure that every newspaper, TV show, YouTuber writes about, comments about, asks questions about every failing bridge in London (and the UK) until it becomes impossible to ignore. And the focus/solution? The Treasury setting aside the money. pic.twitter.com/pgqA2oIIOi
— Kieren McCarthy (@kieren) July 3, 2024
Tomorrow, vote for someone with a plan . Vote for someone who will actively tackle the problem of Hammersmith Bridge, rather than make the same old noises with no real expectation of success. Vote for someone who will get things done. Vote for @kieren
— Kieren McCarthy (@kieren) July 3, 2024