Judging from the results of the Mayoral and Assembly elections, Millbank’sability to get its message across is slipping. Many voters hadn’t evenrealised there was going to even be an Assembly, let alone how to vote forit without spoiling over 100,000 ballot papers. Perhaps Millbank should haveconcentrated its efforts more on the Assembly and less on poor old Frank.

It was a great night, however, for the Liberal Democrats – four of uselected to the London. And on top of that the news of our stunning victoryin the Romsey by-election! It certainly made up for the 16-hour count stuckin the QE2 conference centre, which has all the attractions of a dismalairport lounge.

The day after, we (all the parties) went into the temporary offices atRomney House. Well actually Labour met somewhere else because they ‘wantedto be alone’. They did manage to make a flying visit to put their towels onthe deckchairs (bag their offices).

I had never met Ken before. Like most Londoners, I’ve enjoyed his nasalviews on a variety of TV shows. However, nearly everyone I had met duringthe campaign who had known or worked with him didn’t have a good word to sayabout him. Not being particularly judgmental, I was glad when he respondedto our invitation to come and ‘share his vision’ with the LibDem Group. Kensaid all the right things: inclusive, informal, cross-party working, anideas hothouse, Londoners had spoken, etc. I couldn’t have put it better.Why then did it feel like the Kiss of the Spiderwoman?

Having observed the bizarre and less than admirable behaviour of politiciansin the House of Commons, and for that matter, in Haringey Council chamber, Ihave high hopes that the London Assembly will be different – but then, I ama born optimist.

I couldn’t help noticing, however, the Labour members on route to theinaugural meeting of the Assembly, all stopping to pin a red rose to theirlapels. A yucky, but harmless form of tribalism.

Sadly, I can’t say the same for the Tory tribalism exhibited during thefirst meeting. I know a week is a long time in politics, but they seem tohave already forgotten Norris’s slogan ‘Action not Politics’. The firstthing they gave to London was ‘Politics not Action’ putting down a motionagainst the ‘principle of congestion charges’. It was simply aimed at tryingto expose Labour’s problems with Ken. Labour members undoubtedly haveproblems being caught between Ken and Tony, (rock and hard place are thewords that spring to mind) but cheap political shenanigans set a sour toneat the first meeting.

The Assembly needs to fix London’s problems, not just be an old-fashionedpolitical talking shop. Congestion is a real problem – a problem that costsLondoners dear in terms of health, cost to business and loss of personaltime. If congestion charges are set sensibly, reduce traffic, cut pollutionand are only introduced after tangible public transport improvements- thenthey will have my whole-hearted support.