Today was Mayor’s Question Time at City Hall. As ever much of the debate was around transport issues – and as I lead on Transport for the LibDems as well as being Chair of the Transport Committee, I get to do all the talking.

Mayor Livingstone, the Tories, Labour etc al. – they all had a go at the LibDems for one thing or another. I can only assume that they are all feeling threatened. The Tories are apoplectic because we have come out against the Mayor’s proposals to extend the Congestion Charge westwards into Kensington & Chelsea. When the Tories are against congestion charging – no one blinks with surprise. But when the LibDems, who are 100% supporters of the congestion charge say no to the extension – then the Mayor really ought to take notice.

Firstly it’s premature. We won’t have any of the proper analysis from the monitoring data until next February – nothing about the impact on business, the economy or the social aspects of the charge. Secondly – it’s going to cost £120million that we haven’t got to set it up – and there will be roughly break even when up between income and running costs. When there is so much that needs doing, it wouldn’t be my first choice for that £120million.

Also – it’s the wrong technological way forward. We must move to Global Satellite Positioning so that we can target congested hot spots – the blunt tool of area charging won’t work to expand the scheme. The first central area was OK because there was a definable logic – people coming into and going home from work.

Congestion Charging needs to grow up and become far more sophisticated and planned for those areas that need it and want it anywhere in London – not just Zone 1.

Only fools (and Ken) rush in …

The other battle we had was over the Governments’ CriminJusticetic Bill to which the LibDems had put down an amendment. What the Government is suggesting is that anyone who is detained at a police station should have

a DNA test AND that the records should be held in perpetuity regardless of whether that person goes onto be charged or convicted. So even if completely innocent – that person would forever have their DNA on record. Moving towards a police state very fast at the moment with ID cards, CCTV cameras, removal of trial by jury.

Obviously there is a balance between catching and incarceratinging criminals and civil liberties – but it is too easy to become draconian in justice’s name and to wake up and find that we live in a state not so different to the communist states we used to loathe. Big Brother is knocking on our door.

If the Government wants to keep a DNA register of citizens – then let it fight for that and have a proper debate – not remove our freedoms by stealth.