There’s a big advert for Oyster cards in today’s Manchester Evening News. I’m sure the MEN advertising department will be delighted, but I’m not sure that the good taxpayers of London would share their delight if they knew how Mayor Ken was spending his marketing budget.
I actually have an Oyster (although it actually cost me money the first time I used it) but I’ve never met anyone who could benefit from having one that isn’t aware of the cards already. Seems to me like more pointless spending, but then with Ken Livingstone that is hardly a surprise!
My Oyster card cost me money the first time I used it as well, although I think that may be the idea…
Waste of money though. I await one appearing in rural Devon.
..and should you try to use your Oyster card when you don’t have enough cash left on it (and I don’t know of anyone who regularly checks their balance) you get stung on the bus for £2, instead of the correct 90p fare.
Livingstone’s waste is legendary down here. We regularly get a full colour propaganda sheet, sorry ‘newspaper’, called ‘The Londoner’ distributed across London, which is just full of PR stories for Ken, showing what a wonderful job he is (not) doing.
Has anyone checked the recent Taxpayers’ Alliance story on Council publicity spending:
http://tpa.typepad.com/waste/publication/index.html
Could be something to do with people heading down to see family/friends in London for Christmas, I’d imagine.
Naturally, if the Blond Bombshell was mayor instead – all advertising would stop. I think not. Its not exactly something which the mayor (of any party) would sign off personally.