I know what I need to do... just give me four more years, says Boris

Boris Johnson today claimed he has saved Londoners almost £500 over the past four years as he prepares to unveil his vision for London in a speech this weekend.

The Mayor will tell tomorrow's Conservative Party spring forum that he can "see what needs to be done" for the capital as he reveals his nine-point plan for a possible second term. ]

Mr Johnson will use the speech to attack his rival Ken Livingstone, saying he sees "real risks for this city and this country" if the Labour candidate is elected on May 3. In his first major set of announcements in the mayoral election campaign, he will also pledge to create 200,000 new jobs, restore 300 acres of green space in the capital and plant 20,000 street trees.

The Mayor, who has said he will cut his share of the council tax precept if re-elected, will claim he has put £445 back in Londoners' pockets by freezing the tax over the past four years.
However, it has emerged that the figure is calculated by assuming that Mr Livingstone would have dramatically raised tax had he won the 2008 election. Mr Livingstone today described that claim as "nonsense".

A spokesman for Mr Livingstone said: "Ken left strong balances that has made a council tax freeze possible. Ken has said every year of this mayoral term that he would have frozen the council tax, so the story is nonsense, but Boris Johnson's council tax freeze is massively cancelled out by his fare rises."

Appealing for another four years to continue his investment programme, he will say: "I feel like a man who has built half a bridge. I can see the other side. I can see what needs to be done.
"I hope I am not normally seen as a pessimistic sort of character but on May 3, I am afraid I see real risks for this city and this country."

Criticising Mr Livingstone, he will add: "The problem was that the whole budget was out of control. My determination to end the waste and mismanagement of the previous mayor has freed up the money to pay for a strong plan for our future."

The Mayor will also pledge to invest £221 million to transform high streets and reduce Tube delays by 30 per cent by 2015 if elected. He says that by cutting waste at City Hall, he will be able to free up £3.5 billion for services.