April Pond Invites Boris Johnson to Spend a Day on the Broads

5.15.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Jul 2008

APRIL Pond, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Broadland, has invited Mayor of London Boris Johnson to spend a day with her visiting the Norfolk Broads. Her invitation follows dismissive comments made by Mr Johnson today about the value of the Broads as a tourist destination.

April said: "I was astonished to see Boris' dismissive comments about holidaying in the Norfolk Broads. Tens of thousands of people from the U.K. and beyond visit the unique and beautiful environment of the Norfolk Broads each year. For one of the country's most prominent politicians to dismiss the Broads as a holiday destination is insulting. Thousands of Norfolk people work hard to make sure that visitors have an enjoyable stay and a warm welcome. As Mayor of London, Boris should be using his position to encourage tourism not just to London but to also to other desirable spots such as Norfolk.

"I am writing to Boris to ask him to join me for a day on the Norfolk Broads so he can experience their beauty for himself. Like the many visitors who flock here, I am sure he will find that they are a great place to relax and unwind.

"I am sure that if Boris were to visit here, his experience would convince him why so many people choose to take their holidays here - and why so many people return again and again."

Conservative Mayor of London Boris Johnson wrote (Daily Telegraph, Tuesday 22 July 2008): ""So let me lay it on the line. Some time before the end of August, I will grab a week's leave, like a half-starved sealion snatching an airborne mackerel, and whatever happens that leave will not be taken in some boarding-house in Eastbourne. It will not take place in Cornwall or Scotland or the Norfolk Broads. I say stuff Skegness. I say bugger Bognor. I am going to take a holiday abroad, and in my view it would be absurd, hypocritical and frankly inhumane to do anything else..."