Opinion: A capital for children

Raising four children myself, I do have a vested interest in making life in London better for parents.

Anyone who looks after children will worry about whether they are safe when playing in the streets or travelling to and from school. I am determined to make London's streets safer. I have set out plans to put more police on the beat to help to tackle the crime and anti-social behaviour that make parents worry about letting their young children play outside.

Working parents also worry about the amount of time they can spend with their children. Although as Mayor I cannot change the hours people work, I can at least help to make journeys by car and by public transport faster and smoother so that parents spend less time commuting.

Good-quality, affordable childcare is of vital importance to working parents. To ensure that there are sufficient childcare places and that they are affordable for ordinary Londoners, there are three things I would do as Mayor:

First, I will encourage more employers to see the benefits to their business as well as to their employees of assisting with childcare.

Second, I will review the operation of the LDA-run Childcare Affordability Programme, to ensure that parents in London get maximum value for the money spent.

Third, I will urge the Government to halt implementation of changes to the Nursery Education Grant until their potential impact on existing provision can be established.

The election on 1 May is Londoners' opportunity to have their say on a wide range of issues. I will bring honesty and fresh thinking to issues that Ken Livingstone has ignored, from the worry we have as parents for the safety of our children, to the need for every nursery place in London to be a good nursery place. Above all, I want to make London a city where every parent feels safe to let their children walk to school and play in the local park.