"Let Them Eat Cake," Boris Taunts The French

London Mayor and recent have-a-go hero Boris Johnson took a few jovial swipes at Britain's traditional rival, France, yesterday, before going on to describe developments that are making his city a better place for both visitors and Londoners.

Citing an Outer London commercial bakery that annually exports £5million worth of chocolate cake to France as an example of "the intellect, resilience and genius of Londoners", he challenged French President Nicolas Sarkozy to stop pushing Paris as a financial capital of Europe to rival London and instead, "Look to your cake."

Opening the 30th World Travel Market at London's ExCel exhibition centre, the Mayor joked, "I say, let them eat cake...made in Walthamstowe."

Before that, he had used the occasion, that attracts 5,000 exhibitors and 50,000 senior travel professionals, government ministers and international press, to make several significant transport pledges and to "big up" London as a visitor destination.

By the end of this year, the Mayor said, the London Underground and its "over ground" rail links, as well as the commuter river boats, will have an integrated payment system using the Oyster Card. And, by 2012 - when the Olympics come to London - he declared that 40% of the London Underground will be air conditioned. Anyone who has ever taken a sweltering summer journey on one of the Tube's deepest lines, will know what a boon that will be.

The Mayor also described changes and improvements such as increased pedestrianization and "shared space" schemes, increased capacity on the Docklands Light Railway (part of London's public transportation infrastructure) and a proposed bike hire program as developments that will improve the look and feel of London.

On his "shopping list" of London attributes, were:

• twice as many book shops as New York
• twice as many museums as Paris
• less rain than Rome
• the cheapest Big Mac in the world
• the greenest city in Europe
• falling rates of bus and youth crime
• 300 languages spoken - When athletes from 50 countries arrive in the London for the 2012 Olympics, Boris said, "they will find a 'home' crowd of at least 50,000."

But even when boosting London, Boris could not resist a bit more tit-for-tat point scoring with Paris. "The tallest building in Europe is being erected near my office," he said. "I'm thinking of moving in...just to enjoy the view of France."

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