Mayor of London

[clapham_gull]

I don't actually much care. And neither by the looks of it do any of our main political parties.

That's probably due to the fact that, they don't want to be seen to be telling Londoners who to vote for and the personalities involved.

Remember Ken originally got in as Independent and apparently (if you believe the BBC) Brown can't bring himself to say "Ken".

On the Conservative side, I'd imagine Boris is a bit of double edged sword.

Popular, but likely to put his foot in it.

Archer was similiar on that front, seemingly popular amoungt Tory voters but there was a lot of suspicion about him within the party. From what I've read, even Thatcher always felt there was something dodgy about him.

One of the best books I've ever read is "Stranger Then Fiction" by Michael Crick. Biography of Archer - it's hilarious.

 

[DJ Leon]

You should care. Like it or not,what happens in London has repercussions around the rest of the country. If the big investment banks etc. get narked off and take their big old corporate offices elsewhere, then many of the regular NSC commuters could certainly be affected. Likewise the money that London generates in taxes is not used solely by London but a large chunk of it gets distributed elsewhere.

OH SHIT! Some of NSC's commuters could be affected?! I'm reading up on this shit NOW.

 

[clapham_gull]

You should care. Like it or not,what happens in London has repercussions around the rest of the country. If the big investment banks etc. get narked off and take their big old corporate offices elsewhere, then many of the regular NSC commuters could certainly be affected. Likewise the money that London generates in taxes is not used solely by London but a large chunk of it gets distributed elsewhere.

That's the interesting thing about Ken isn't it ? His relationship with the City and especially the big Developers in London seems fine.

( if you believe the papers there's been a few fishy things going on there as well....) anyway,

The City are crying out for CrossRail I presume, would the city trust Boris to have anything to do with that ?

 

[Brian Potter]

OH SHIT! Some of NSC's commuters could be affected?! I'm reading up on this shit NOW.

I was just using that as an example of how things can Knock on. The big banks naff off, people lose jobs, taxes paid lessen, the wider community suffers. Even Hassocks!

Clapham Gull:
Yup, it does seem strange that a staunch socialist such as Ken was/is? could acutally keep the City happy.

 

[bigc]

I was just using that as an example of how things can Knock on. The big banks naff off, people lose jobs, taxes paid lessen, the wider community suffers. Even Hassocks!

Clapham Gull:
Yup, it does seem strange that a staunch socialist such as Ken was/is? could acutally keep the City happy.

Places like Hassocks always make me curious. I've sometimes thought such a simple decision as reducing the amount of FCC trains that stop there could cause huge disruption, for all those who have Hassocks type places as a base to commute from. To FCC, it would be a couple of minutes saved, but to Hassocks it would be disasterous.

Mid Sussex Towns need a lobbying body!

 

[Beach Hut]

Boris for me, bored of the nasal estuary prat.

 

[DJ Leon]

I was just using that as an example of how things can Knock on. The big banks naff off, people lose jobs, taxes paid lessen, the wider community suffers. Even Hassocks!

Clapham Gull:
Yup, it does seem strange that a staunch socialist such as Ken was/is? could acutally keep the City happy.

Yeah, I take your point, but I'm not interested in a lot of things which others might consider 'important'. I think we're all guilty of that.

Going back to my previous point though, if you think that this position is so vital why are the Conservative Party putting up Johnson (a joke who they can't trust with a cabinet position) and the Lib Dems, Brian Paddick (a rookie 'marmite' choice instead of a safe pair of hands). The exisitng incumbent was disowned by his party at one point and the higher echelons still wouldn't trust him to organise a House of Commons piss-up. I can only believe that they don't think it's as an important a position as you do.

 

[clapham_gull]

Yeah, I take your point, but I'm not interested in a lot of things which others might consider 'important'. I think we're all guilty of that.

Going back to my previous point though, if you think that this position is so vital why are the Conservative Party putting up Johnson (a joke who they can't trust with a cabinet position) and the Lib Dems, Brian Paddick (a rookie 'marmite' choice instead of a safe pair of hands). The exisitng incumbent was disowned by his party at one point and the higher echelons still wouldn't trust him to organise a House of Commons piss-up. I can only believe that they don't think it's as an important a position as you do.

It is an important position though, very very important with a lot of power.

That's why the labour party fought so hard to ensure Ken didn't get in first time round.

But, it is very much a personality led thing (far much more than the general election in my opinion) and like it or not Ken has a very strong one.

So does Boris and I suspect that's why they've allowed him to do it. They were relying on Greg Dyke originally I think. They tried to do deal with the liberal democrats so he would go in as a cross party candidate (well the Tories and Lib Dems wouldn't put anyone up - and let Dyke have a free reign)

He wasn't interested.

Paddick hasn't got one at all. His media presence up here is almost non existant.

The liberal democrat MP last time (whose name escapes me) was far more engaging and managed to get air space.

 

[Brian Potter]

Yeah, I take your point, but I'm not interested in a lot of things which others might consider 'important'. I think we're all guilty of that.

Going back to my previous point though, if you think that this position is so vital why are the Conservative Party putting up Johnson (a joke who they can't trust with a cabinet position) and the Lib Dems, Brian Paddick (a rookie 'marmite' choice instead of a safe pair of hands). The exisitng incumbent was disowned by his party at one point and the higher echelons still wouldn't trust him to organise a House of Commons piss-up. I can only believe that they don't think it's as an important a position as you do.

Boris got the nod after an election process open to all Londoners. (Our very own London "Primary")

Paddick got the gig after a "one member, one vote" election within the Lib-Dems

 

[Brian Potter]

It is an important position though, very very important with a lot of power.

That's why the labour party fought so hard to ensure Ken didn't get in first time round.

But, it is very much a personality led thing (far much more than the general election in my opinion) and like it or not Ken has a very strong one.

So does Boris and I suspect that's why they've allowed him to do it. They were relying on Greg Dyke originally I think. They tried to do deal with the liberal democrats so he would go in as a cross party candidate (well the Tories and Lib Dems wouldn't put anyone up - and let Dyke have a free reign)

He wasn't interested.

Paddick hasn't got one at all. His media presence up here is almost non existant.

The liberal democrat MP last time (whose name escapes me) was far more engaging and managed to get air space.

Dyke was asked to run as a Tory, but it was him who wanted to have a tie-in with the Lib-Dems. They knocked him back as it was against their party constitution.

 

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

Also interesting is what will happen to Sir Ian Blair after the elections if, and I am saying if, Ken loses.

Blair seems to be so instrinsically linked to Ken that surely he has to go in that case?

They're ideologically similar on many fronts, I'll give you that. However:

The Met Police are scrutinised by the London Assembly, not the Mayor.

The Met Commissioner's job is a Crown appointment, made by the Home Secretary on behalf of Her Maj.

Whatever happens, Ian Blair is staying.

 

[clapham_gull]

Dyke was asked to run as a Tory, but it was him who wanted to have a tie-in with the Lib-Dems. They knocked him back as it was against their party constitution.

Cheers

 

[bigc]

Dyke was asked to run as a Tory, but it was him who wanted to have a tie-in with the Lib-Dems. They knocked him back as it was against their party constitution.

Dyke has since come out and backed Ken. It was in TINY print in the Evening Standard, but it is out there and confirmed.

Plus Ming didn't want to not put anyone forward.

 

[London Calling]

Bollocks. Ken has Ken's interests at heart.



Rubbish. Tories beat Labour in Europe, in the Shires and now in London.



Wanna bet?



Really? Strange we haven't got it already. Wishful thinking LB. Once again the great and the good of the NSC liberal left talking a good fight but just wishful thinking at the end of the day.

Just need fatbadger and NMH to tell us that the public will have a Paulian conversion about Gordon Brown and sweep away the Tories at the next elections.



Yeah right. I'm sure you will. Or more likely a) you won't get to ask the question or b) a skilled and consummate politician will brush past your question easily.

Meanwhile in the real world ALL opinion polls put Boris down to winthe Tories well ahead of Labour in the polls and a lot of lemon-faced Brighton fans who can't quite move on from the Thatcher days.

hEY MATE,

Johnson is an intelligent man, but his knowledge needed of strategic issues to operate London is limited, he has no experience to run this great city, he was put up as a fool guy. The media has had a field day with Livingstones poor choice of advisors but his campaign is also weak at the mo.

But his achievements great - and strangely absent fron his electoral material>

 

[London Calling]

What a strange statement.

With such a important post you'd expect the Tories to put someone up credible first time and second time wouldn't you.

Lets look at them

Archer, Norris and Boris - Surely they can do better than that ?

Do the Tories need warming up or something ?

As for your post above - if I thought Boris would win, I'd say that he would. I just don't think he will - is that acceptible for you ?

Disagree I thought Norris was credible, just that he didn't want to do it, shame his company metro rail or whatever it was called has F*cked up the tube lines so much.

 

[m20gull]

hEY MATE,

Johnson is an intelligent man, but his knowledge needed of strategic issues to operate London is limited, he has no experience to run this great city, he was put up as a fool guy. The media has had a field day with Livingstones poor choice of advisors but his campaign is also weak at the mo.

But his achievements great - and strangely absent fron his electoral material>

But he doesn't need much knowledge. Like all good political jobs this comes with a whole bunch of civil servants to do the work for him.

 

[London Calling]

Most of what has been posted on here has been from non-londoners (not suprisingly), and unless you actually live here it is difficult to actually guage the feelings towards Ken (with the obvious notable exceptions such as Clapham Gull).

My other half, when living in the shires, couldn't understand why I was not a fan of Livingstone. Now, having acutally lived in London for a few years its "that bloody idiot Livingstone!" And this comes from somebody who is a self confessed Liberal, never voted tory in her life, but has decided to swallow a whole lifetime of tory hating to ensure that Ken does not get back in.

Myself? Go Boris! It sucks under Livingstone, it will probably suck under Boris. But it will be entertaining!

You reall want that man overseeing £5bn - tell me what is wrong with Ken's management of London, that your girlfriend dispises so much?

 

[London Calling]

That's the interesting thing about Ken isn't it ? His relationship with the City and especially the big Developers in London seems fine.

( if you believe the papers there's been a few fishy things going on there as well....) anyway,

The City are crying out for CrossRail I presume, would the city trust Boris to have anything to do with that ?

Boris never got involved in any of the Crossrail debates, Ken has been the main vocal proposer, that tells you who should run London.

 

[clapham_gull]

Boris never got involved in any of the Crossrail debates, Ken has been the main vocal proposer, that tells you who should run London.

Didn't even vote I understand ?

 

[London Calling]

But he doesn't need much knowledge. Like all good political jobs this comes with a whole bunch of civil servants to do the work for him.

True and I am one of them, but if you listen to LIvingstone he knows his stuff, he then directs officials accordingly.

Whilst Livingstone has fought for £18bn Crossrail, Boris prats on about removing a few bendy buses, which he can't legally do, since private bus companies own them and not the Mayor?