Boris Johnson is Mayor of London

[Stan_Lite]

Crown prince of right politics?! Ken is about the most caniving and devious left wing politician in this country! Crown prince of the left if you will....and trust me the left isnt all rosy and happy as its advocates like to make out. Yes Boris made some racist gaffes on the record but im sure theyre nothing compared to the anti-capitalist comments made by Ken and his mate Hugo on their little shopping trips together!


On the olympics:
Its not like the olympics are already running over budget and are a mess anyway. And shouldn't the cabinet minister in charge of them have at least something to say about how theyre run. It isnt all down to the mayor.

Actually, I said clown prince, not crown

I never said Livingstone was any better and, as I've stated on many occasions on these forums, as a lifelong socialist, I detest New Labour with a passion.

Also, I never said the mayor would have full responsibilty for the Olympic preparations but his policies will inevitibly have some impact on how well they can be run - he has as much opportunity to **** things up as the minister(s) in charge.

The point now is not whether Livingstone and his cronies were any good or not, it's whether Johnson and his cronies will be any good or not.

 

[RDM]

I love how the majority of people who are excited about Boris getting nominated neither live or work in London.

Good speeches by both Boris and Ken.

Technically the majority of voting Londoners seemed to be happy to get Boris in power too. So maybe his support isn't just "out of London". If it was, he wouldn't have been elected. Seems to be a lot of sour grapes from Ken supporters more than anything.

 

[Lil old me]

Actually, I said clown prince, not crown

I never said Livingstone was any better and, as I've stated on many occasions on these forums, as a lifelong socialist, I detest New Labour with a passion.

Also, I never said the mayor would have full responsibilty for the Olympic preparations but his policies will inevitibly have some impact on how well they can be run - he has as much opportunity to **** things up as the minister(s) in charge.

The point now is not whether Livingstone and his cronies were any good or not, it's whether Johnson and his cronies will be any good or not.

That explains it.

And it does matter how good ken was because hes the only comparison to use to find out if Boris is better!

 

[dirtydog]

This is a tragedy for London and for Britain I'm afraid.

 

[Tommy B]

If he's generally perceived as an idiot then why did he receive so many votes?

This is a tragedy for London and for Britain I'm afraid.

No, Labour's 1997 general election victory WAS a tragedy for London and for Britain.

 

[Freefaller]

his demeanour may be odd but he talks sense

Absolutely. A lot of people think that he's "buffoonry" is his weakness, what they don't realise is that in spite of his slightly quirky way there lies an intelligent mind and what he does behind closed doors and in administration processes are more than probably of a high calibre.

I'm looking forward to this - it'll take a while for him to bed himself in, but I think this can only be a good thing for London. Ken was bad news - very bad news.

 

[dirtydog]

If he's generally perceived as an idiot then why did he receive so many votes?

Because some of those who voted for him are idiots too.

No, Labour's 1997 general election victory WAS a tragedy for London and for Britain.

Perhaps so, but that is irrelevant to the issue of the London mayor. I would never vote Labour again but I would have voted for Ken because the mayorship transcends partisan politics.

 

[RDM]

If he's generally perceived as an idiot then why did he receive so many votes?

Because democracy only works when your chosen candidate gets in to power!

 

[dirtydog]

Absolutely. A lot of people think that he's "buffoonry" is his weakness, what they don't realise is that in spite of his slightly quirky way there lies an intelligent mind and what he does behind closed doors and in administration processes are more than probably of a high calibre.

How do you know? He has never shown any sign of having those qualities and when put to the test on Newsnight he falls apart. He is a joke.

 

[dirtydog]

Interestingly, Ken got more votes this time than he did in 2004

 

[Lil old me]

Interestingly, Ken got more votes this time than he did in 2004

Part of that is due to the ~10% higher turnout.

Also more interestingly in 2004

Rejected votes:

1st choice:
56,862 (2.96%)
2nd choice:
329,090 (17.14%)

Spoilt ballots...enough to swing the vote to Con or even Lib dem?!

 

[dirtydog]

Part of that is due to the ~10% higher turnout.

I know.

 

[ichabod crane]

its a good thing livingston has gone, but glad i dont live in london, who knows what will happen now!

 

[Mad old tory]

Personally I think this is good news. Pretty certain the tories will have Boris on a tight leash so not too much to worry about there.

 

[Freefaller]

How do you know? He has never shown any sign of having those qualities and when put to the test on Newsnight he falls apart. He is a joke.

I've read articles he's written, spoken to people he has met, and in spite of his appearance he is actually quite a bright chap, I have no reason to doubt him.

I've grown apathetic towards KL in fact I never liked him, I've found him to be a creepy, manipulative little worm and I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him (which is quite far as I'm pretty strong ) however I'm not saying I trust Borris blindly - he'll have to prove himself, and I absolutely agree he has his job cut out, but I'm willing to give him a chance. Frankly, I would have moved away from London had KL stayed for another year - I cannot stand that man and he has done nothing but help himself and exercise his own free will on London.

 

[Richdog]

Woo-hoo, go Boris!

 

[Freefaller]

its a good thing livingston has gone, but glad i dont live in london, who knows what will happen now!

London's not going to change that much really - the London mayor position is a silly one IMO, and will take time to put in place policies and change any damages that Ken has done (if Borris feels he has done any). What I'll be interested in is in a year's time or so how much different London is - people are generally sick and tired, depressed and unhappy in this crappy city, so maybe he'll bring some positivity. Try and turn this grey horrid city into something a bit more positive and pleasant.

 

[Tommy B]

Because some of those who voted for him are idiots too.


Perhaps so, but that is irrelevant to the issue of the London mayor. I would never vote Labour again but I would have voted for Ken because the mayorship transcends partisan politics.

It's also important to remember a lot of people would have voted Ken simply to stop this 'idiot' getting the role as Mayor.

To be honest I think he deserves a chance. As has been stated, he does have a strange demeanour but a book should not be judged by its cover, especially with politicians!

 

[dirtydog]

I've read articles he's written, spoken to people he has met, and in spite of his appearance he is actually quite a bright chap, I have no reason to doubt him.

I've grown apathetic towards KL in fact I never liked him, I've found him to be a creepy, manipulative little worm and I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him (which is quite far as I'm pretty strong ) however I'm not saying I trust Borris blindly - he'll have to prove himself, and I absolutely agree he has his job cut out, but I'm willing to give him a chance. Frankly, I would have moved away from London had KL stayed for another year - I cannot stand that man and he has done nothing but help himself and exercise his own free will on London.

For a supposed left winger, Ken has been very pro business and his liberalisation of the planning laws has helped London's current skyscraper building boom - which needs to occur if London is to remain ahead of New York as the world's pre-eminent financial centre. Boris is on the record as being opposed to these new buildings and also airport expansion at Heathrow, both of which mean he is not good for business and the prosperity of London and Britain.

 

[Mad old tory]

For all the people putting Boris down, he has got a decent (2.1) degree from Oxford. Classics or not, that's more than a lot of people on this board would manage.