Ken or Boris?

First topic message reminder :

May 3 is the date set for the London Mayoral election. The three main candidates are Boris Johnson (Tory), who has been Mayor of London since 2008, Ken Livingstone (Labour), who was Mayor from 2000 until 2008, and Brian Paddick (Lib Dem). As Paddick is currently polling around 7%, I think we can discount him.

From 1986 to 2000, London had been the only major city in the Western world without its own elected authority. That was because when Labour regained control of the Greater London Council (GLC) in 1981, Thatcher, an enemy of democracy, decided to abolish it. She also abolished six metropolitan councils which just happened to be Labour-controlled. It's hardly surprising that she was a personal friend of General Pinochet, a man not noted for his democratic credentials.

Ken Livingstone was born in Streatham in London in 1945 and went to Tulse Hill Comprehensive School. He worked as a cancer research laboratory technician at the Royal Marsden Hospital. In 1971, he became a councillor in Lambeth, and he was the leader of the GLC from 1981 until its abolition in 1986. He was the MP for Brent East from 1987 until 2001.

Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, a descendant of an illegitimate child of George II, was born in 1964 and went to Eton and Oxford, where, as a member of the Bullingdon Club (in the company of Cameron and Osborne) he spent a night in a police cell after trashing a restaurant. He became a journalist and was the Tory MP for Henley from 2001 to 2008. Once elected Mayor of London (on a salary of around £150,000 a year), he resumed work as a ‘Daily Telegraph’ columnist on a further £250,000 a year.

Johnson, who has campaigned vigorously against the 50% top rate of tax and has frequently defended bankers, is a serial adulterer, compulsive liar, racist, and even a thief, once being made to return an article which he looted from the home of Tariq Aziz in Baghdad. He has a reputation for running up exorbitant expenses, and in short, he’s thoroughly unsuitable for holding any office.

tlttf wrote:Want to cry at the injustice of it all?
Speak to "ordinary Londoners" about their plight?
Roll up, roll up, rent a crowd of "ordinary Londoners" give them a script and watch those tears stream down.
Yes it could only be "our Ken", who when nor dodging embarrassing tax questions, not praising the Palestinians and slating the Jewish population, not grovelling to the immigrant and other minorities, not putting forward his deputy (who just happens to be a mate of Laurence) and finally making promises that would cost all Londoners more money.
Yes keep it up Ken, surely somebody believes in you other than Milliband.

ROLL UP ROLL UP and bring your cheque book with you Dinner with Davey Boy PM will only cost £250,000 and you never know you might get a policy change which will fill your pockets or your companies with "LOADS OF MONEY".

Funny old world

In a nation where the Labour Party are streets ahead in all opinion polls, our capital city will elect a Conservative mayor, funny old world.

witchfinder wrote:Funny old world

In a nation where the Labour Party are streets ahead in all opinion polls, our capital city will elect a Conservative mayor, funny old world.

WF I have got everything crossed that Ken will win and I live in Scotland, so Im hoping your sonar is out of action.

Redflag wrote:

witchfinder wrote:Funny old world

In a nation where the Labour Party are streets ahead in all opinion polls, our capital city will elect a Conservative mayor, funny old world.

WF I have got everything crossed that Ken will win and I live in Scotland, so Im hoping your sonar is out of action.

Me too Red, come on Ken. lets see off Doris.

witchfinder wrote:Funny old world

In a nation where the Labour Party are streets ahead in all opinion polls, our capital city will elect a Conservative mayor, funny old world.

Do you really want Boris wandering about loose, looking for other mischief?

Somehow Johnson manages to distance himself from the toxic Tory brand. That's amazing, since he's just another lying Bullingdon Club toff who speaks up for bankers and campaigned against the 50p tax rate, while increasing bus fares way above inflation for Londoners.

If, as the polls predict, Johnson is re-elected, you can be sure that the media will headline his victory rather than the hundreds of Tory and Lib Dem council seats across the country which are likely to fall to Labour.

oftenwrong wrote:

witchfinder wrote:Funny old world

In a nation where the Labour Party are streets ahead in all opinion polls, our capital city will elect a Conservative mayor, funny old world.

Do you really want Boris wandering about loose, looking for other mischief?

Yesssssssssss rumour has it that he will be after Davey boys job as leader of the Tories and P.M.

Who knew?

Red Cat Woman wrote:

Redflag wrote:

witchfinder wrote:Funny old world

In a nation where the Labour Party are streets ahead in all opinion polls, our capital city will elect a Conservative mayor, funny old world.

WF I have got everything crossed that Ken will win and I live in Scotland, so Im hoping your sonar is out of action.

Me too Red, come on Ken. lets see off Doris.

Its nearly time for the voting to start, Ken you have my best wishes hopes and dreams that you will become the next London Mayor, but remember to keep your promises to the people of London and do not do a Doris.

Reality check. Ken raise his share of the council tax by 152% when last in power. Crime in London increased. His London Development agency (pet project) spent £3.2 billion on his cronies. He promised (repeat) not to increase fares then increased them twice. He changed the rules of the GLA so that when he lost we had to pay redundancy packages to his closest advisors of £1.6 million when he was booted out. He got rid of the old routemaster in favour of the bendy bus (known as the freeby bus.

I could go on but pointing out his lies would take up too much time. Fortunately unlike the many on here I get to vote. Guess who won't be getting mine?

pointing out his lies would take up too much time

tlttf. That's how I feel about you and the garbage that you post.

Touchy, touchy Herr Ivan.

We wouldn't mind so much if the garbage was sorted occasionally to remove some of the more mindless repetition.

If that happened OW, then your left foot friends would have nothing to whinge about.

tlttf wrote:If that happened OW, then your left foot friends would have nothing to whinge about.

After the 3rd May we will have nothing to whinge about but the right wingers will be crying into there beer.

"tlttf. That's how I feel about you and the garbage that you post."

I second that Ivan. It is to be expected of the pi55 artist though,

Do you all know that awful truth has left the forum because of polyglide? I've made my thoughts known on the religion and homophobia thread. I think he should be booted off here, he makes me sick when I read some of the things he posts, but that's ust my view.

When people want to leave, it's often best to let them go.

bobby wrote:Do you really want Boris wandering about loose, looking for other mischief?

Yeah, whilst e's lookin he aint doin.

Hi bobby I want Doris on the prowl because its well known that he wants to be leader of the Tory party, which means he is after Scam..er..ons job of PM as the saying goes, its good to see "The Cat among the Pigeons" it will be a great to watch the in fighting I like too watch a good scrap.

Adele Carlyon wrote:Do you all know that awful truth has left the forum because of polyglide? I've made my thoughts known on the religion and homophobia thread. I think he should be booted off here, he makes me sick when I read some of the things he posts, but that's ust my view.

Hi Adele
Know i did not know that hun, that is quite outrages that this should happen on here. I do hope Ivan has a talk to awful truth and asks he to please return. I will miss him/Her if not

When the Greater London Council was wound-up in 1986 to remove Ken Livingstone's power base, the Government of the day made sure that no local authority would ever again have sufficient cash to fund a sustained revolt against the Centre.

and 1986 is the same as today exactly how OW?

Fact Boris can squeeze more money out of the government than the newt licker.
Fact Boris can get money out of the private sector than the newt licker.
Fact my vote won't go to the newt licker.

Thaaaaats all folks.

It's good to see that the days of incisive political comment are not yet dead.

Although they do appear to be gravely injured in some quarters...

Thaaaaats all folks..

If only we could believe you.

tlttf wrote:and 1986 is the same as today exactly how OW?

Fact Boris can squeeze more money out of the government than the newt licker.
Fact Boris can get money out of the private sector than the newt licker.
Fact my vote won't go to the newt licker.

Thaaaaats all folks.

Well he has done nothing at all up to now. so there no chance him doing any of that

tlttf wrote:Touchy, touchy Herr Ivan.

Not touchy tittf, just defending other peoples rights to have there own political views, not like your lot trying to curb the rights of people by bringing in the snoopy law and do not try and tell me that is because of terrorists we have the technology to do it without invading normal people rights to privacy. What Scam..er..on really wants to know is when the people of the UK are going to stand up to him and his Gov't so he will know beforehand when the protest are going to happen because he knows the people will not stand for the UNFAIR CUTS.

tlttf wrote:and 1986 is the same as today exactly how OW?

Fact Boris can squeeze more money out of the government than the newt licker.
Fact Boris can get money out of the private sector than the newt licker.
Fact my vote won't go to the newt licker.

Thaaaaats all folks.

So what would stop Ken from getting more out of the Gov't A) he does not VOTE TORY and his name is not DORIS

Why does Ken not get more money out of the private sector A) he has no powers to cut the tax they pay and his name is not DORIS

A Definite NO that my vote will not go too some one called DORIS.

Im glad I have had my say in this matter and I repeat only time will tell how the people of London will vote, knowing if they vote Doris in they will have no where to take there complaints too when Doris goes ahead and carries out the bidding of this Tory Gov't.

I'll support whoever halves London's budget, cuts the perpetual vanity projects, and spreads more cash to the rest of the UK.

Message to our london fixated government, and media: if you look - the UK is more than JUST london.

“Send the Tories a message they will never forget” urges Tony Benn:-

"If the Conservative Party win in London on Thursday there is a very real risk they will conclude that they can intensify their assault on working class people, trade unions, public services and the welfare state.

I have watched the Conservative Party for the whole of my life. They take every opportunity to improve the lot of the rich against everyone else. They are utterly ruthless. Throughout this London campaign Ken Livingstone has been the subject of a ferocious character assassination attempt. That is all designed to get people to vote against their own interests.

In a few days time London voters have the chance to get a Mayor who will stand up for them as a Conservative government attacks them from all sides – from student fees and the privatisation of the NHS to ripping off pensioners and cutting Education Maintenance Allowance.

Ken’s Labour programme for London is rooted in Labour’s socialist values. It offers new and radical ideas to defend the 99%. Restoring EMA in London shows the total divide in values between the two parties. By cutting fares Ken is tapping into his strongest London Labour traditions to help people facing hard economic times.

We are back with a right wing government punishing people on low and middle incomes whilst feathering the nests of the richest. If these people are let off the hook on Thursday in the single biggest election before the next general election they will not let up. They will go much further."

For the full article:-
http://labourlist.org/2012/04/send-the-tories-a-message-they-will-never-forget/

Just read it on twitter! I agree with every word! I love Tony Benn. He was the reason that I got into CND as a 16 yr old!

Ivan wrote:“Send the Tories a message they will never forget” urges Tony Benn:-

"If the Conservative Party win in London on Thursday there is a very real risk they will conclude that they can intensify their assault on working class people, trade unions, public services and the welfare state.

I have watched the Conservative Party for the whole of my life. They take every opportunity to improve the lot of the rich against everyone else. They are utterly ruthless. Throughout this London campaign Ken Livingstone has been the subject of a ferocious character assassination attempt. That is all designed to get people to vote against their own interests.

In a few days time London voters have the chance to get a Mayor who will stand up for them as a Conservative government attacks them from all sides – from student fees and the privatisation of the NHS to ripping off pensioners and cutting Education Maintenance Allowance.

Ken’s Labour programme for London is rooted in Labour’s socialist values. It offers new and radical ideas to defend the 99%. Restoring EMA in London shows the total divide in values between the two parties. By cutting fares Ken is tapping into his strongest London Labour traditions to help people facing hard economic times.

We are back with a right wing government punishing people on low and middle incomes whilst feathering the nests of the richest. If these people are let off the hook on Thursday in the single biggest election before the next general election they will not let up. They will go much further."

For the full article:-
http://labourlist.org/2012/04/send-the-tories-a-message-they-will-never-forget/

Great post Ivan like others Tony Benn was a great Labour man, and thank god he has told the people of London about the SMEAR campaign that more than likely came from Doris's camp, I hope and pray that Londoners listen to Tony and vote for Ken and get a decent person for there Mayor who will do everything he can to make there lives a bit bette, and if they make the mistake of voting for Doris they will pay a heavy price. I live in Glasgow and we have our own problems (SNP) but my thoughts and wishes are with Ken and have my fingers crossed that Londoners make the best choice for "KEN FOR MAYOR" in London, and here in Glasgow Labour get a good result in the council elections.

"Boris Johnson swears over 'News International links' story"

London Mayor Boris Johnson looked at securing commercial deals with News International at the same time the Metropolitan Police was investigating the company over phone hacking. Johnson had constitutional responsibility for Scotland Yard - but at the same time he was also looking to the media giant to sponsor the cable car and a new academy in east London.

A spokeswoman for Ken Livingstone said the revelations raised "serious questions" and Johnson needed "to open the books and publish all the email and other contact between him, News International and the Murdochs".

When questioned about it, Mr Johnson swore about BBC London's political editor Tim Donovan, who broke the story. Johnson previously dismissed the phone-hacking allegations as "codswallop".

For the full story:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17893035

Ivan wrote:"Boris Johnson swears over 'News International links' story"

London Mayor Boris Johnson looked at securing commercial deals with News International at the same time the Metropolitan Police was investigating the company over phone hacking. Johnson had constitutional responsibility for Scotland Yard - but at the same time he was also looking to the media giant to sponsor the cable car and a new academy in east London.

A spokeswoman for Ken Livingstone said the revelations raised "serious questions" and Johnson needed "to open the books and publish all the email and other contact between him, News International and the Murdochs".

When questioned about it, Mr Johnson swore about BBC London's political editor Tim Donovan, who broke the story. Johnson previously dismissed the phone-hacking allegations as "codswallop".

For the full story:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17893035

Great post Ivan thank you for this information, is there nothing that Doris will not do to win this election he has tried to smear Ken at every turn but thanks to people like you the truth has always came out, when Ken gets in the amount of sleaze he will find and I hope he publishes it will be enough to make your hair stand on end I do remember when the story about Murdoch and News International broke what Doris had said codswallop more than likely he did know but was not about to admit it. Also last year when the London riots kicked off he was on holiday and refused to come back and then when the people came out and tried to clean up he tried to stop the people that had brought there own brushes to sweep up the broken glass and debris.

I was watching Newsnight last night Monday 30/4/12 they where saying that Doris was ahead of Ken in the polls quite a bit do not know if they got there poll from a Tory rag or what but I just hope there untrue and trying to boost Doris EGO.

Ivan, why shouldn't the mayor look for sponsorship from any enterprise, isn't that part of his job remit. As usual it's those that haven't had to put up with the weird world of Ken that appear to support him. Livingstone and his vanity projects + lies cost those of us living in London lots of money. Boris is cutting back on direct costs to the council taxpayer, what else does he need to do. Afraid he's got my vote 1st followed by the UKIP 2nd. Most Londoners agree.

Most Londoners agree.

...shame on them.

Shall we cut the UK in half....or have a civil war?

sickchip wrote:Shall we cut the UK in half....or have a civil war?

Nah, we have already had one, lopped of a kings head, and the people got Oliver, when he went, they brought back the ex-kings son. What we really want is an executioner, the re-opening of the Tower for prisoners, then march Cameron and is band of crooks in to the Tower for their just deserts. I think that was a nice touch when they stuck the severed heads on a spear and displayed on the city walls. Failing that, take them to York and deal with them like they did Dick Turpin.

The results of any poll only relates to the said area where the poll was taken, have a poll in a mainly Tory area, the poll will favour the Tories. Now take one in a mainly Labour area, then you will have an opposite result, i don't put much trust in poll's.
I am not Londoner but i am a staunch Labour supporter, but Ken Livingstone would never have been my choice of a candidate for Mayor. Boris is a baffoon, but what does that say about Ken Livingstone, just hope he can win that's all.

tlttf wrote:Ivan, why shouldn't the mayor look for sponsorship from any enterprise, isn't that part of his job remit. As usual it's those that haven't had to put up with the weird world of Ken that appear to support him. Livingstone and his vanity projects + lies cost those of us living in London lots of money. Boris is cutting back on direct costs to the council taxpayer, what else does he need to do. Afraid he's got my vote 1st followed by the UKIP 2nd. Most Londoners agree.

The only reason for what you have said is Doris is a Tory and there is a Tory Gov't in power, so Doris has been twisting Gideons arm up his back and more than likely whining he will loose his job if he does not give him more money to get the voters to vote for him. But we all know that if Doris does get in what will happen the promises will go out of the window, at least Ken has said to the people of London if he breaks his promise he will RESIGN in October.

The results of any poll only relates to the said area where the poll was taken, have a poll in a mainly Tory area, the poll will favour the Tories. Now take one in a mainly Labour area, then you will have an opposite result, i don't put much trust in poll's

I guess this could also be true of the national polls???