Ken or Boris?

by **Ivan** Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:57 pm

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.

by oftenwrong Thu May 03, 2012 11:28 am

We'll know for certain by 8 p.m. tomorrow evening.

Results of the election for the London Assembly will be announced first.

by Redflag Thu May 03, 2012 11:59 am

oftenwrong wrote:We'll know for certain by 8 p.m. tomorrow evening.

Results of the election for the London Assembly will be announced first.

I thought that the Mayoral result would be first but since you live in the area you will know more than me OW.

by trevorw2539 Thu May 03, 2012 12:22 pm

Redflag wrote:
oftenwrong wrote:We'll know for certain by 8 p.m. tomorrow evening.

Results of the election for the London Assembly will be announced first.

I thought that the Mayoral result would be first but since you live in the area you will know more than me OW.

The Mad Hatters Tea Party first. Then off with somebody's head. Smile

by Redflag Thu May 03, 2012 1:15 pm

trevorw2539 wrote:
Redflag wrote:
oftenwrong wrote:We'll know for certain by 8 p.m. tomorrow evening.

Results of the election for the London Assembly will be announced first.

I thought that the Mayoral result would be first but since you live in the area you will know more than me OW.

The Mad Hatters Tea Party first. Then off with somebody's head.

Are you being sarcastic trevor 2539, do not mind if its Doris head and stick on a spike on Westminster Bridge.

by trevorw2539 Thu May 03, 2012 3:41 pm

RedFlag.quote.

Are you being sarcastic trevor 2539, do not mind if its Doris head and stick on a spike on Westminster Bridge

Just a bit of fun. Don't live there. Don't care who wins. Don't believe in Lord Mayors running anything - at least not to spend my money on their pet projects. Leading a council or as representative of the local town/city OK. Nothing more.

We are not voting in our area. I have no time for this particular Government though, and would like to see them get a hiding locally and nationally.

by **Ivan** Thu May 03, 2012 4:35 pm

trevor2539. The 'Lord Mayor of London' is a different post from the 'Mayor of London':-
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Council_and_democracy/Councillors_democracy_and_elections/The_Lord_Mayor/

The 'Mayor of London' is a powerful position and the incumbent sets an annual budget of about £14 bilion, unless the London Assembly can achieve a two-thirds majority in favour of alternative proposals. I just hope that if Johnson has duped enough fools into voting him back in today that there will be a strong anti-Tory representation in the London Assembly to thwart him.

It's pretty sad if, with Cameron's government knee-deep in Murdoch sleaze, the voters of London re-elect Johnson, another Bullingdon Club Tory toff who acts as if he's above the law, and one who was even negotiating with the Murdoch empire after the phone-hacking investigations had started.

by trevorw2539 Thu May 03, 2012 5:25 pm

trevor2539. The 'Lord Mayor of London' is a different post from the 'Mayor of London':-
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Council_and_democracy/Councillors_democracy_and_elections/The_Lord_Mayor/

Accepted. But then it's all a Night-mayor to me. £14b. Could have a good fortnight at Butlins on that.

by jackthelad Thu May 03, 2012 6:18 pm

Well, we are having a referendum to see if we should get rid of our Mayor, i don't think he was a great success. In the old days the councillors elected the leader of the council, and he could be removed after 12 months if he was a bad leader, (we had a civic mayor for non political purpose like opening a new store) but an elected mayor was in for five years and they can do a lot of damage in that time. There was nothing wrong with the old system, don't know why they wanted it to change, if a thing is not broken why change it. We have fought a few wars to get rid of dictators, can't see why we should impose one on our selves. Well, we have voted, the missus and I, now we wait with fingers crossed hopeing thing go back to the old days.

by tlttf Thu May 03, 2012 6:19 pm

Nice one Trevor.

Apparently at least two in Ten Labour supporters will not vote for Livingstone in the mayoral election and the other eight are extremely embarrassed.

by oftenwrong Thu May 03, 2012 7:23 pm

Redflag wrote:
oftenwrong wrote:We'll know for certain by 8 p.m. tomorrow evening.

Results of the election for the London Assembly will be announced first.

I thought that the Mayoral result would be first but since you live in the area you will know more than me OW.

If you get the result of the election for Mayor of London BEFORE 8.00 p.m. on Friday 4th. May, Redflag, post a timed message on here and you can have a single malt on me.

by Redflag Thu May 03, 2012 7:28 pm

oftenwrong wrote:
Redflag wrote:
oftenwrong wrote:We'll know for certain by 8 p.m. tomorrow evening.

Results of the election for the London Assembly will be announced first.

I thought that the Mayoral result would be first but since you live in the area you will know more than me OW.

If you get the result of the election for Mayor of London BEFORE 8.00 p.m. on Friday 4th. May, Redflag, post a timed message on here and you can have a single malt on me.

I know our count does not start until 9.00am on 4th May so I will be on tender hooks until the count is done so everything will have to remain crossed until then, how come OW the count will not been known until that time?

by oftenwrong Thu May 03, 2012 7:43 pm

Something to do with the timing of TV News broadcasts, I would imagine, but we'll see.

The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men ....

by trevorw2539 Thu May 03, 2012 7:48 pm

Jackthelad. Spot on. Smile

by Redflag Thu May 03, 2012 8:06 pm

oftenwrong wrote:Something to do with the timing of TV News broadcasts, I would imagine, but we'll see.

The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men ....

Well we know who the mice are, where are the men ha ha.

by trevorw2539 Thu May 03, 2012 8:42 pm

Well we know who the mice are, where are the men ha ha

Gang Awa'?

by Redflag Thu May 03, 2012 8:46 pm

trevorw2539 wrote:Well we know who the mice are, where are the men ha ha

Gang Awa'?

Are you trying to speak Scottish trevor2539 heres one you might not have heard "Go lie on your Ribs".

by sickchip Thu May 03, 2012 9:18 pm

Isn't it exciting..... Rolling Eyes

by jackthelad Fri May 04, 2012 2:36 pm

Well Labour seems to have had successful council elections, the Tories and Lib/Dems have had a bad time. Four cities have rejected having an elected mayor, Manchester, Birmingham, Coventry and one other, who's name escapes me. Doncaster is having a referendum on whether we should keep our elected mayor or retain him, i am hoping all Doncastrians have the same commonsense has those four cities and get shut of him. Not heard anything yet, should get to know later today, i await with baited breath, and hope he has his marching orders. He claimed he was neutral from the from the big parties, never told anyone he was a compulsive liar, and that he was a closet Conservative.

by trevorw2539 Fri May 04, 2012 7:34 pm

Are you trying to speak Scottish trevor2539 heres one you might not have heard "Go lie on your Ribs".

Ken or Boris? - Page 9 85-61

Redflag

Posts: 700
Join date: 2011-12-31

Unless it's the same as 'tickling your ribs' south of the Border - no.

I'm fluent in double dutch, gobbledegook and reasonable in English. Heathen languages like Gaelic, Scot...... erm - Perhaps not Wink

by Redflag Fri May 04, 2012 8:51 pm

trevorw2539 wrote:Are you trying to speak Scottish trevor2539 heres one you might not have heard "Go lie on your Ribs".

Redflag

Posts: 700
Join date: 2011-12-31

Unless it's the same as 'tickling your ribs' south of the Border - no.

I'm fluent in double dutch, gobbledegook and reasonable in English. Heathen languages like Gaelic, Scot...... erm - Perhaps not

It means what is says, in your language it means "Get Lost"

by Red Cat Woman Sat May 05, 2012 3:00 am

RED CAT WOMAN SAYS CONGRATULATIONS TO DORIS IN HIS WIN OVER OUR KEN

Even if i do not like the result it was still a very good win against the Tory swing

Ken or Boris? - Page 9 Secure14

by tlttf Sat May 05, 2012 10:47 am

A pleasure to hear Livingstone in pure labour fashion, rather than accept with grace his total failure to become mayor of London (though he had Miliband up his arse all the way) attack Boris. Is this a sign of things to come, or will he go back to breeding newts and other reptiles who could become a labour mp of the future?

by oftenwrong Sat May 05, 2012 11:49 am

Feel sorry for Boris. He's got Second Prize, because what he wants is to be Prime Minister.

At the precise moment when David Cameron is teetering on the edge of political outer darkness.

by **astradt1** Sat May 05, 2012 11:59 am

OT, I think Boris has the best of both worlds at the moment .......

Olympics coming will give him the opportunity to be in the public eye, if ever he needed one.

He is a position of power with little responsibility.

He can take the opportunity to snipe, at Dave, without affecting his position as mayor.

He can always blame the London Assembly when things don't go right.

And if Dave gets knifed in the back, as most expect to happen, he can resign the post of mayor and step into the breech on the back of his popularity in London........

by trevorw2539 Sat May 05, 2012 2:42 pm

Atstrad1quote

And if Dave gets knifed in the back, as most expect to happen, he can resign the post of mayor and step into the breech on the back of his popularity in London........

You are joking. If DC was stabbed in the back would he even notice. It would be business as normal. Maybe the millions of pinpricks by the public in the council elections will change things, but I doubt it. Crying or Very sad

by oftenwrong Sat May 05, 2012 6:40 pm

Ken or Boris? - Page 9 EC4D4E672D79085947856A19A45DE

"Is this sad loser going to be following me around for the next four years?"

by Mel Sat May 05, 2012 9:11 pm

"(though he had Miliband up his arse all the way) "

It must be catching as the same applies to Clegg up Camer-con's.

by **Ivan** Sat May 05, 2012 9:26 pm

though he had Miliband up his arse all the way

You can always rely on Tories to try and drag the debate down into the gutter where they live.

How surprising that the leader of the Labour Party supports a Labour candidate! How pathetic that one Tory thug in Southampton armed with an egg should be considered indicative of Ed Miliband's popularity. How sad that a supposed adult has to use language like "newt sucker", whatever that's supposed to mean.

I'll start recruiting again soon and see if I can find some new members for us, preferably people with some intelligence or at least a modicum of common sense.

by bobby Sun May 06, 2012 12:33 am

Mwl. Then Herr Camerons up Doris. their forming a bleeding daisy chain, leaving Paddick wondering why he wasn't invited.

by tlttf Sun May 06, 2012 8:30 am

Start your recruitment at he labour party headquarters (haven't they just bought a big brand new building), then there's a possibility that you'll get some more raving loonies of the left persuasion. Nothing quite like a bit of balance is there Ivan?

by Redflag Sun May 06, 2012 9:14 am

tlttf wrote:Start your recruitment at he labour party headquarters (haven't they just bought a big brand new building), then there's a possibility that you'll get some more raving loonies of the left persuasion. Nothing quite like a bit of balance is there Ivan?

It should be quite exciting to watch the Incompetent Tories move further to the right, and Scam..er..on will not have his so called friend sarcozy to depend on after today France will move to the left and with the right man in the job they should see some improvement in there economy more than what we will see in the UK, at least the new Labour headquarters have been bought with Union members and party members money not money from the Tories dinner parties which have made the UK the laughing stock of the world, and heaven knows what the rest of the Olympic officials from other countries will think of the UK voting an Idiot into City Hall we did manage to get rid of the assistant Mayor (or in other words the guy that done Bojo's job while he wrote his column for the Tory rag).

by **Ivan** Sun May 06, 2012 11:18 am

A tribute to Ken

Extracts from an article by Jon Lansman:-

"Ken’s greatest contribution to British politics was to take unpopular causes, notably issues of race, sexism, and homophobia, take actions and implement policies which made a difference to significant minorities, and over time see those causes taken into the mainstream of British politics.

Under Ken’s leadership, the GLC consulted with black and other minority ethnic communities, drew up equal opportunities policies, employed race relations advisers, and sought to empower diverse communities by awarding millions of pounds in grants.

The experience with gender equality was similar. Ken’s policies achieved real change in practice amongst the GLC’s large workforce. In the provision of services too, there was institutional racism. Only 2% of GLC housing lettings went to non-whites in 1981. For these policies, Ken was hounded by 'The Sun', 'The Mail' and 'The Standard' but that vilification reached a new depth with the involvement of the GLC in challenging homophobia, notably through its grant-funding.

Cheaper fares and all day free travel for pensioners on buses and tubes increased passenger numbers by 70%, raised revenue by 11% in spite of the 32% cut in fares, and cut the number of cars entering central London in the morning peak. New rail services like Crossrail and Thameslink were planned. And when Ken returned as Mayor, the process he’d begun continued, reinforced by congestion charging, his boldest and bravest move. Door-to-door services for people with disabilities and a more accessible mainstream network, cycling provision, the regulation of noisy and polluting lorries, the focus on safety and on pedestrian facilities are all part of his legacy."

For the full article:-
http://www.leftfutures.org/2012/05/a-tribute-to-ken/

by oftenwrong Sun May 06, 2012 11:44 am

But he didn't make the voters laugh, as Boris does. Sentiment triumphs over rational behaviour in show-biz and Politics, which aren't that much different from each other in the public mind.

by sickchip Sun May 06, 2012 11:53 am

Boris!!!!?????? WTF.

Are londoners that stupid? Kissing Bullingdon arse? Doffing yr proverbial caps to the toffs? Southerners in general bow down to the aristocracy and keep the Tories going.

Maybe the northern half of the UK should knock some sense into you southern numpties? A divided land? Fancy a civil war?

The UK is two states........London and the rest of us.

Why should anywhere north of london be governed by the tories - we didn't elect them.

by tlttf Sun May 06, 2012 12:01 pm

Never mind sickie, remember it was a local election, you get the council you vote for. In London Boris gets funding, he fights the government for maximum funding, he gets private funding, he gets things done (whether he personally gets involved or not). Hope your council gets things done for you, assuming of course you bothered to vote.

Ivan, get over it, the divvy is now finished and you quoting over what he did in 80's won't change the results, so no mayoral jihad against all things western is envisaged for the foreseeable future

by Redflag Sun May 06, 2012 12:55 pm

sickchip wrote:Boris!!!!?????? WTF.

Are londoners that stupid? Kissing Bullingdon arse? Doffing yr proverbial caps to the toffs? Southerners in general bow down to the aristocracy and keep the Tories going.

Maybe the northern half of the UK should knock some sense into you southern numpties? A divided land? Fancy a civil war?

The UK is two states........London and the rest of us.

Why should anywhere north of london be governed by the tories - we didn't elect them.

Its always the same SC if you remember it was the south that voted in Thatcher and again it was the south that nearly put Scam..er..on in, but your right the south have always been willing to doff there caps to the toffs maybe this shower of toffs will put a stop to that as they way they are running this country. Now you know why here in Scotland we will not vote Tory and why every time they get in we get a real hard time from the Tories.

by **Ivan** Sun May 06, 2012 2:57 pm

"On his worst days he was a better and braver politician than all the people currently pontificating on his character flaws. Ken will go down in history as one of the great big city leaders like Fiorella La Guardia in New York."

So writes Diane Abbott in 'The New Statesman':-
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/ken-will-be-remembered-one-great-city-leaders

by astra Sun May 06, 2012 4:16 pm

tlttf -

In London Boris (1) gets funding, (2)he fights the government for maximum funding, (3) he gets private funding

1/Does he?
2/Does he have to? this shower will give unto their own that which they wish
3/For which he is well "accommodated" (particularly in skirt!) If there as nothing in it for himself.......

by oftenwrong Sun May 06, 2012 5:40 pm

Fiorello. (Not Fiorella)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiorello_La_Guardia

by jackthelad Sun May 06, 2012 5:52 pm

Doncasters referendum on whether to keep an elected mayor or go back to the
old system was unanimous in favour of keeping the elected mayor, (61% for 39% against. Labour did really well in the council elections, so i gather people want to keep the mayor, but will get rid of the two faced independent mayor when he soon comes up for re-election. He was being interviewed on TV and when asked who would oppose him, he said a Labour candidate. Tories won't oppose in him, they know it will be a waste of time and anyway the Independent mayor while in office acts like a Tory. Roll on the Mayor elections, voters only get fooled the once.

by Mel Sun May 06, 2012 11:32 pm

tlttf. Voted Tory at the last election. Voted for Boris (Tory) and yet we hear the little voice saying "Im not a Tory supporter". лицемер!!!!!!

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