So it's Ken vs Boris again

Oh JESUS two years?

That is a helluva long time.

I suppose things could change in that period, given the time for the cuts to be implemented.

So we've got 6 months of campaigning then

i feel like I've had enough after that general election!

Well I tend to agree with Ken's ideas so maybe that puts me far to the left... Maybe

I don't fancy Ken's chances much TBH I think Boris will get it. When is the election anyway?

Yes of course jackstar. In my initial post I said that whichever way it goes then inititives already going though will continue (unless there are ideological reasons not to). What I don't like is tories listing things as boris triumphs when they are things that started before his administration and were going to happen anyway.

The london living wage - that was certainly actively opposed by the tories - no surprise there really - so to clam it as all their scheme is just silly.

We could go round and round here. Bottom line is that people on this thread are deeply ideologically opposed and are not about to change their minds. I just dislike this trumpeting of things which were going to happen anyway as all boris' work, or al his ideas, or all teh work of the tories, when they aren't.

So should Boris have dropped all initiatives supported by Ken?

He kept the ones he liked and dropped those he didn't. If Ken wins he'll do the same.

In the Guardian article you linked - Ken gives Boris no credit for his success in implementing the projects which he (Ken) started. And tbh I wouldn't have expected him to! As I not surprised that Boris isn't crediting Ken for 'getting the ball' rolling.

Tis politics - and they are both seasoned politicians.

So if Boris implements something where most of the work has already been done and it wasn't something he started, he gets all the credit.

While if Ken starts an inititive, lobbys for it and gets the ball rolling, it's irrelevant as they're not his ideas anyway?

Well there was fair few other 'swing voters' who switched from Ken to Boris. It wasn't only me.

If Boris took some ideas that Ken supported (I doubt they were actually Ken's own ideas) and successfully implemented them - good on him.

I'm mainly interested in what's best for London.

Oh and Labour opposed the living wage in 2001.... but to quote Cameron it is 'an idea whose time has come'.

They're not boris' ideas though are they, and they were implemented or being implemented before he got in. So the boozing on public transport, which he did immediately - all the posters and publicity had already been printed and ready to go, it was going to happen anyway.

I was irked at tories trumpeting these things as all things that boris had done when in fact they were other peoples ideas, were already underway, and in some cases the tories were actively opposed to them.

As for marmite - I don't think I know anyone who doesn't have very, um, forceful feelings about these 2 candidates. Apart from you, of course

Oops - sorry to disagree with your marmite theory.

ISNT

I think it depends on your definition of 'introduced'.

From the Living Wage Campaign's website:

"Mayor Livingstone followed through his pledge and there began the Living Wage Unit at the GLA that now calculates the official London Living Wage. In 2008, London Citizens gathered 2,500 members to ensure that the new Mayor, Boris Johnson, became an even more vocal champion. Mayor Johnson has brought about full implementation across the GLA family, helping 2000 workers out of poverty, and has become the champion for the Living Wage Employer awards"

I actually have time for Ken and Boris - they have both have their strengths IMO.

This election is a marmite job really, both of the candidates you either love or hate, people aren't going to change sides, and it has nothing to do with policies TBH. People vote on teh characters and what they think they stand for.

I think it's a bit off for the tories to take credit for something that they in fact opposed though. Not that any of the tories on this thread will care.

started looking into bicycle scheme 2007

london living wage noh in fact it looks as if Ken introduced it and david cameron has lied, saying that boris did it, when in fact the tories opposed it.

Vote Boris!

*Would be good to hear that he has done more recently and would like to hear that

I don't think that Ken Livingston pledged to open and fund rape crisis centres when he ran for mayor

As far as I am aware Boris pladged X and has not met his promise. Hence the campaigns. Would be good to hear that

London living wage was ken's idea. Ditto no drinking on public transport. Ditto the bicycles. Things which were in the pipeline were implemented, as would be the case if there is another change of mayor.

Yeah, The City had a shit time last time ken was major.