Londoners- would you keep Boris or give Ken another go?

Yes fabulousdarling Ken's a doer a wrongdoer IMHO

doubleshotespresso I do indeed remember the fireworks display and the final concert when the flag was lowered to the sound of Nimrod, I actually found it very moving (that's more to do with the choice of song rather than anything else however).

You may think of him as acting as a spoilt brat, I saw that as someone devestated that an organisation that was there to work for London was destroyed for personal and idealogical reasons.

He's by no means my favourite person but do I think he is committed to the job - yes. Do I think he cares about London - yes. Do I think he wants to the best for London -yes.

The only time I care about somebodys personal life is when they are opining on these points ie do as I say, not as I do. To be fair, Boris doesn't do that.

Still Ken is the best candidate out of all of them.

No. definately Ken. He is a doer if nothing else. Boris was nowhere to be seen during the riots, stayed on holiday, and doesn't care about ordinary londoners.

I personally do not think he is not a person that can identify or speak in behalf of alienated londoners like those who took part in the riots. His constant refusal to talk to tube workers when strikes are threatened is annoying, his judgement in people is questionable. People tend to 'voluntarily resign' if they efffect policies that might affect his popularity as mayor, which is concerning.

Bingandbear I am by no means a fan of Boris-made that crystal clear in my previous posts. He has become the marmite cartoon character we all love to hate. And utterly terrible in public.

Neither am I a fan of milksnatcher Thatcher or Dame Shirley Bloody Porter and the frankly sick deeds she carried out.... She's still doing very nicley out of Tescos as I understand- every little helps-apologies I deviate...

County Hall may not have been directly sold to the Japanese by Ken, but he hardly left the place in shape to see any other fate did he? The abolition of the GLC may well have not been poor Ken's choice- but do you not remeber the ridiculous firework display he squandered money on as his swansong? He behaved like a spoilt brat who had been mugged for his candy.Ken Livingstone is interested in KenLivingstone, not London, Londoners or their future.

No he went on his travels forging deals with dubious characters and avoiding tax and getting married again (amongst reptiles) -unsure as to if that's relevant-maybe?

If you read my initial post you would see that I had not favoured either option as a good one-but I had rather hoped that we had all learned our very expensive lessons with Ken. As for him enahancing the transport system this time around- stable door?? I think I said I'd rather see Jedward in charge! (Joke clearly)

doubleshotespresso I do indeed remember the GLC and the goods it did with it's London centric transport policy. I also remember that it was destroyed by Thatcher for political idealogical reasons (as so many of her actions were) rather than for the good of London.

Ken Livingstone and the GLC didn't sell County Hall to the Japanese, this was done after the abolition of the GLC.

I also grew up in affluent Westminster and remember the selling of the cemeteries by the Tory Council to companies ultimiately owned by various Tory Councillors. They were ultimately surcharged and Shirley Porter fled to Israel at one point.

Boris' buffoonery is all an act - the loveable rogue with the messy hair. He is an extremely calculating man who is after the top job - PM.

He is not open and he is not honest. He is also incredibly lightweight.

Did anybody read the interview Jemima Khan did with him last month? I go the impression that she thought it was all an act, and she's no lefty.

In case you were in andy doubt, Ken for me even with his flaws - who wants perfect politicians.

Prime Minister's question time joined in our post. Ken was blasted for tax evasion, no one in labour camp stood up for him. Interesting.

Boris is such an Etonian or 'oldboy' and do not have real sense he has any care or knowledge about those struggling in London - his lifestyle means (I sense) he has little compassion. Cameron seems to pat him on the back so he will not get my vote.

I feel quite convinced by dilysprice argument. However, I was young once and remember when Ken turned on Labour via Murdoch press when most of us knew how awful they were before recent scandal. Wonder if people see job as mayor as dead end job leading nowhere afterwards so Ken still gets a chance?

Saw Boris interviewed recently who was convinced, so he says, a job in politics would probably not happen after 'mayorship'

As for voting system, whatever we do, it seems to be party politics that win so why have labour nominated Ken. I suppose he can do th ejob and no one else wants it.

SchnitzelVonKrumm - but at least Boris pays full tax on his earnings and does not put it all through a tax evading company

LydiaWickham - keeping Boris in so he stays out of Parliament and off the front benches is the first seriously good reason I've heard to vote Boris. Better that only London has him inflicted on them than the rest of the country....

Dilys - my probably with the tax issue with Ken is not so much that he's doing something that 'everyone does' but that he's doing something that he has basically had a go at other people doing, saying they shouldn't while doing the same thing himself (albeit on a smaller scale). When he was stood there slagging off non-doms and the Philip Greens of the world, he knew what his own tax arrangements were. It makes me question everything he says. It makes me not believe him.

I do think that a lot of his policy ideas are good, I just don't trust him personally. A large number of Londoners feel the same, the Labour party must realise this, yet they have allowed Ken to be their candidate yet again. The most obvious conclusion that can be drawn is that they don't want to win this time. Or perhaps they'd rather sacrifice London to Boris to keep him out of parliament and off the Tory front bench...

The Labour party does have some really impressive people in it. It's just they don't seem to want impressive people to lead them in London or in the Commons.

I remember what the buses were like before Ken . I also remember that the Oyster card and the Congestion Card are the only large public IT projects ever to work almost buglessly from day 1, in the teeth of the Evening Standard willing them to fail and hovering desperately for stories suggesting they had.

The tax avoidance thing is a smear, I'm not going to be put off a candidate I like because he does things that everyone else does.

And as I understand it Ken's love life is unconventional but morally ok - none of the women concerned have ever criticised him have they? One of his children was the result of him volunteering as a "sperm donor" for a female friend apparently.

He does have poor judgement on the dodgy Islamic preachers front, and I'm not sure he's the man he was ten years ago, but he still knows where the levers are, and he cares more than anything else about making London functional and enjoyable, so I think I'll go for him.

Also with a bit of luck if Boris gets kicked out he'll take on Cameron for the leadership, which will be entertaining.

And for those complaint about the two horse race, remember that this is (I think?) an STV election, so you are free to put Brian, or the Green, or an Independent candidate 1st and 2nd and put whichever you feel is the lesser evil of B or K down as your last choice - it will work just the same.

ooops
www.siobhanformayor.com/index.html

All Boris lovers please read Compos link above my last post.

Thats who you're backing?

www.siobhanformayor.com/index.html

Apparently they are not the only options? Who knew!

Don't know anything about her but might have been nice to see a woman get a bit more airtime?

Yes Boris is very clever isnt he.

Hes got a lot of people fooled with that loveable fool act...think some have forgotten hes a Tory.

prima amen to that.

Boris is a nasty piece of work,

m.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/may/01/boris.livingstone?cat=politics&type=article

Ken. But then I support gay marriage and I am not racist, so that's an easy choice for me :)

Ken, Ive not voted for him before. But I have loved listening to his radio programe with David Mellor on a saturday morning. Despite his politiking, I believe he has intergrity and will stand up for londoners and to David Cameron.

Boris. Obviously.
It's so easy being a Labour candidate, isn't it?
I will spend and spend and spend and then I will spend some more. Money is free and it grows on the trees.
Much cleverer to be a bit thriftier with the budget.

"According to Sonia Purnell's quietly devastating biography, when the Conservative party told Boris Johnson that he had to give a small part of the £250,000 a year he received from the Telegraph to charity while he served as London mayor, Johnson shouted in all seriousness: "It's outrageous! I've been raped! I've been raped!""

Could the old rogue be more loveable?

what about brian? he seems alright

Ken he did far more for London than Boris has. Boris is just a bafoon.

BoJo for me. Ken got into power way back when on another man's coattails, and he is not to be trusted.

Two votes for Boris here. (DH + me)

I'm happy enough with Boris. And I find the potential costs of all of Ken's alleged promises frightening.

Boris may not be perfect, but I really like him and will be voting for him.

Anyone remember this?

www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/knight-on-shining-bicycle-boris-johnson-chases-off-attackers-6793435.html