What do you make of the London Mayoral elections 2012?

[ElenMumsnetBloggers]

Hi all,

In the run up to the London Mayoral elections in May, the main Mayoral candidates are writing guest blogs to set out their vision for a better city. Today the Green candidate Jenny Jones talks about being a mum and grandmother in the capital. Jenny's explained her strategy for a greener, safer London for parents and children.

We'll hear from the candidates in guest blogs, and you can give your views here. We're then going to ask the candidates to respond to this thread and answer your questions.

So we'd like to ask you: what do you make of the London elections? Which policies matter most to you, and what's influencing your voting decisions? Join the conversation and make your voice heard about what you want to see from the capital's next Mayor.

And for those of you out of the M25 - we hope you don't mind too much, and that you find the guest blogs interesting. Bear with us!

[EdithWeston]

Here's one thread about this - I find it staggering that Ken claimed basic clothing on official expenses.

[EdithWeston]

And here is the thread that has been running in "Politics" for a while already.

[Deborah451]

What are the candidates going to do for disabled people? Where are the commitments to step free access to the tube or to helping people with mental health issues get jobs? There needs to be a disability manifesto from each of the four main candidates.

[TheLightSaver]

Agree with Deborah. When will the Underground become accessible to all?

[Kindling]

Reported

[JuliaScurr]

www.tusc.org.uk/index.php

no cuts. no careerists. no Mayor candidate, either, but you can vote GLA.

[SerenityNOT]

I would like to ask Ken about the Paul Smith bespoke suits he and his buddies had made for the opening of the new Eurostar terminal in St Panchras. On expenses, of course.
Do you know, it's amazing who one's fellow parents are at school...

[SerenityNOT]

Anyway, I would like to add that I expect it to be a real scrap this time around.

[MayaAngelCool]

This is not really what you're looking for, but just wanted to say that having moved out of London (but still work there), when I look at the two main Mayoral candidates I am so pleased to not have to choose who to vote for. They are both equally repugnant.

As you were!

[gazzalw]

Well obviously, by the lack of comments, none of us thinks very much of these elections !

[Pendeen]

Well outside the M25 here so not really affected by the contest but - as London is the capital then we all have a view and I believe that the mayor should have masses of character in addition to the virtuous (required?) traits of honesty, courage, competence, intelligence, literacy and inspiration.

There is almost nothing worse than a dreary politician and I'm afraid the whining tones of Livingstone do nothing for London or Britain.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Hear hear Pendeen.

IMO Ken represents the very worst of the left wing.

Serenity that is interesting about the suits. Any other snippets you can share?

I think Boris is fantastic.

[bringmesunshine2009]

I am voting Siobhan Benita, I hope that doesn't offend talk guidelines. But I would like to know what the candidates are proposing to help working mothers?

[ElenMumsnetBloggers]

Hi bringmesunshine2009,

Siobhan will be doing a guest blog next week to explain how she'd operate as Mayor for London, so stay tuned...

Today the Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick has set out his strategy for a better london. Read his guest blog here and have your say on this thread. Brian will be responding to your comments, so feel free to put questions to him here.

[painterlyswoosh]

I have just read Brian Paddick's guest blog, which makes it sound to me like he's got all his priorities right - travel, affordable housing, sorting out corruption in the Met and crime (with emphasis on sexual assault). (And I like his glasses.)

HOWEVER, I voted lib dem at the general elections and was totally let down by how those promises that haven't been kept. Why should we trust this won't happen again if we vote for you, Brian?

And your policy about a one hour bus ticket - how would you expect this to help transport issues and costs in London? It sounds like a vaguely good idea but I'm just not sure how it would help londoners - sounds like more useful for tourists? I can also imagine waiting at a second bus stop with 5 minutes left to go on your hour ticket and a bus not arriving on time... Might be more worthwhile making the buses more reliable first?

To all the candidates: what would you do to help cycling in the city?

Interested to hear some answers...

[Katn]

So what's this about?


Can you explain a bit more what's going on with this policy? Because I did a bit of a double take when I saw this. If a criminal breaks into my house - they end up having to repair the damage when they're caught by the police. But I'm pretty sure you don't literally mean having the burglars doing a shoddy repair job. And I wouldn't want them in my house anyway!

Plus, surely the criminal should be prevented from breaking in in the first place, by whatever methods? Shouldn't that be where the emphasis lies?

[ElenMumsnetBloggers]

Hi bloggers,

Boris Johnson's guest blog is now up. The current Conservative Mayor of London says he's cut crime by 10.8% and thinks his Boris bikes are the way forward. Do you agree? Have your say here.

[slug]

Well, given the Boris bikes were Ken's project that Boris didn't bother to cancel, and given that Boris seems to have very poor judgement in his choices for leading City Hall positions (Kit Malthouse, Tom Campbell, John Yates, David Ross... the list goes on..) I really can't trust a single thing he says.

[ElenMumsnetBloggers]

Hi again bloggers,

The Labour candidate Ken Livingstone's blog is now up. He's offering Londoners a Fare Deal, childcare grants and lower rent in the capital. Read it and see what you think - you can put your questions to Ken at his upcoming webchat...

[Deborah451]

Disabled people have been affected by the cuts more than any other group. I would like to know what Ken is going to do about step free access to the transport system and what steps he will take to help people with mental health issues get jobs. The employment rate for people with mental health issues is lower than for youth employment. Yet no politician talks about it.

[Spermysextowel]

Are none if us old enough to remember the good old bad old days of the GLC when the cost of some bespoke suits would've been the least of our worries?

[bringmesunshine2009]

Great blog Siobhan! I am interested in the cleanliness of streets, primary school provision, transport, subsidised nursery care and would love to see some robust policies on these areas. You seem very honest in your interviews and I admire you being so straightforward. Hurrah! I feel seriously uner represented by upper middle class men in politics and you present a refreshing change as someone I can actually relate to.

To complete the hero worship, great eyebrows! I would love to know where you get them done :)