So it's Ken vs Boris again

[longfingernails]

Let's just remind ourselves of what the Grauniad had to say about Boris last time:

www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/may/01/boris.livingstone

For those too lazy to read the whole thing, it is headlined "Be afraid. Be very afraid."

I hope Boris gets in, couldn't stand 'Red Ken'many others could not stand him either that's why he was not re-elected. I wouldn't believe a word that the fascist Gaurdian paper wrote about him as they are middle class Trots, and are biased anyway. But each to his own, I'm sure some love Ken, met Oona also, was not keen on her, as she's up her own bottom, and has a penchant for swearing.

Fascist middle class Trots

Need some classes in political theory, I think.

Yeah, the Guardian is the most fascist paper you can buy. And biased? Stick to neutral papers like the Telegraph.

I don't need lessons in political theory, but I think both of the above do, A good starting point would be '100 years of the hate filled Guardin'. Shows how i'ts editorals and articles are biased. specially towards the working class.

But all newspapers are biased. Even the Independent, which claims not to be.

gerontius. Point taken.

Fascist

Well, I'll be voting Ken FWIW

Ken is best mates with someone who supports female genital mutilation, wife beating and killing homosexuals.

www.leftfootforward.org/2010/09/livingstone-al-qaradawi-is-a-leading-progressive-voice-in-muslim-world/

Boris found the funding and opened the first rape crisis centres in London:

www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23812971-mayors-pound-375000-for-new-rape-centre.do

Vote Boris.

Oh did he deliver all the funding then? I thought he had drastically reduced it and wasn't going to meet his pledge, and that's why there were those "boris keep your promise" campaigns. That article is from March is there anything more recent?

My post's about the rape crisis money.

How many did Ken open?

You didn't. :o

Of course Boris hasn't done as much as he should have - none of us ever do.

My point is that Boris should - and hopefully will - appeal to progressives much more than Ken on so many issues.

Boris introduced the London living wage. Boris argued for an amnesty for illegal immigrants. Boris will get the best deal for London transport infrastructure - why would the coalition do anything for Red Ken? Boris is arguing far more persuasively for protecting the London spending settlement than Ken, whose only line is "Tory cuts". And of course, it is Boris who introduced the Boris bikes!

Of course, Boris prefers freezing council tax and increasing fares. Ken would prefer the other way round. Boris wants to scrap the 50% top tax rate, Ken wants an 80% top tax rate. Boris stands up for the City of London; Ken wants to shut it down. Boris is very definitely a Tory but no-one can argue that he isn't in the centre of the centre. Ken is far, far, far to the left.

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

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.

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

Vote Boris!

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.

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.

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.

Oops - sorry to disagree with your marmite theory.

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

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