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

[mrsruffallo]

I have warmed to Boris and cooled towards Ken personally.

[SophieNeveau]

I just looked on the last page of this thread.

I am interested in Siobhan also. Someone on another thread suggested a Blair Witch Project to take over from Ken I presume next time?

I have no time for that plonker from I'm a celeb. I am quite disgusted with Lib Dem's putting someone who's bare arse was viewed on TV as a candidate. Who next Ms Klass in her bikini?

I know this is a shallow reason, it is not my only hesitation regarding Boris. The hair, it is funny to those in the UK. I would hate the rest of the world laughing at us during the Olympics, with that mop! He can't be relied on to be tidy ever!

[eej]

Why not try UKIP?
End the congestion charge!
Have a 70 min single bus ride!
Cap local authority chief's pay!

[NunOnTheRun]

Some light relief - unless you happen to be the former Radio One DJ Mike Read. This is his Guardian article from the 2007 Mayoral campaign: 'I'm backing Boris'. If only the poor bugger had actually tried mentioning BoJo more often.... So followed the biggest monstering that I have ever seen in any readers' comments section. As the saying goes it would take a heart of stone not to laugh. www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/jul/17/imbackingboris

[chipstick10]

Brian Paddick showed himself for what he is when he fetched up in the jungle in Im a celeb. He was an absolute C. I was cringing for him, hes a total desperate wannabe. Where theses a camera, where there's a story, hes there, omg, hes awful.

[Iggly]

I hate the fact it's seen as a choice between ken or Boris.

I live in the Bromley borough which is very Tory so no chance of getting Boris out. I'll still vote otherwise (and not for ken).

[Nancy66]

I think I'll go for Boris - i voted Ken last time but have been pleasantly surprised at Boris.

Paddick always comes across (to me) as being a bit thick

[bringmesunshine2009]

How can more people not know about this woman? I feel excited by someone I actually want to vote for, rather than the lesser of two evils IYSWIM. I have cut and paste from the policies page on her website, particularly interested in the bold bits (my highlighting, I don't work for her-honest!) I alos read today that she is lookng to support rape crisis centres:


Make education a priority

Work for every child to have an excellent primary school place

Make the transition to secondary school fair and sensible

Appoint an Education Commissioner to raise standards

Appoint a Young Mayor for London and create a new youth assembly


Create jobs and boost economic growth

Support long-term investment to keep London's economy strong

Work with employers to create new jobs and opportunities

Provide free travel for jobseekers and reduced fares for low earners

Introduce a monthly "Free London" day - where Londoners can travel for free and have access to a range of discounts and offers in restaurants, shops and attractions across London

Improve transport in London

Freeze fares until at least April 2014

Keep tubes running one hour later on Friday and Saturday night

Make the transport network more accessible and user-friendly

Reduce congestion by charging companies for digging up roads and introducing smarter charging in the congestion zone

Make good use of the River Thames -create an affordable River Boat Service running between Putney and Greenwich


Build better, safer neighbourhoods

Put more police on the streets and focus on crime prevention

Address residents top five local issues in each borough

Provide safe havens for people under threat of violence or abuse


Create housing and make better use of space

Target unused and derelict buildings for new housing

Build more homes on GLA owned land

Introduce a private rented sector property MOT

Work with Councils to offer space in underused public buildings to charities and other organisations

[bringmesunshine2009]

Just read an article about Siobhan Benita today. Well well, I was lookng for an alternative to crazy Boris and sleazy Ken. I hope someone closer to my demographic (Mother, educated (well sort of), lady Londoner) might better represent my views and protect my interests. Particularly interested in the lobbying for childcare subsidy.

I don't understand why independents can't take part in TV debates though? Can anyone enlighten me?

[justonemorethread]

oooh! Thanks, was going to suggest a q&a session but realised mn would run the risk of showing favouritism.
Great idea to have a guest blog post!

[ElenMumsnetBloggers]

@justonemorethread

http://www.siobhanformayor.com/index.html
Apparently they are not the only options? Who knew!

Hi there,

We've invited the London Mayoral candidates to do a guest blog post and set out their strategy for a better London. Have a read of the first guest blog by Green candidate Jenny Jones and join the conversation: what do you want to see from the next London Mayor?

[chipstick10]

I didnt like the way Ken said the tory party was "riddled" with gays, as if it was a disease. I think hes homophobic

[longfingernails]

No, I think it has always been SV - and at the very least, 2008 was SV.

[DilysPrice]

Oh so it is lfn, sorry. I'm pretty sure that's a change isn't it?
My point still stands though, this is not an election where a vote for the Greens is a wasted vote.

[longfingernails]

DilysPrice I think you only get one "transfer" vote - that is, the election is a Supplementary Vote one, not Single Transferable Vote.

[DilysPrice]

You do not have to vote for Ken or Boris, or not first on the list anyway. This is an STV election, you can vote Independent, then Green, then Brian then Monster Raving Looney and then, last on the list whichever of Ken or Boris you hate least.

[longfingernails]

Voting blindly for one party is idiotic in the extreme. I have voted Tory, UKIP, Lib Dem and even Labour on one rather misguided occasion - but even today, in a hypothetical election between (say) Gisela Stuart and Ken Clarke, I am pretty sure I wouldn't vote for Ken.

[AmberLeaf]

I would vote for next doors dog if they stood as labours candidate before I would vote for Boris tory Johnson.

[ButHeNeverDid]

Amber, labour should have backed a better candidate. Oona King would have been a better candidate.

[ButHeNeverDid]

Even Jonathan Freedland has seen sense now

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/23/backed-ken-livingstone-mayor-before

[AmberLeaf]

Because if you don't want Ken in office you have to vote for someone who will win. Not one of the "others

That kind of foolishness is what got the fucking tories in in may 2010.

[ButHeNeverDid]

Because if you don't want Ken in office you have to vote for someone who will win. Not one of the "others".

[DilysPrice]

Hanging around with people who advocate homophobic acts is very wrong, and if you think that's a good enough reason not to vote for him then I won't try and talk you out of it, but it is not the same as being a homophobe yourself.

But why Boris? Why not (eg) Brian?

[ophelia275]

"Ken is not homophobic, he's got very very solid form for promoting gay rights going back decades." - So why does he welcome with open arms Jihadi preachers who advocate throwing gays off buildings (Yusuf al Qaradawi)? If you support someone who advocates the murder of others based on their sexuality, then, in some respects, you are supporting their ideology too.