Comments on: London Mayor

By: swanarcadian

swanarcadian — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:28:38 +0000

Lol Joseph, God forbid he should lose to Ken he could take on Barack Obama.

By: Joseph Brayson

Joseph Brayson — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:51:10 +0000

Just out of interest is Boris Johnson a US citizen thus having dual-nationality? If so, it would be interesting to see if he votes in next years Presidential election.

By: swanarcadian

swanarcadian — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:20:19 +0000

I have my suspicions that the voting system was partly designed to maximise the chance of Frank Dobson being elected in 2000.

By: Warofdreams

Warofdreams — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:47:56 +0000

According to Wikipedia, the six parties which have previously won London Assembly seats have all now chosen their candidates. The three main parties are all running the same candidates as last time, so we see Johnson vs Livingstone again, with Paddick hoping to retain third place.

The Greens have chosen Jenny Jones, one of their current Assembly members. Meanwhile, UKIP and the BNP have chosen less prominent candidates: Lawrence Webb and Carlos Cortiglia, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Christian People’s Alliance have recently asked for candidates for their nomination, and one Femi Solola has announced that he is standing as an independent.

By: Robberbutton

Robberbutton — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:32:59 +0000

I do want to briefly join in the debate on elected mayors.

I do like them, but I hate the system used to elect them.

By: H.Hemmelig

H.Hemmelig — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:39:11 +0000

Christ, that’s a real slap in the face for Opik, coming way behind two complete nobodies (as well as Paddick).

Perhaps his appearance on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here wasn’t such a good idea after all.

My faith in Londoners’ ability to disregard trashy faux celebrity candidates, severely tested by the success of Boris and Ken, has been renewed.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:28:55 +0000

Opik finished last, also behind Hayley

Round 1 : Paddick 1,289; Tuffrey 1,232; Haley 316; Opik 252. Round 2 : Paddick 1,567; Tuffrey 1,476

By: H.Hemmelig

H.Hemmelig — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:23:53 +0000

Brian Paddick has been selected again as the Lib Dem candidate for mayor, defeating Lembit Opik.

Not sure Paddick has the charisma to be mayor but his experience in the Met should be put to good use by whoever of Boris or Ken wins.

Not being the biggest Boris fan, but preferring him to Ken, I’m tempted to vote Paddick first with Boris as 2nd preference, in the sure knowledge Paddick will be eliminated.

By: Joe James B

Joe James B — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:24:33 +0000

I’m not convinced there is a need,
although it may be a worthwhile idea for larger cities like Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, and so on.

But even there I have my doubts whether we need it – the Allowances culture has grown over the years, so surely the Leader of the Council is well enough resourced and high profile enough to do it.

part of the Tory argument is such a figure can be elected by the whole area, rather than just a ward, and that may be so.

I just think things have moved on a bit and we should be squeezing every penny of value out of all tiers of government.
If it’s more dead weight cost, that’s less money for home helps to help people stay in their homes, and less money for education, and more money taken out of taxpayers and small businesses.

If it’s not worth doing, we should scrap it.

I agree, Benjamin, though (point on the London Mayor thread) that we cannot reverse the democratic vote to set up a Mayor in Tower Hamlets already passed.

By: benjamin

benjamin — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:32:23 +0000

The Tories have been campaigning for more directly-elected mayors, not fewer. In any case, whatever you think of the mayoral system or the result in this case, there was a democratic* referendum and the voters of Tower Hamlets voted to have an elected mayor. You can’t just override that.

*or as democratic as any election in an East End rotten borough.