A vote for Ken is a vote for Labour and Gordon Brown!
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Sky.Com: Coments - Boris is not a Buffoon
Boris is a very successful politician. I would like to see any of the critics who claim that he is a bufoon or an incompetent work with the same tireless ambition that he has demonstrated over the last few years. Not only was he an MP (by no means an easy job) but he was also a member of the shadow cabinet. Whatever you think of the conservatives they are not in the habit of promoting people with no intelligence. During that time he was also editor of the Spectator. So he effectively held down two very high powered jobs simultaneously. I challenge anyone to attempt and achieve that and still call him a buffoon.And Boris has been out on the campaign trail for weeks now, doing interviews, blogging, meeting the public and holding 2 or 3 hustings a day. Again this takes not only dedication but also great intelligence.It is time for change. Let's get rid of Ken's croneyism. Let's get rid of Labour's incompetence. Back Boris on Thursday!
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Why I lose my temper with those who trivialise racism
This evening we had a fantastic evening walk about with Boris in Sloane Square. It was great to see the big man engaging with so many members of the public.
I must admit that I did lose my temper completely with a young man who started baiting me when I stayed on afterwards at the tube station to hand out leaflets. He was sitting on the fence, waiting for someone and started calling out "He's a racist" everytime I was handing out a leaflet. He kept on saying this. Now I think had he done this once or twice I would have just asked him if he had read the article and told his to stop trivialising racism. He was of course a white middle class, presumably lefty, who in absence of any decent political points to make just decided to call Boris a racist. After a few more provocations I walked up to him and started shouting at him, "how dare he trivialise racism. Did he understand what a terribe thing racism was and not something to be thrown about lightly by some idiot. Had he read the article, did he understand the context, did he understand what satire was? Racism is a horrible thing and Boris is no racist". It caused quite a gathering for a moment or two. Then of course he ran away, I believe he called me Mr Hitler as his parting gesture. He was probably not worth the energy. But it just infuriates me, as someone who is brown, who has experienced racism growing up in Liverpool during the 80s. Let's defeat racism, let's go after those people who preach hate and want to stir up racist sentiment, but never seek to trivialise it to make a cheap political point.
I must admit that I did lose my temper completely with a young man who started baiting me when I stayed on afterwards at the tube station to hand out leaflets. He was sitting on the fence, waiting for someone and started calling out "He's a racist" everytime I was handing out a leaflet. He kept on saying this. Now I think had he done this once or twice I would have just asked him if he had read the article and told his to stop trivialising racism. He was of course a white middle class, presumably lefty, who in absence of any decent political points to make just decided to call Boris a racist. After a few more provocations I walked up to him and started shouting at him, "how dare he trivialise racism. Did he understand what a terribe thing racism was and not something to be thrown about lightly by some idiot. Had he read the article, did he understand the context, did he understand what satire was? Racism is a horrible thing and Boris is no racist". It caused quite a gathering for a moment or two. Then of course he ran away, I believe he called me Mr Hitler as his parting gesture. He was probably not worth the energy. But it just infuriates me, as someone who is brown, who has experienced racism growing up in Liverpool during the 80s. Let's defeat racism, let's go after those people who preach hate and want to stir up racist sentiment, but never seek to trivialise it to make a cheap political point.
Friday, 18 April 2008
Targets for next week
** THIS IS WHERE KEN'S PEOPLE WILL BE NEXT WEEK **
Oxford Circus tube leafleting (Tube station leafleting)
Wednesday, April 23 at 4:30 PM
Oxford Circus tube station (London, United Kingdom) - 0.78 kilometers away
Angel Tube Station leafleting (Tube station leafleting)
Wednesday, April 23 at 5:00 PM
Angel tube station (London, United Kingdom) - 0.78 kilometers away
Holborn tube station leafleting (Tube station leafleting)
Wednesday, April 23 at 5:00 PM
Holborn tube station (London, United Kingdom) - 1.75 kilometers away
Kings Cross tube station leafleting (Tube station leafleting)
Wednesday, April 23 at 5:00 PM
Kings Cross station (London, United Kingdom) - 0.78 kilometers away
London Bridge tube station leafleting (Tube station leafleting)
Wednesday, April 23 at 5:00 PM
Lobdon Bridge tube station (London, United Kingdom) - 0.78 kilometers away
Richmond tube station leafleting (Tube station leafleting)
Wednesday, April 23 at 5:00 PM
Richmond tube station (London, United Kingdom) - 0.78 kilometers away
Bringing out the vote
It feels exhilirating to be really involved.
Tuesday night I ended up at a major hustings for the black community in Cricklewood. We had a good turnout already outside the venue when I arrived soon after 8:15. Now the previous "Left List" people I had met had been very friendly. They were mainly young people under 25 and we entered into a bit of friendly banter as we fought to make sure guests got both leaflets. This bunch of left list supporters were the wizzened and embittered old (almost elderly) guard and there was nothing friendly about them. From the moment that I put my shirt on, I had them barracking me and telling me I was a war monger, a racist, an imperialist. Now I am definitely willing to have an open debate, to put arguments, to debate. But to be shouted down, before I have said anything and to be called a racist was too much. Right there and then I accessed the campaigning voice that I have been developing for several weeks on the street and I took them on at their own volume. Who were they to call me a racist? After I had pummeled them into an ashamed corner, they started up again this time telling me (and the others) that we didn't care about the workers or the miner's during the strike in the 80's and that the current levels of poverty in the UK were the fault of the Conservative government in the 80s. This was almost too easy, who now contests that some tough decisions made by Thatcher have left the economic legacy that Labour have frittered away? There I was face to face with some unpleasant and angry socialists and they were talking about the 80s, that was the 20th century! I pointed this out, that they should live in the 21st century and deal with 21st century issues, particularly ones that deal with London. And I reminded them that the Conservative Party is committed to helping the weakest in society and alleviating poverty. And that is something that I will always strive to uphold. The new conservative party adopts this position, and it must always.
Wednesday, I needed to have a day off the campaign. I realised that I had been campaigning for the last 6 days, albeit 1 or 2 hours a day.
Thursday I covered Oxford Circus again and on the whole had a fairly positive reception and gave away a number of flyers. As the battle hots up it's important to get the messages out there, so now I am peppering my proclamantions with "let's vote for better transport, let's vote for safer streets, let's vote for more accountability in city hall". As well as the more directly accurate 'Let's get rid of Ken and his cronies, let's get rid of corruption in city hall'.
I recognised a few familiar faces amongst the crows, people who I had seen the previous week and one or two people who I had worked with over the years.
Again I had the same two smaller brained lefties, the girl who tore up the leaflets and threw it on the floor. How typical that a Ken supporter doesn't care about London and throws litter. The same guy who came past last week and told me to "F-off" came by and called me a C- this week. How charming and again indicative of the sort of people that support Ken. Bitter, bad mannered, yobs, amongst others. Again I challenged him to have a debate, but he ran away. Like all of Ken's supporters, they run away.
I still haven't seen any Ken leafleters other than at the hustings, but I know that if I did see them I would engage them in a debate, maybe start handing out my own flyers to try and disrupt them, but I would always treat them with respect and I would never dream of swearing at them.
I thinkit is a good sign that there are no Ken supporters handing out leaflets. I signed up as a supporter on his website and now I am getting invites to get involved. Amusingly my spam filter catergorised it as junk - who says computers aren't intelligent!
The invite was quite keen to get me leafleting for Ken, check it out!:
http://www.kenlivingstone.com/page/event/search_results?type=simple&orderby=zip_radius&zip_radius%5B0%5D=SW1H+0HA&zip_radius%5B1%5D=100&radius_unit=kilometers&country=GB
I'm going to keep an eye out for any that are meant to happen near me and then get along there and see who turns up. I'll definitely take my leaflets too.
Tonight, there is meant to be some Boris leafleting over West that I will join. I'll be canvassing locally on Saturday and back to Boris on Sunday for an hour or two.
Tuesday night I ended up at a major hustings for the black community in Cricklewood. We had a good turnout already outside the venue when I arrived soon after 8:15. Now the previous "Left List" people I had met had been very friendly. They were mainly young people under 25 and we entered into a bit of friendly banter as we fought to make sure guests got both leaflets. This bunch of left list supporters were the wizzened and embittered old (almost elderly) guard and there was nothing friendly about them. From the moment that I put my shirt on, I had them barracking me and telling me I was a war monger, a racist, an imperialist. Now I am definitely willing to have an open debate, to put arguments, to debate. But to be shouted down, before I have said anything and to be called a racist was too much. Right there and then I accessed the campaigning voice that I have been developing for several weeks on the street and I took them on at their own volume. Who were they to call me a racist? After I had pummeled them into an ashamed corner, they started up again this time telling me (and the others) that we didn't care about the workers or the miner's during the strike in the 80's and that the current levels of poverty in the UK were the fault of the Conservative government in the 80s. This was almost too easy, who now contests that some tough decisions made by Thatcher have left the economic legacy that Labour have frittered away? There I was face to face with some unpleasant and angry socialists and they were talking about the 80s, that was the 20th century! I pointed this out, that they should live in the 21st century and deal with 21st century issues, particularly ones that deal with London. And I reminded them that the Conservative Party is committed to helping the weakest in society and alleviating poverty. And that is something that I will always strive to uphold. The new conservative party adopts this position, and it must always.
Wednesday, I needed to have a day off the campaign. I realised that I had been campaigning for the last 6 days, albeit 1 or 2 hours a day.
Thursday I covered Oxford Circus again and on the whole had a fairly positive reception and gave away a number of flyers. As the battle hots up it's important to get the messages out there, so now I am peppering my proclamantions with "let's vote for better transport, let's vote for safer streets, let's vote for more accountability in city hall". As well as the more directly accurate 'Let's get rid of Ken and his cronies, let's get rid of corruption in city hall'.
I recognised a few familiar faces amongst the crows, people who I had seen the previous week and one or two people who I had worked with over the years.
Again I had the same two smaller brained lefties, the girl who tore up the leaflets and threw it on the floor. How typical that a Ken supporter doesn't care about London and throws litter. The same guy who came past last week and told me to "F-off" came by and called me a C- this week. How charming and again indicative of the sort of people that support Ken. Bitter, bad mannered, yobs, amongst others. Again I challenged him to have a debate, but he ran away. Like all of Ken's supporters, they run away.
I still haven't seen any Ken leafleters other than at the hustings, but I know that if I did see them I would engage them in a debate, maybe start handing out my own flyers to try and disrupt them, but I would always treat them with respect and I would never dream of swearing at them.
I thinkit is a good sign that there are no Ken supporters handing out leaflets. I signed up as a supporter on his website and now I am getting invites to get involved. Amusingly my spam filter catergorised it as junk - who says computers aren't intelligent!
The invite was quite keen to get me leafleting for Ken, check it out!:
http://www.kenlivingstone.com/page/event/search_results?type=simple&orderby=zip_radius&zip_radius%5B0%5D=SW1H+0HA&zip_radius%5B1%5D=100&radius_unit=kilometers&country=GB
I'm going to keep an eye out for any that are meant to happen near me and then get along there and see who turns up. I'll definitely take my leaflets too.
Tonight, there is meant to be some Boris leafleting over West that I will join. I'll be canvassing locally on Saturday and back to Boris on Sunday for an hour or two.
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Marathon, Edmonton and Oxford Curcus
We're getting very close to the election now, but it's good to know that there is a growing band of supporters right across the capital.
I was out at the Marathon on Sunday. I found a very good spot on Hungerford bridge that allowed me a good view of the runners on the embankment. I managed almost 2 hours in the pretty cold and windy weather, before it started really raining at 2pm and I had to head back home. I'm not a fair weather supporter normally, but after 2 hours I felt I'd done enough. And it was proper nasty rain, cold and wet, not at all summery. I guess the runners had the worst of it though.
Monday and I headed up to Edmonton for my first face to face with Ken supporters. (I can't remember whether I mentioned that I met "The Left List" supporters at the event on Euston road. The one guy I was talking to was very friendly and we discussed a number of issues in the gaps in the flow of people). I must admit that Ken's supporters were also on the whole very friendly and mostly young. We didn't get into any debates as such and they outnumbered me about 6 to 1! There wasn't much 'passing traffic' on the street outside the venue and by the time we arrived most people were already inside waiting in the bar. I bit the bullet and snuck inside and started handing out flyers and newsletters as far and wide as I good. It was quite exhilirating being in amongst a crowd like that, quite a few people who said they definitely wouldn't vote for Boris (or something like that) and I had a chance to make a couple of ripostes. The majority did at least want to read his newsletter. I did a circuit or two before returning outside to the cold, where I met the Ken supporters. We started into a bit of banter and before long they had amassed a web across the road to reach anyone who walked past. I joked that I would get fit running around between them trying to keep up, but in the end there really weren't that many punters.
Boris arrived at around 7. As he got out of his car, I let out an involuntary "Hooray for Boris" and he looked up suddenly and whacked his head on the door frame. Whoops, sorry Boris. I hope he didn't have concussion for the hustings. Ken stumbled in by himself at about 7:20.
The Ken supporters disintegrated at around 7:30 and I followed suit, because it was becoming freezing!
This morning (Tuesday) I was out at Oxford Circus again. It's hard to spot a trend, especially at a station that I have flyered before. I got rid of a good stack of leaflets and had a lot of comments of support. I didn't have as many hecklers as usual, but I did have my first slightly aggresive response, two in fact. One lady who told me I was a 'stupid idiot', to which I pointed out that at least I was getting involved rather than just complaining. The second I didn't really see but it was a guy who shouted "F** off" and I shouted after him, "That's a great political argument, come and have a debate if you think you're smart enough". Needless to say he didn't.
Maybe there is a slight polarisation now. I think also some left wing people who were laughing off Boris a few weeks back, now have seen the polls and are worried and have become slightly more vocal.
I have a huge amount of respect for the Ken and left list supporters, who like me volunteer their time to get out on the streets and support their candidate. As I mentioned to them, we all want a better London. But being on the street like this morning, you realise that there are a lot of people who don't have the same level of maturity or intelligence and who would rather just shout abuse. Well, let them. Sticks and stones, we're still going to win.
Two hustings this evening, should be fun. I'm going to be very very hoarse tomorrow.
I was out at the Marathon on Sunday. I found a very good spot on Hungerford bridge that allowed me a good view of the runners on the embankment. I managed almost 2 hours in the pretty cold and windy weather, before it started really raining at 2pm and I had to head back home. I'm not a fair weather supporter normally, but after 2 hours I felt I'd done enough. And it was proper nasty rain, cold and wet, not at all summery. I guess the runners had the worst of it though.
Monday and I headed up to Edmonton for my first face to face with Ken supporters. (I can't remember whether I mentioned that I met "The Left List" supporters at the event on Euston road. The one guy I was talking to was very friendly and we discussed a number of issues in the gaps in the flow of people). I must admit that Ken's supporters were also on the whole very friendly and mostly young. We didn't get into any debates as such and they outnumbered me about 6 to 1! There wasn't much 'passing traffic' on the street outside the venue and by the time we arrived most people were already inside waiting in the bar. I bit the bullet and snuck inside and started handing out flyers and newsletters as far and wide as I good. It was quite exhilirating being in amongst a crowd like that, quite a few people who said they definitely wouldn't vote for Boris (or something like that) and I had a chance to make a couple of ripostes. The majority did at least want to read his newsletter. I did a circuit or two before returning outside to the cold, where I met the Ken supporters. We started into a bit of banter and before long they had amassed a web across the road to reach anyone who walked past. I joked that I would get fit running around between them trying to keep up, but in the end there really weren't that many punters.
Boris arrived at around 7. As he got out of his car, I let out an involuntary "Hooray for Boris" and he looked up suddenly and whacked his head on the door frame. Whoops, sorry Boris. I hope he didn't have concussion for the hustings. Ken stumbled in by himself at about 7:20.
The Ken supporters disintegrated at around 7:30 and I followed suit, because it was becoming freezing!
This morning (Tuesday) I was out at Oxford Circus again. It's hard to spot a trend, especially at a station that I have flyered before. I got rid of a good stack of leaflets and had a lot of comments of support. I didn't have as many hecklers as usual, but I did have my first slightly aggresive response, two in fact. One lady who told me I was a 'stupid idiot', to which I pointed out that at least I was getting involved rather than just complaining. The second I didn't really see but it was a guy who shouted "F** off" and I shouted after him, "That's a great political argument, come and have a debate if you think you're smart enough". Needless to say he didn't.
Maybe there is a slight polarisation now. I think also some left wing people who were laughing off Boris a few weeks back, now have seen the polls and are worried and have become slightly more vocal.
I have a huge amount of respect for the Ken and left list supporters, who like me volunteer their time to get out on the streets and support their candidate. As I mentioned to them, we all want a better London. But being on the street like this morning, you realise that there are a lot of people who don't have the same level of maturity or intelligence and who would rather just shout abuse. Well, let them. Sticks and stones, we're still going to win.
Two hustings this evening, should be fun. I'm going to be very very hoarse tomorrow.
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
More great poll results
Another great result in the opinion polls last night putting Boris 13% clear. Although one of the strongest messages to come with it from BJHQ in the press was that no one can afford to be complacent and we need to keep fighting until the last to make sure we win. Alarmingly I realised that we are just over 3 weeks away from the election (and five weeks from my wedding, but that is another blog altogether). I think that calls for a step up in activity. Maybe 3 mornings a week and 1 evening a week for the next couple of weeks.
I was out at Holborn this morning, after a tip from one of the 'professional' leafleteers (ie. the young guys handing out flyers for theatre tickets) that this was the best station for handing things out. I decided to try the side entrance where there was a steady stream of commuters, although I did have to speak louder than normal as there was a pneumatic drill not so far away.
I'm really starting to notice an increased level of interest. At first (4 weeks ago) I got a lot of smiles from people but not much interest. I still get the smiles, but now there is a lot more interest and the leaflets are disappearing very quickly. At some points I was almost under attack as commuters jostled to grab my leaflets from both sides and I couldn't get them out fast enough. I suppose it's because I am actively campaigning, calling out to "vote for a better London, vote for Boris Johnson". People hear that as they come out of the ticket gates and can make up their minds to come and take one or not.
There was a professional leafleteer in the same exit and I think a lot of people thought he too was giving out Boris material, they might be surprised that Boris is supporting the latest west end theatre production!
Not so many hecklers anymore, I think it shows that people realise that Boris is a contender and they have to take him seriously. It has taken weeks to get his policy ideas out there, but his office has been amazing and virtually every day there has been some new initiative and a photo of Boris around the capital connecting with people. it's great.
I only had one guy who really made a point of showing his disagreement and walked back to rip up the leaflet in my face, 'yes well make sure you put it in the bin'.
All in all, Holborn is a very busy station. I think i will try and recruit some other volunteers to help me there next week.
There was due to be a tube strike on Monday and Tuesday that was canceled, it would have very clearly indicated to commuters the real cost of having a labour mayor.
I have another outing this evening at the no2ID hustings. Should be a good one and I hope we come face to face with the Ken supporters again.
I was out at Holborn this morning, after a tip from one of the 'professional' leafleteers (ie. the young guys handing out flyers for theatre tickets) that this was the best station for handing things out. I decided to try the side entrance where there was a steady stream of commuters, although I did have to speak louder than normal as there was a pneumatic drill not so far away.
I'm really starting to notice an increased level of interest. At first (4 weeks ago) I got a lot of smiles from people but not much interest. I still get the smiles, but now there is a lot more interest and the leaflets are disappearing very quickly. At some points I was almost under attack as commuters jostled to grab my leaflets from both sides and I couldn't get them out fast enough. I suppose it's because I am actively campaigning, calling out to "vote for a better London, vote for Boris Johnson". People hear that as they come out of the ticket gates and can make up their minds to come and take one or not.
There was a professional leafleteer in the same exit and I think a lot of people thought he too was giving out Boris material, they might be surprised that Boris is supporting the latest west end theatre production!
Not so many hecklers anymore, I think it shows that people realise that Boris is a contender and they have to take him seriously. It has taken weeks to get his policy ideas out there, but his office has been amazing and virtually every day there has been some new initiative and a photo of Boris around the capital connecting with people. it's great.
I only had one guy who really made a point of showing his disagreement and walked back to rip up the leaflet in my face, 'yes well make sure you put it in the bin'.
All in all, Holborn is a very busy station. I think i will try and recruit some other volunteers to help me there next week.
There was due to be a tube strike on Monday and Tuesday that was canceled, it would have very clearly indicated to commuters the real cost of having a labour mayor.
I have another outing this evening at the no2ID hustings. Should be a good one and I hope we come face to face with the Ken supporters again.
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Let battle commence
Tonight we encountered the Ken supporters for the first time. We had arrived at 6pm to hand out leaflets outside the Time Out mayoral hustings. Boris has turned up to a number of hustings across London over the last 3 months, and the date of this husting was changed to an evening when Boris already had appointments. It was a really good turn out and a lot of new faces have been recruited, right across the spectrum and from all background.
About half an hour in the first Ken supporter arrived and about 45 minutes a few more Ken supporters arrived to hand out leaflets. We sparred a few times, but then neither group was there to have the debate, we were both handing out flyers to the husting guests. Poor things between the 10 or so Boris supporters and the 3 Ken supporters they did have to endure a bit of barrage of paper to get through the doors.
I'm glad to have finally come face to face with some Ken supporters. I like a fair fight and it did seem at one point as if Ken was going to go without even a whimper.
Ken himself turned up and we thrust our leaflets in his face, he's stolen Boris's policies, so why not go the whole hog and vote for him as well.
It was good to debate policy on the street like this, it makes you think pretty quickly. There are a number of points that I'm going to prepare answers for. Next time we'll all be better prepared.
Let the battle commence!
About half an hour in the first Ken supporter arrived and about 45 minutes a few more Ken supporters arrived to hand out leaflets. We sparred a few times, but then neither group was there to have the debate, we were both handing out flyers to the husting guests. Poor things between the 10 or so Boris supporters and the 3 Ken supporters they did have to endure a bit of barrage of paper to get through the doors.
I'm glad to have finally come face to face with some Ken supporters. I like a fair fight and it did seem at one point as if Ken was going to go without even a whimper.
Ken himself turned up and we thrust our leaflets in his face, he's stolen Boris's policies, so why not go the whole hog and vote for him as well.
It was good to debate policy on the street like this, it makes you think pretty quickly. There are a number of points that I'm going to prepare answers for. Next time we'll all be better prepared.
Let the battle commence!
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
The Other Candidates - Paddick
Brian Paddick started his speech by complimenting Boris on being by far the best entertainer, before going on to say that he didn't have any experience of actually running anything except the spectator.
Paddick's theme was very simple and he kept returning to it. I liked the simplicity and the structure. But at times it did sound more like a job interview. He just doesn't have that x-factor that a potential mayor is going to need. Yes he sounded competent, but he needed more.
His message was that he had demonstrated by his police career that he is able to deliver succesful results and that he has lots of experience. His promise was to listen to Londoners, like he had done when he was a police commisioner.
He said that crime was his number one issue, which you would hope and expect from an ex police officer! And on this issue he was able to savage Ken's figures with a lot more authority than Boris has/can manage. He spoke about the public's dwindling confidence in the police and quoted from the British Crime Survey and you believed that he knew what he was talking about. I'd vote for him for head of the Metropolitan Police Authority.
I did like the fact that he was pressing for more local control over police by local authorities and he did make an interesting point that police are always going to have to do more paperwork, so the best solution is to hire keyboard operators to input the paperwork more efficiently. He also criticsed the PCSOs saying that they were as much use as you or I. Yes and no, Yes they are just as powerful as you or I, but they have specifically stepped up to take on this responsibility. We should be encouraging more of this sort of personal investment, be it as PCSOs or other voluntary action that benefits the communities of London.
He ended by critising Boris's plans as being based on a 'magic wand' approach, which he said he was more practical. He also lambasted Boris for not knowing more about London and only knowing about the Henley Regatta. Critcisms that seemed weak and half hearted, as if he had to put something in to challenge his main opponent.
Paddick tried to make a few other points during the questions that followed, but largely remained on the outside of the battle between Ken and Boris.
One of the last questions was which book would you choose to guide you if you were Mayor. Paddick answered this obliquely by saying that there were rulebooks and that he intended to throw it away and listen to the people instead. He described the rulebook as ideology. Interesting sentiments from a one time upholder of the law.
In the press room afterwards I noticed that Ken and Paddick were there first. Ken quaffing wine usually with a couple of jornos or PRs. Paddick was looking around for people to speak to (there were only about 30 people in the room or so) . Boris marched in and was immediatley surrounded by a coterie of women journalists before being glad handed around the room. Encouraged by my fiance I went up to the big man and re-itereated my support. He thanked me and then moved onto a photo opportunity with a person I didn't recognise. It was interesting to note how the assembled journalists gravitated.
Boris left in a flash of PRs almost as soon as he had left. It felt like a well managed exit. Waiting on the tube platform we saw Paddick waiting by himself. Presumably Ken was still quaffing wine at the Standard's expense late into the night and Boris was cycling home.
Paddick's theme was very simple and he kept returning to it. I liked the simplicity and the structure. But at times it did sound more like a job interview. He just doesn't have that x-factor that a potential mayor is going to need. Yes he sounded competent, but he needed more.
His message was that he had demonstrated by his police career that he is able to deliver succesful results and that he has lots of experience. His promise was to listen to Londoners, like he had done when he was a police commisioner.
He said that crime was his number one issue, which you would hope and expect from an ex police officer! And on this issue he was able to savage Ken's figures with a lot more authority than Boris has/can manage. He spoke about the public's dwindling confidence in the police and quoted from the British Crime Survey and you believed that he knew what he was talking about. I'd vote for him for head of the Metropolitan Police Authority.
I did like the fact that he was pressing for more local control over police by local authorities and he did make an interesting point that police are always going to have to do more paperwork, so the best solution is to hire keyboard operators to input the paperwork more efficiently. He also criticsed the PCSOs saying that they were as much use as you or I. Yes and no, Yes they are just as powerful as you or I, but they have specifically stepped up to take on this responsibility. We should be encouraging more of this sort of personal investment, be it as PCSOs or other voluntary action that benefits the communities of London.
He ended by critising Boris's plans as being based on a 'magic wand' approach, which he said he was more practical. He also lambasted Boris for not knowing more about London and only knowing about the Henley Regatta. Critcisms that seemed weak and half hearted, as if he had to put something in to challenge his main opponent.
Paddick tried to make a few other points during the questions that followed, but largely remained on the outside of the battle between Ken and Boris.
One of the last questions was which book would you choose to guide you if you were Mayor. Paddick answered this obliquely by saying that there were rulebooks and that he intended to throw it away and listen to the people instead. He described the rulebook as ideology. Interesting sentiments from a one time upholder of the law.
In the press room afterwards I noticed that Ken and Paddick were there first. Ken quaffing wine usually with a couple of jornos or PRs. Paddick was looking around for people to speak to (there were only about 30 people in the room or so) . Boris marched in and was immediatley surrounded by a coterie of women journalists before being glad handed around the room. Encouraged by my fiance I went up to the big man and re-itereated my support. He thanked me and then moved onto a photo opportunity with a person I didn't recognise. It was interesting to note how the assembled journalists gravitated.
Boris left in a flash of PRs almost as soon as he had left. It felt like a well managed exit. Waiting on the tube platform we saw Paddick waiting by himself. Presumably Ken was still quaffing wine at the Standard's expense late into the night and Boris was cycling home.
Evening Standard Debate - Introductory Speeches
This was the third Evening Standard debate that I've attended and the first to see all candidates pitched against each other, on the platform. The first debate was with Boris (a fairly busy Cadogan hall c. 600 people), the second debate was with Ken (a packed RSA c. 300), today's debate was back in the Cadogan hall and the place was heaving, both downstairs and upstairs (c. 800). I'd thought I'd be pretty near the front of the queue, arriving at 5:50 when the doors were meant to open at 6:15, but there was still an impressively sized cue. As we waited a few local campaign groups were unfurling banners; Local shopkeepers, Anti-Western Extensioners, no congestion charge.
Once through the increasingly tighter security (named tickets and photo ID required) we raced to the front of the room to find 4 rows of seats reserved for VIPs.
The evening started with an introduction from the editor of the Evening Standard. A tombola was used to decide who should speak first from the 3 candidates. Each candidate pulled out a number and as they were read out cheers went up, hoping that these numbers would be prescient.
Boris - 1
Brian Paddick - 2
Ken Livingstone - 3
The debate started very amicably, with Boris complementing Livingstone on raising awareness of the office of mayor. A bit m0re banter followed, but when some of the audience shouted requests to remove the now redundant tombola from the desk, because it was obscuring their view of Boris, it was only the ex-policeman who not only listened but also had the gumption to act.
I was pleased to see a bit of humour creep back into Boris's performance as he reminded us of two of Ken's more famous quotes (Only a de-humanised moron would remove the route-master and I'll only run for two terms). He's rightly had to focus on his serious nature and reveal this side to those who doubt he has one! But the odd joke now and then reminds us of his personality.
Boris presented first his plans for housing, speaking about joint ownership as the way to give first time buyers a help onto the property ladder. He also spoke about obtaining more GLA land for redevelopment (similar to his idea to use more brown field sites) - none of which I must admit sounded that radical, and made me think that there must be a very good reason why they have not done that so far. Boris also circled his policy of preventing 'garden grab' across the capital and re-iterated his vision of an aesthetically pleasing (ie. restrictions on sky scrapers and architecture), locally planned London.
Boris then moved onto the environment and talked about the uselessness of the 25GBP congestion charge, suggesting that the amount of Co2 it will save is equivalent to a herd of cows. But his main point was to say that there is more congestion with the charge than there was before and that traffic sitting at lights, rather than flowing is the biggest generator of pollution.
Boris also talked about creating penalties for utility companies if they go over the allocated time to take the roads up (although later Ken tried to blame Thames Water for all the congestion in central London, and Paddick reminded him that it wasn't just the utility companies who were to blame).
Boris's 3rd plank (after housing & environment) seemed to be the most important to him, Security. It is a simple message, that is getting slightly lost amongst all the other policies and manifestos that he is putting out (even when challenged to give his vision, unfortunately there was so much, this got lost again).
Boris stopped short of saying 'zero tolerance' but that is the direction that he is moving in, saying that a crack down on small crimes would help combat the rise in more serious crime and discourage offenders. Boris also shifted the responsibility towards the voluntary sector, indicating that not only individuals but also large companies should be involved in working with and possibly funding community projects.
And of course Boris mentioned one of his strongest (public friendly) policies of doing away with all the advertising and publicity that the mayor's office constantly generates and using the budget instead for more Police Community Support Officers.
Overall, Boris was talking nine to the doze. He started off sounding like an impassioned speaker, energetic and excitable, and making the audience think that he has so much to say, so much to do. However, by the time he was reminded by the chair, Anne McElvoy, that he should be wrapping up he tried to squeeze in his final words, by speaking at double the rate. On anyone else it would have sounded a little bit unpolished and maybe desperate, but on Boris it sounded eager, just.
Once through the increasingly tighter security (named tickets and photo ID required) we raced to the front of the room to find 4 rows of seats reserved for VIPs.
The evening started with an introduction from the editor of the Evening Standard. A tombola was used to decide who should speak first from the 3 candidates. Each candidate pulled out a number and as they were read out cheers went up, hoping that these numbers would be prescient.
Boris - 1
Brian Paddick - 2
Ken Livingstone - 3
The debate started very amicably, with Boris complementing Livingstone on raising awareness of the office of mayor. A bit m0re banter followed, but when some of the audience shouted requests to remove the now redundant tombola from the desk, because it was obscuring their view of Boris, it was only the ex-policeman who not only listened but also had the gumption to act.
I was pleased to see a bit of humour creep back into Boris's performance as he reminded us of two of Ken's more famous quotes (Only a de-humanised moron would remove the route-master and I'll only run for two terms). He's rightly had to focus on his serious nature and reveal this side to those who doubt he has one! But the odd joke now and then reminds us of his personality.
Boris presented first his plans for housing, speaking about joint ownership as the way to give first time buyers a help onto the property ladder. He also spoke about obtaining more GLA land for redevelopment (similar to his idea to use more brown field sites) - none of which I must admit sounded that radical, and made me think that there must be a very good reason why they have not done that so far. Boris also circled his policy of preventing 'garden grab' across the capital and re-iterated his vision of an aesthetically pleasing (ie. restrictions on sky scrapers and architecture), locally planned London.
Boris then moved onto the environment and talked about the uselessness of the 25GBP congestion charge, suggesting that the amount of Co2 it will save is equivalent to a herd of cows. But his main point was to say that there is more congestion with the charge than there was before and that traffic sitting at lights, rather than flowing is the biggest generator of pollution.
Boris also talked about creating penalties for utility companies if they go over the allocated time to take the roads up (although later Ken tried to blame Thames Water for all the congestion in central London, and Paddick reminded him that it wasn't just the utility companies who were to blame).
Boris's 3rd plank (after housing & environment) seemed to be the most important to him, Security. It is a simple message, that is getting slightly lost amongst all the other policies and manifestos that he is putting out (even when challenged to give his vision, unfortunately there was so much, this got lost again).
Boris stopped short of saying 'zero tolerance' but that is the direction that he is moving in, saying that a crack down on small crimes would help combat the rise in more serious crime and discourage offenders. Boris also shifted the responsibility towards the voluntary sector, indicating that not only individuals but also large companies should be involved in working with and possibly funding community projects.
And of course Boris mentioned one of his strongest (public friendly) policies of doing away with all the advertising and publicity that the mayor's office constantly generates and using the budget instead for more Police Community Support Officers.
Overall, Boris was talking nine to the doze. He started off sounding like an impassioned speaker, energetic and excitable, and making the audience think that he has so much to say, so much to do. However, by the time he was reminded by the chair, Anne McElvoy, that he should be wrapping up he tried to squeeze in his final words, by speaking at double the rate. On anyone else it would have sounded a little bit unpolished and maybe desperate, but on Boris it sounded eager, just.
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