**** * London Mayoral Election *** ##**#~## Boris **##*
... I need a drink! ....

Atticus wrote:

**** * London Mayoral Election *** ##**#~## Boris **##*
... I need a drink! ....

And you can have one! I've bought you some German weissbier. Were you banking on Livingstone win?

I love Weissbeer!

No, not banking on it, not a Ken fan particularly but frankly the whole thing has been the most dispiriting farce. ken would\'ve still been the best from a terrible choice.

Atticus wrote:

**** * London Mayoral Election *** ##**#~## Boris **##*
... I need a drink! ....

Collateral damage from Iraq - and the 10p tax rate.
New Labour and lost its new and its old friends.

Atticus wrote:

I love Weissbeer!

Well then drink it up, I'm celebrating my 1,000th posthood!

Quote :

No, not banking on it, not a Ken fan particularly but frankly the whole thing has been the most dispiriting farce. ken would've still be the best from a terrible choice.

Still, he's had about eight years in a position he originally indicated he would only serve in for 4. He was also a leading force in the GLC through the 80s. London could do with a fresh set of ideas and a new direction. The only problem is that we could be without Boris on HIGNFY for a full 4 years.

Funnily Iraq has faded. Ken stayed on too long, there have been dodgy dealings and favouritism, plus the whole brown disaster. PLUS the daily onslaught from the Standard headlines, even those of us who don't buy the paper can't escape the daily headline posters.

Atticus wrote:

Funnily Iraq has faded. Ken stayed on too long, there have been dodgy dealings and favouritism, plus the whole brown disaster. PLUS the daily onslaught from the Standard headlines, even those of us who don't buy the paper can't escape the daily headline posters.

I saw that in my brief foray into London during April. The LES really has it in for Ken, doesn't it? I thought they were joke headlines when I saw "The Mayor's Secret Children" over there. Pretty aggressive from the big city newspaper. That's death by a thousand paper cuts for any leader.

Ok i've had my rant, i'll shut up now! Have had a manic few weeks but i look forward to a calmer May.
Brill website which gets better and better, congrats to all of you. Where the heaven you all find the time I have no idea!
Have a fab weekend all of you.

the most aggressive headline was the one about one of his aides being a supporter of terrorism. I saw it during my lunch break and went back to the office absolutely fuming!

Atticus wrote:

the most aggressive headline was the one about one of his aides being a supporter of terrorism. I saw it during my lunch break and went back to the office absolutely fuming!

Did you boycott the paper during the election then and live off Metros and suchlike?

Atticus wrote:

the most aggressive headline was the one about one of his aides being a supporter of terrorism. I saw it during my lunch break and went back to the office absolutely fuming!

There was a guy on Pat Kenny's show who compared Boris Johnstown as Mayor with Caligula putting in horse in charge of the Senate...

Is there any danger of London being dismantled yet again by the Tories ? as far as I remember they never wanted a GLC.

cactus flower wrote:

Is there any danger of London being dismantled yet again by the Tories ? as far as I remember they never wanted a GLC.

Well, if David Cameron is Pm by April/May 2010(which is odds-on favourite to happen) then they'd hardly dismantle an office that Boris would be in to a minimum of May 2012.

As I said above, have had a particularly manic few weeks so haven't had time to read the proposals for Mayors in Ireland which I think EV posted somewhere. However, I will do so. A big problem at the moment in London + presumably elsewhere, is that the system as established by New Labour has really serious faults. There is no proper system of accountability and the dodginess Ken has been accused of will no doubt be repeated many times by the new shower.

You're right Ard-T, plus there are a number of very juicy contracts to be handed out over the next couple of years.

Atticus wrote:

You're right Ard-T, plus there are a number of very juicy contracts to be handed out over the next couple of years.

There won't be a dismantling of this position when they control it.

Atticus wrote:

Sorry if my last post didn't make much sense, weissbier kicking in and everything. What's the situation now? Is it a foregone conclusion that Boris is for the Mayorship?

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

Atticus wrote:

You're right Ard-T, plus there are a number of very juicy contracts to be handed out over the next couple of years.

There won't be a dismantling of this position when they control it.

I wouldn't say they would wind it up until Boris had his day. The longer haul may also depend on how many of the local authorities they control.

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

Atticus wrote:

You're right Ard-T, plus there are a number of very juicy contracts to be handed out over the next couple of years.

There won't be a dismantling of this position when they control it.

I wouldn't say they would wind it up until Boris had his day. The longer haul may also depend on how many of the local authorities they control.

Indeed, but they do seem to be consolidating a fairly firm grip on power over the hinterlands of Britain. The Conservatives are the coming party.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

Atticus wrote:

Sorry if my last post didn't make much sense, weissbier kicking in and everything. What's the situation now? Is it a foregone conclusion that Boris is for the Mayorship?

no you were perfectly clear, i obviously don't use the correct emoticons. I meant, yes definitely

Atticus wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

Atticus wrote:

Sorry if my last post didn't make much sense, weissbier kicking in and everything. What's the situation now? Is it a foregone conclusion that Boris is for the Mayorship?

no you were perfectly clear, i obviously don't use the correct emoticons. I meant, yes definitely

Big rumblings in the Labour back benches, from what I hear.

As youndan says, we are a year behind the States, and there will be all kinds of loopers emerging with an answer to the problems.

so here we go ....

69000 for the bnp?!?

oh **###*** unbelievable

Atticus wrote:

oh **###*** unbelievable

Boris Johnson 1,168,738
Ken Livingstone 1,028,966



Record turnout