Saturday, May 3, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
London elects a fluffy bunny as Mayor
I've kept out of commenting much on the London Mayoralty election, because I am out in the sticks with a straw in my mouth, and venture into London barely six times a year.
I think Boris Johnson is a prat and wouldn't vote for him if my life depended on it.
I am hoping we'll now get some entertainment from him. Just a 10 minute interview with any journalist worth their salt (not Andrew Gilligan) would do. And then the whole edifice would disintegrate - rather like an old jumper when you pull at a thread of wool and eventually the whole thing turns into a pile of wool on the floor.
But I am dreaming. Boris will be locked into a political chastity belt with David Cameron holding the key. So no fun - probably.
John Harris on Comment is Free has written an excellent article, including this bit aimed at those who voted for Johnson:
If you voted for Johnson, perhaps you can help by offering answers to some very simple questions. If he could credibly put his past opinions behind him and present a new convincing face, why did he spend the whole campaign running scared of any meaningful encounter with any journalist? If you cleave to the idea that he may somehow invent a new strain of "progressive" Tory politics, perhaps you could fill us in about what policies for the capital might reveal exactly what this means? Or was this just about - and I'm clutching at straws here - an opportunistic pitch on crime, that yawn-inducing stuff about Routemaster buses and a very British desire to upset the applecart?
I think Boris Johnson is a prat and wouldn't vote for him if my life depended on it.
I am hoping we'll now get some entertainment from him. Just a 10 minute interview with any journalist worth their salt (not Andrew Gilligan) would do. And then the whole edifice would disintegrate - rather like an old jumper when you pull at a thread of wool and eventually the whole thing turns into a pile of wool on the floor.
But I am dreaming. Boris will be locked into a political chastity belt with David Cameron holding the key. So no fun - probably.
John Harris on Comment is Free has written an excellent article, including this bit aimed at those who voted for Johnson:
If you voted for Johnson, perhaps you can help by offering answers to some very simple questions. If he could credibly put his past opinions behind him and present a new convincing face, why did he spend the whole campaign running scared of any meaningful encounter with any journalist? If you cleave to the idea that he may somehow invent a new strain of "progressive" Tory politics, perhaps you could fill us in about what policies for the capital might reveal exactly what this means? Or was this just about - and I'm clutching at straws here - an opportunistic pitch on crime, that yawn-inducing stuff about Routemaster buses and a very British desire to upset the applecart?
Great news!!!! : Reading's Labour leader ousted by LibDems - Live Blog
12.01 All results are in. Labour have lost control but the Conservatives have failed to gain control. My calculations are: 3 Tory gains from Labour, 2 LibDem gains from Labour, one Con gain from LD, leaving the seats as:
Labour 20
Conservatives 18
LibDems 8
11:44 LibDem Warren Swaine wins Katesgrove ward, unseating Labour council Council Leader since 1995, David Sutton, said to be one of the longest serving councillors in the South.
Tories gain Kentwood ward from Labour. Labour hold Southcote. Tories hold Thames ward. Labour hold Abbey ward. Tories gain Peppard from LibDems.
11.30 Labour hold Minster ward. They have already held Whitley ward. The Conservatives held Mapledurham ward earlier.
11.17 The BBC report that unless Labour manage the miracle of gaining some seats, they have lost control of Reading for the first time in 22 years.
11.08 Tories win Church ward from Labour
11.03 Glenn Goodall for the LibDems wins Redlands ward from Labour with a big majority of 191 votes!
10.50 The Conservatives have won Caversham ward from Labour in Reading.
Labour 20
Conservatives 18
LibDems 8
11:44 LibDem Warren Swaine wins Katesgrove ward, unseating Labour council Council Leader since 1995, David Sutton, said to be one of the longest serving councillors in the South.
Tories gain Kentwood ward from Labour. Labour hold Southcote. Tories hold Thames ward. Labour hold Abbey ward. Tories gain Peppard from LibDems.
11.30 Labour hold Minster ward. They have already held Whitley ward. The Conservatives held Mapledurham ward earlier.
11.17 The BBC report that unless Labour manage the miracle of gaining some seats, they have lost control of Reading for the first time in 22 years.
11.08 Tories win Church ward from Labour
11.03 Glenn Goodall for the LibDems wins Redlands ward from Labour with a big majority of 191 votes!
10.50 The Conservatives have won Caversham ward from Labour in Reading.
It's Boris - Robinson
The BBC's Nick Robinson reports that the first ballot boxes have been opened for the London Mayoral count and the strong feeling is that Boris has won.
(Can't find this on the web, but I heard it via the circuitous route of Henry Kelly on BBC Radio Berkshire, who heard it from his wife).
Mind you, it depends where the boxes are from, of course.
(Can't find this on the web, but I heard it via the circuitous route of Henry Kelly on BBC Radio Berkshire, who heard it from his wife).
Mind you, it depends where the boxes are from, of course.
Labour MP: We will lose control of Reading
Labour MP Martin Salter has said on BBC Radio Berkshire this morning that Labour will lose control of Reading Borough Council when the votes are counted this morning. This would be the end of 22 years of Labour control of the council.
All eyes will be on Katesgrove ward, one of the first to be counted, where Council Leader David Sutton, is defending his seat. Sutton has been leader of the council since 1995 and is "is now one of the longest-serving council leaders in the south of England". He is facing a strong challenge from Liberal Democrat Warren Swaine.
All eyes will be on Katesgrove ward, one of the first to be counted, where Council Leader David Sutton, is defending his seat. Sutton has been leader of the council since 1995 and is "is now one of the longest-serving council leaders in the south of England". He is facing a strong challenge from Liberal Democrat Warren Swaine.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Shameful Boris breaks promise on polling day !
What an absolute outrage this is !
After repeatedly saying for at least six months that he would stand down as an MP if elected Mayor of London, the Times now reports that Boris Johnson will not stand down as an MP if elected Mayor.
This is a disgusting, cynical move. To smuggle such an announcement out on polling day is unheard of and quite appalling.
Conservatives should hang their heads in shame!
The Times report quotes a Henley constituency Conservative official saying vaguely that there is a chance that Boris might stand down next spring - a full year after he would take office.
This need for an "orderly" gap of a year is just ridiculously transparent. Blair stood down right away when he left office.
After repeatedly saying for at least six months that he would stand down as an MP if elected Mayor of London, the Times now reports that Boris Johnson will not stand down as an MP if elected Mayor.
This is a disgusting, cynical move. To smuggle such an announcement out on polling day is unheard of and quite appalling.
Conservatives should hang their heads in shame!
The Times report quotes a Henley constituency Conservative official saying vaguely that there is a chance that Boris might stand down next spring - a full year after he would take office.
This need for an "orderly" gap of a year is just ridiculously transparent. Blair stood down right away when he left office.
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