Yes. Obviously.
(If that was a sincere question, no. It's Brian Paddick, the gay Liberal Democrat ex-policeman with slightly less charisma than a dying toad.)
Who will make a decent mayor? Page 5
For what it's worth, I'll be voting for Ken without hesitation and I can't understand how anyone living in London could even consider voting for Boris. Boris has shown little interest in London or the real issues (who cares about bendy buses ffs) and I suspect the whole campaign is just a big ego trip for him - similar to Archer a few years back.
For people not in London it might be funny for us to get a clown as a mayor, but I'd rather have someone who had at least displayed some competency for running a city.
Is Ken perfect, of course not. But, London is an amazing place to live (the best city in the world according to Time magazine and many other sources) and it has flourished under his stewardship. Now, this may be coincidental in part, but why risk that status by letting a man with no proven record of politics take power?
As for the tube - buy an Oyster Card; it's not hard. If you don't you'll get skanked, but you can buy one from almost any newsagent so it's pure laziness to not have one and then moan about the cost of tickets.
The Congestion Charge has been a huge success and tied in to that the stigma of using public transport has been reduced. It's a great shift from the Tories (summed up by Maggies classic quote that any man aged over 25 using a bus was a failure).
Ken, unlike the other candidates, has been involved in London politics for decades. Like him or loathe him, at least admit that the current election isn't simply a platform for vanity.
And here ends the party political boradcast!
How is it that before Ken Livingstone we hadn't had a Mayor for centuries?
He created the position for himself - a serial dictator.
As I've never been to London I don't care but Barbs is correct, I would like to see Boris, at least he's entertaining.
On another note, how come I've never seen red Ken in a silly hat with medallions like our Mayor(southport)?
Quote: Barbs @ April 27 2008, 8:05 PM BSTBoris has shown little interest in London or the real issues (who cares about bendy buses ffs)
He's hit all the notes of what I'm interested in. Including bendy buses.
Quote: Barbs @ April 27 2008, 8:05 PM BSTwhy risk that status by letting a man with no proven record of politics take power?
I think that you're giving the position of mayor far too much credit here. What makes London brilliant is the people, the innoveations and industries. The worst parts of it are those which the mayor holds immediate control over!
Quote: Barbs @ April 27 2008, 8:05 PM BSTAs for the tube - buy an Oyster Card; it's not hard. If you don't you'll get skanked, but you can buy one from almost any newsagent so it's pure laziness to not have one and then moan about the cost of tickets.
Eh? With or without Oyster, the fares are still higher than they should or could be.
Quote: Barbs @ April 27 2008, 8:05 PM BSTThe Congestion Charge has been a huge success
*bursts out laughing*
Have you not seen the figures? The only "success" has been that it's raised cash. Traffic initially dropped, but it's risen again, and is now higher than before the charge was introduced - and any claims that pollution has dropped are arguable at best. Plus the embassies won't pay, the cheeky bastards.
Quote: Barbs @ April 27 2008, 8:05 PM BSTKen, unlike the other candidates, has been involved in London politics for decades. Like him or loathe him, at least admit that the current election isn't simply a platform for vanity.
Not simply. But for him, mostly.
Quote: jacparov @ April 27 2008, 8:11 PM BSTOn another note, how come I've never seen red Ken in a silly hat with medallions like our Mayor(southport)?
Because it's not a position with any particular history or legacical (is that a word?) meaning to it. It's purely administrative. The Lord Mayor, however, is another story.
I can understand people who don't live in London wanting Boris to be mayor, but please, don't use us as a comical experiment! This is a serious election!
Quote: Barbs @ April 27 2008, 8:05 PM BSTFor what it's worth, I'll be voting for Ken without hesitation and I can't understand how anyone living in London could even consider voting for Boris. Boris has shown little interest in London or the real issues (who cares about bendy buses ffs) and I suspect the whole campaign is just a big ego trip for him - similar to Archer a few years back.
For people not in London it might be funny for us to get a clown as a mayor, but I'd rather have someone who had at least displayed some competency for running a city.
Is Ken perfect, of course not. But, London is an amazing place to live (the best city in the world according to Time magazine and many other sources) and it has flourished under his stewardship. Now, this may be coincidental in part, but why risk that status by letting a man with no proven record of politics take power?
As for the tube - buy an Oyster Card; it's not hard. If you don't you'll get skanked, but you can buy one from almost any newsagent so it's pure laziness to not have one and then moan about the cost of tickets.
The Congestion Charge has been a huge success and tied in to that the stigma of using public transport has been reduced. It's a great shift from the Tories (summed up by Maggies classic quote that any man aged over 25 using a bus was a failure).
Ken, unlike the other candidates, has been involved in London politics for decades. Like him or loathe him, at least admit that the current election isn't simply a platform for vanity.
And here ends the party political boradcast!
What Barbs said
The comical experiment's lasted 8 years so far.
I would not hesitate to vote for Ken if I still had any belief in the Labour Party.
Ken did a really good job when leader of the GLC and while greatly maligned and hindered by the media in those days. Anything that challenged the Thatcher way was pounced upon quickly back then and ridiculed unfairly.
Problem is, I see Ken as suffering from the same syndrome that Thatcher and Blair displayed as a result of being in power so long. They have all walked roughshod over public opinion too often.
A friend who made a really good suggestion to TFL about a bus route recently was completely ignored - they don't appreciate interference because they have their own agenda (self-justifying jobs). It's a culture I've watched grow with dismay.
Ken blatantly ignored public opinion when he expanded the congestion zone: Basically, "what the f**k does it matter what the public want". - and I'm a supporter of the principal of the congestion zone! Loads more examples.
-but can you honestly say a comical muppet like Boris would even be able to get to grips with the concept of the job?
We don't know!
That's the point, give him a chance and you might be pleasantly surprised.
If he's shit, he'll be gone next time, and London won't exactly be in rubble.
Quote: Aaron @ April 27 2008, 8:19 PM BSTHe's hit all the notes of what I'm interested in. Including bendy buses.
You should get out more!
Quote: Aaron @ April 27 2008, 8:19 PM BSTI think that you're giving the position of mayor far too much credit here. What makes London brilliant is the people, the innoveations and industries. The worst parts of it are those which the mayor holds immediate control over!
I agree with the first part. Where's the evidence for the latter?
Quote: Aaron @ April 27 2008, 8:19 PM BSTWith or without Oyster, the fares are still higher than they should or could be.
Let us know how many places in the UK offer 90p for any bus fare. ????
Quote: Aaron @ April 27 2008, 8:19 PM BSTHave you not seen the figures? The only "success" has been that it's raised cash. Traffic initially dropped, but it's risen again, and is now higher than before the charge was introduced - and any claims that pollution has dropped are arguable at best. Plus the embassies won't pay, the cheeky bastards.
"Traffic" is still lower than it was before the congestion charge. There's a difference between that and "congestion", which was recently reported to be about what it had been before the charge. Whatever your view of the charge, it's only fair to look at things in the round. Against a background of car traffic growth in the rest of the country (and world), London has in recent years reduced/stabilised traffic/congestion. Using the capacity freed up by the congestion charge, bus passengers, pedestrians and cyclists have been given more priority. This would not have been possible without the original congestion charge.
Barry Chuckle.
Quote: zooo @ April 27 2008, 8:40 PM BSTWe don't know!
That's the point, give him a chance and you might be pleasantly surprised.
If he's shit, he'll be gone next time, and London won't exactly be in rubble.
Quite. We've had worse as Prime Minister in the past!
Forget Barry Chuckle, Martin McGuinness is who you want. He'll 'redevelop' Canary Wharf in no time and he looks like a clown without make-up.
Quote: Badge @ April 27 2008, 8:45 PM BSTI agree with the first part. Where's the evidence for the latter?
Look around you. Olympics escalating (despite Ken's pathetic face-saving "I planned it all along" claims) in price. Olympic logo (ok, not directly him, but still). Lee Jasper. And so on...
Quote: Badge @ April 27 2008, 8:45 PM BSTLet us know how many places in the UK offer 90p for any bus fare. ????
No, the buse fares aren't that bad. When one can be boarded.
Quote: Badge @ April 27 2008, 8:45 PM BSTUsing the capacity freed up by the congestion charge, bus passengers, pedestrians and cyclists have been given more priority.
We obviously frequent different parts of London!
Quote: Nigel Kelly @ April 27 2008, 9:08 PM BSTForget Barry Chuckle, Martin McGuinness is who you want. He'll 'redevelop' Canary Wharf in no time and he looks like a clown without make-up.
I know I'm not going to convert you into a rabid anti-Tory socialist Aaron, but just be careful what you wish for. I'm sure David Cameron isn't happy about the prospect of Boris being Mayor, for example.