Boris

[Danny]

Another bunch of self serving tossers looking for new ways to screw the general public and get fat in the process

They should have taken heed of how Neil Pillock and his good queen lined their nest when they got into the European parliament

Not every politician is a "self serving tosser". Many go into politics because they want to make a difference and improve people's lives

Whatever you think of Ken's policies, he wasn't feathering his own nest and could have made a lot more money by going into broadcasting or journalism. All the while he way mayor he continued to live modestly, travelled to work on the tube, and doesn't have rich city backers who are going to look after him now he is out of office.

 

[wafflycat]

When the results were announced, the BBC did an interview with Andrew Gilligan, who is the journalist doing the 'expose' of Ken Livingstone's 'misdeeds' with cash. Seems Mr Gilligan, on leaving the BBC, was given a job by Boris, and is an avid Boris supporter. An entirely objective look at Ken's alledged misdeeds, then? And I'm not a labour supporter, just as I'm not a Boris supporter, but the reports by Gilligan do not seem to come across as completely objective IMO. But I could be wrong.

 

[tdr1nka]

Well, we're stuck with it all now. Lets see if Bozza can go longer than three months before he sticks his foot in it, as is his average on starting any new job.

Looks like the Tories might still have to get their BoJo workin.

 

[Horace Goes Skiing]

Not every politician is a "self serving tosser".

You couldn't be more wrong. Every. Single. One. Self-serving. And tossers to boot.

Whatever you think of Ken's policies, he wasn't feathering his own nest and could have made a lot more money by going into broadcasting or journalism. All the while he way mayor he continued to live modestly, travelled to work on the tube, and doesn't have rich city backers who are going to look after him now he is out of office.

Ken, man of the people. Not a two-faced, self-serving, hypocritical, achievement-despising, anti-socialist. He's got you, and many others, fooled.

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Pity Boris has to clear up the mess he's left behind.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Chuffers

You seem to be operating a form of reverse bigotry. Why does it matter a toss whether Boris or Dave are Old Etonians? Major was an average Grammar school boy, Thatch the Greengrocer's daughter and Chemistry graduate, Tony an Old Oxonian, surely there is room for any back-ground in Politics... or do they all have to be working-class comprehensive schooled dirty-fingered and flat capped? So, he's an Etonian, big deal.
As for Ken, Andy-in-Sig made a valid point, that people don't recall that the election of Ken was thoiught by many to be a disaster waiting to happen. As it happened he prooved many sceptics wrong by being a damn good Mayor.
Also, Ken not in-it for himself? Anybody remember the early 80's? The GLC, the tail that tried to wag the dog? Ken not in it for himself, don't make me laugh. The fact is in the last few years he's carved a good position for himself and is smart enough not know when he's onto a good thing.

 

[Danny]

When the results were announced, the BBC did an interview with Andrew Gilligan, who is the journalist doing the 'expose' of Ken Livingstone's 'misdeeds' with cash. Seems Mr Gilligan, on leaving the BBC, was given a job by Boris, and is an avid Boris supporter. An entirely objective look at Ken's alledged misdeeds, then? And I'm not a labour supporter, just as I'm not a Boris supporter, but the reports by Gilligan do not seem to come across as completely objective IMO. But I could be wrong.

Gilligan and the Evening Standard were responsible for some of the most bias reporting I have ever seen. Day after day there would be billboards all over London screaming headlines like "Ken's Adviser Is Linked To Terror Group" or "Suicide Bomb Backer Runs Ken's Campaign".

None of Gilligan's allegations have been proved so far. But if you throw enough mud some of it eventually sticks.

Gilligan's previous claim to fame was that he brought down Greg Dyke, the best Director General the BBC has ever had, through his lazy reporting. Now he has gone one better by spinning a web of lies and half truths to destroy one of the most principled politicians in the country.

 

[yello]

Anybody remember the early 80's? The GLC, the tail that tried to wag the dog? Ken not in it for himself, don't make me laugh.

I don't understand how that illustrates Ken being in it for himself? Sure, the GLC wanted to be a strong voice for London and (under Ken's stewardship) had radically different policies to those of the Thatcherite Conservative national government (much to Thatcher's annoyance!) But adherence to belief and pursuit of ideals is not being 'in it for yourself'. No more, at least, than any other politician. Those beliefs are why people vote for (or against!) a particular candidate?

 

[Andy in Sig]

Gilligan and the Evening Standard were responsible for some of the most bias reporting I have ever seen. Day after day there would be billboards all over London screaming headlines like "Ken's Adviser Is Linked To Terror Group" or "Suicide Bomb Backer Runs Ken's Campaign".

None of Gilligan's allegations have been proved so far. But if you throw enough mud some of it eventually sticks.

Gilligan's previous claim to fame was that he brought down Greg Dyke, the best Director General the BBC has ever had, through his lazy reporting. Now he has gone one better by spinning a web of lies and half truths to destroy one of the most principled politicians in the country.

The problem with posts like these is that they demand consistency. Either mudslinging is a bad thing irrespective from where it comes or it isn't. Enough left wing mud was slung at Boris during the election but for a majority of London voters it didn't seem to stick. Ditto New Labour against the Tories before Blair got elected. Gilligan would appear to be in the same mould. FWIW I think mudslinging is bad but we will probably not be able to eradicate it.

I laughed out loud at your defence of Greg Dyke, as I read the full transcript of his inaugural address to BBC staff. It was the sort of thing which gets one wondering where the lone, crazed gunman is when you really need him.

 

[Danny]

For what it's worth I think mudslinging is a bad thing, whoever is slinging the mud. However, what the Evening Standard did went far beyond "normal" political mudslinging.

Imagine the fuss there would have been if the Evening Standard had run headlines like "Boris backed by fascists", after the BNP had told its supporters to give the second preference votes to Boris.

Yet the paper got away with running a blatantly one sided campaign against Ken over a long period of time. Rather than attack his policies they ran article after article by Gilligan which implied that he was corrupt, in league with Islamist terrorists, etc. etc.

It can't be good for democracy when London's one city wide paper tries to smear a political opponent in this way.

 

[Andy in Sig]

No it can't be and you would have expected those smeared to have constantly banging on the door of the Press Complaints Commission or taking legal action. One must assume that they thought that the allegations were so ludicrous that they didn't merit a response. (The alternative scenario being a bit too unpleasant to contemplate.)

 

[Aperitif]

Did the Londoner 'newspaper' put the other side of the coin and enable people in London to receive a different version of 'what is' in the Capital City?

 

[tdr1nka]

I'm heartened to know that at least my borough didn't vote for Boris.

We've been having enough trouble locally with a Labour council that behaves like the Tory gov of the late 80's.

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

I'm heartened to know that at least my borough didn't vote for Boris.

We've been having enough trouble locally with a Labour council that behaves like the Tory gov of the late 80's.

They've not been trying to run it efficiently?