Ken vs. Boris: It's So On

I kind of feel sorry for him - he looks so optimistic on his website
http://www.lightfootforlondon.com/

The job of the Mayor is simple - to get people to work on time, to ensure people feel safe on the streets...
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Society/Pix/pictures/2007/09/03/BorisJohnsontwo128.jpg

http://www.masonicinfo.com/images/mussolini_hitler.jpg

I'm sorry, I know it was obvious...

But seriously, what are his chances? I find it very difficult to gauge Ken's popularity. Obviously Johnson feels his best bet is winning the 'burb vote.

Ken Livingstone 4/7
Boris Johnson 2/1
Brian Paddick 25/1

And what were the odds on him winning last time?

Ken, that is, obv.

I might put a coupla quid on Boris if those are the current odds

what's the total turnout, and how does it break down, is the big question. in a nebulous sense probably more londoners would vote ken. but which londoners will actually vote is the thing.

Andrew Boff is a great name

i love the way that victoria borwick's surname can be frankensteined out of the other two also-rans' names. identikit conservatives!

and add a 'w'

omg if boris does a speech saying "i looked up myself on facebook and found the group "boris johnson is a fucking tory for christ's sake"" then all these years on ilx will have paid off.

Yes.

http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=boris+johnson&init=q

First result!

Or is that cos I'm in it?

It's because you're in it.

using another login it would seem it is 5th

If Boris actually gets elected that group's gonna have to become an organisational hub for hunting down and maiming the members of the pro-Boris groups.

how does a mayor make a city more or less "multicultural" anyway?
short of ethnic cleansing, i don't see how this is possible.

More to the point how do you do it in a city where 1/3 of people living here weren't evn born in this country let alone within the city limits.

And at least they actually live there 24/7

I sincerely hope Boris comes third or 4th.

too high

well yes, what I would like is for him to fall under the wheels of a number 15 bus but this is less liukely to happen.

Is that the 15 (heritage) or the bog standard one?

A Routemaster would be sweet indeed

A bendy bus would be more fitting.

Or being smashed in two by a revenge sumo headbutt from that German dude he maimed in the football match, whichever

the group "boris johnson is a fucking tory for christ's sake" is packed with crypto-tory cunts talking about how rich people get where they are cos they work bloody hard at it. i guess i'm not a "big tent" kind of guy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/apr/03/livingstone.boris

ooooo

Ken's going to win this

They really have been making an effort to tidy Boris' hair.

I don't know what to do. I don't really want to vote for Ken, but I suspect that a vote for anyone else is essentially a vote for Boris anyway.

People stupid enough to base their vote on what the leader writer of the Standard tells them rather than their own first-hand experience and observations deserve the Mayor they get.

I met Boris once. He was exactly the same as his public persona. I'm having a hard time understanding how anyone could think he could be competent as a mayor, never mind his politics.

Tory support is highest in Outer London

Phear the Bushey Bible Belt.

I don't know what to do. I don't really want to vote for Ken, but I suspect that a vote for anyone else is essentially a vote for Boris anyway.

erm, single transferable vote.

What does that mean?

I predict Ken will scrape it. I also predict that whatever the outcome is, it won't make a vast ammount of difference to the average Londoner's life.

if boris does what he promises, it will, in the negative. but he won't.

actulaly it's "supplementary vote"

if you don't vote boris or ken (and assuming they'll end up as top two), you can put one of them as a "second preference" and your vote will go to that.

God, English politics is more confusing than cricket. Sorry for being a dummy, this is the first election I've ever been legally allowed to vote in, in my life.

It's peculiar to council/mayoral elections - you only get one main vote in the generals.

So I can actually vote for the Nigel Havers Alliance or the Monster Raving Loony Party or whatever, but if whoever I choose doesn't get close, my vote can default to Ken rather than Boris?

Yes.

Be interesting to see how the LibDem second votes break down.

OK, that's awesome. Who on earth shall I vote for?

but kate i thought you <3 boris

It makes the whole process rather more tactical. The Greens, for example, are advising their supporters to put Ken as second choice.

we all heart boris in a way. but at the same time think he's a vile, moronic tory cunt.