Comments on: Boris Johnson in expenses hot water http://www.libdemvoice.org/boris-johnson-expenses-15471.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:46:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Matthew Huntbach http://www.libdemvoice.org/boris-johnson-expenses-15471.html#comment-93665 Matthew Huntbach Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:06:58 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15471#comment-93665 Again, the problem here is this whole idea of executive mayors. It places all power in the hands of one person. This power has been abused by Boris Johnson in the raising to senior positions of people who clearly aren't suitable. But it was just this sort of thing that was put forward to justify the idea of executive mayors - by-pass all that fuddy-duddy discussion and accountability stuff with all its boring committees, just let one man in to do what he likes, and if that's appoint people to the most senior jobs with minimal checks on their background or capability, hey, well it's all fun and dynamic, isn't it? And yet executive mayors are <i>still</i> being put forward as part of the rag-bag of constitutional reforms which are somehow supposed to revive democracy. The combined establishment commentariat are almost united in supposing abolishing the voting rights of elected councillors and instead putting all power into the hands of one person is somehow "decentralising" and the ideal way to revive local government. Why? I keep asking this and have been doing so ever since I found myself Leader of the Opposition in the first council which proposed the idea. I have had no clear answer back. To me, the very arguments put forward for executive mayors are so ridiculous and contradictory that I cannot see how anyone can put them with a straight face, yet they do. Spreading power by abolishing the idea of a representative assembly which shares it and instead giving it all to one elected dictator? Where am I going wrong in that I can't understand what so many others obviously have here? Again, the problem here is this whole idea of executive mayors. It places all power in the hands of one person. This power has been abused by Boris Johnson in the raising to senior positions of people who clearly aren’t suitable. But it was just this sort of thing that was put forward to justify the idea of executive mayors – by-pass all that fuddy-duddy discussion and accountability stuff with all its boring committees, just let one man in to do what he likes, and if that’s appoint people to the most senior jobs with minimal checks on their background or capability, hey, well it’s all fun and dynamic, isn’t it?

And yet executive mayors are still being put forward as part of the rag-bag of constitutional reforms which are somehow supposed to revive democracy. The combined establishment commentariat are almost united in supposing abolishing the voting rights of elected councillors and instead putting all power into the hands of one person is somehow “decentralising” and the ideal way to revive local government.

Why? I keep asking this and have been doing so ever since I found myself Leader of the Opposition in the first council which proposed the idea. I have had no clear answer back. To me, the very arguments put forward for executive mayors are so ridiculous and contradictory that I cannot see how anyone can put them with a straight face, yet they do. Spreading power by abolishing the idea of a representative assembly which shares it and instead giving it all to one elected dictator? Where am I going wrong in that I can’t understand what so many others obviously have here?

]]> By: David from W5 http://www.libdemvoice.org/boris-johnson-expenses-15471.html#comment-93651 David from W5 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:55:43 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15471#comment-93651 So is David Cameron going to talk to him? So is David Cameron going to talk to him?

]]> By: Nick http://www.libdemvoice.org/boris-johnson-expenses-15471.html#comment-93648 Nick Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:12:57 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15471#comment-93648 Caron, This is the same Boris Johnson who spokesperson told the London Evening Standard: "The Mayor cycles every day - to and from work and to almost every one of his meetings." http://tr.im/pGZ5 Caron,

This is the same Boris Johnson who spokesperson told the London Evening Standard:

“The Mayor cycles every day – to and from work and to almost every one of his meetings.”

http://tr.im/pGZ5

]]> By: Caron http://www.libdemvoice.org/boris-johnson-expenses-15471.html#comment-93646 Caron Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:28:00 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15471#comment-93646 Remind me, is this the same Boris Johnson who said something like, what was it, he'd put every single penny he spent up on his website the minute he spent it? And what's with the taxis - has he got fed up of being followed by paps snapping him going through red lights? Remind me, is this the same Boris Johnson who said something like, what was it, he’d put every single penny he spent up on his website the minute he spent it?

And what’s with the taxis – has he got fed up of being followed by paps snapping him going through red lights?

]]> By: john zims http://www.libdemvoice.org/boris-johnson-expenses-15471.html#comment-93642 john zims Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:51:51 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=15471#comment-93642 Has Lord Rennard repaid the £41,000 for his second home claims yet? Has Lord Rennard repaid the £41,000 for his second home claims yet?

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