Highlights from the Newsnight London Mayor debate
Written by Mark Pack on 8th April 2008 – 11:01 pmLeast plausible comment: Ken Livingstone saying that his donations will all come from reputable sources and we can be sure of that because … the money will pass through the Labour Party. David Abrahams scandal anyone? Peter Hain’s problems anyone?
Least convincing reason given to believe: Ken promising that he will keep his word on the congestion charge and that him making the promise is a good enough reason to believe … a few minutes after admitting he hadn’t kept his promise on not standing for re-election for Mayor.
Best Michael Howard nostalgia moment: Boris Johnson repeatedly refusing to answer Jeremy Paxman’s question over how much his bendy buses policy would cost.
Least surprising revelation: Ken Livingstone prefers Brian Paddick to Boris Johnson.
You can catch the debate again via the Newsnight website.
Posted in London Mayor
9th April 2008 at 12:26 am
And most of the Lib Dems are STILL planning to put Boris Johnson 2nd!?!?!?!!?!?
9th April 2008 at 12:27 am
Well that was a nicely balanced view of the debate, not! Iain Dale has trounced you guys with an fairly honest reaction…
9th April 2008 at 1:11 am
I’m afraid it was a rather dull debate. All three wanted to talk over each other too much for anything of substance to come out. Ken was relaxed but inconsistent, Boris had some charm, but mumbled and was ill prepared, Brian looked nervous, decent but failed to jump out of the screen and force the viewer to vote for him.
9th April 2008 at 7:52 am
12:26, Leavingsoon has taken the lead now. Though it was certainly none of my doing!
9th April 2008 at 8:35 am
Do we need a Mayor in London? We have done that without a Mayor before.
9th April 2008 at 9:27 am
Paddick was hammy.
Boris was incoherent.
Ken was irresolute.
NONE OF THE ABOVE.
9th April 2008 at 9:27 am
It’s hard not to think that Ken won though, eh?
9th April 2008 at 9:41 am
If you are looking for political sliminess then Ken won. Few doubt that he is politically savvy and experienced - which makes it all the greater pity that he only uses these talents to screw Londoners all the more effectively.
9th April 2008 at 10:31 am
Ken is going to 2nd pref Paddick then: is that before or after he 2nd prefs Berry?
How many 2nd prefs do we get?
9th April 2008 at 2:54 pm
Anonymous, watch the debate for your answer. Listen carefully to the question Paxman asked.
As to the rest, it was a useful debate. It showed Boris up as the blundering idiot he truly is - please let’s have no more of the ‘genius-hiding-his-light’ nonsense, it showed Livinsgtone up as the disineguous toad he has always been and it quite surprisingly allowed Brian Paddick to score some points.
Paddick’s an ex-copper, not a politician so he’s bound to be a bit wooden. What was impressive was how much he has learned and how comfortable and passionate he was when espousing his ideas.
It would be wrong to say Paddick won but he was impressive and he outshone the other two.
9th April 2008 at 2:55 pm
Er, that should be ‘disingenuous’ in the second paragraph. Mummy told me to try out a long word today…
9th April 2008 at 6:28 pm
How much will your bendi-replacing new Routemasters cost Mr Boris ???
Er, um … blah, blah … what you’ve got to realise … um, er … (etc etc)
£70 million - took me 10 seconds and a calculator to work that out.
And what is a “21st century, iconic, new Routemaster” anyway ?
A big red bus with a conductor ???
I don’t know, and I’m not sure Boris does either !!!
Fool !!
9th April 2008 at 7:31 pm
Erm hate to bang on about not living in London again - I really don’t have a problem with it and would move there easily if I did - but why does you poll only apply to Londoners? Is it London Lib Dem Voice now?
I’ve enjoyed blogging on the Mayoral elections but think this is excludes quite a few million people :@P
9th April 2008 at 9:31 pm
Oh dear, hope it didn’t seem like that - it was aimed at everyone, I think. It certainly hasn’t just been Londoners voting anyway. Hit that button!
“would move there easily if I did”
I’ll swap. Fed up with London at the mo
10th April 2008 at 7:40 am
Paddick did well in the debate - more than held his own - its not a two horse race.
25th April 2008 at 1:05 pm
Hi,
I’m a floating voter, I quite like alot of the things Brian has to say and he’s probaly maverik enough to do the job.
But my main concern is on housing why does Brian not give specific targets on new builds like the other main candiadates? 50,000 over 3 years isn’t anything like enough to keep up with London’s population growth?
Also all this talk of “affordable housing” is a little depressing? Why not just build alot of nice houses similar in quality to london’s existing stock. Build enough and market foces will ensure that they are afforable. Otherwise you risk creating modern ghettos? Already private new builds are seen as 2nd class because houses are build to a price not a standard. Why not build more of the older style houses but build them higher?
I think the Brian has a great opportunity to connect with a large section of the youth vote on this issue and some radical improved commitments here would get my vote and I’m sure many others?
25th April 2008 at 1:20 pm
Remember, if you usually vote Conservative, it’s not too late to wake up to the fact that Boris is a bad joke. Don’t tell anyone if you want to, just unobtrusively change sides