Following Friday's opinion poll showing Livingstone's lead lengthening, Boris Gilligan writes:
"In between denouncing his critics as racists, fascists, and embittered liars, in between plotting the downfall of various imaginary enemies, Ken sometimes pauses briefly to call for a debate on policy. Yes, please. Any such debate would show several of the Mayor's claimed achievements to be similar mirages."
Hmm. I wonder. Still, carry on Boris Gilligan:
"But it can only happen if his opponents get their acts together. Boris Johnson, the Tory nominee in July and selected in September, has used up two-thirds of the time he has. Yet in that six months, we have seen barely a policy from him, or an effective deconstruction of any of Ken's. (And Boris, if Ken offers you a joint platform again, remember that elections are not about finding similarities - they're about finding differences, because democracy is meaningless without choice.)"
You mean you want him to move to the right? Well, I can hear them cheering in Cadogan Hall. But will the Chelsea tractor factor be enough?
"For all Ken's crowing about his increased lead in last week's opinion poll, it showed the more important measure, his vote share, falling slightly. Mr Jasper may be having a slow effect but things take time to sink in."
Another candidate for the Martin Bright Award? It seems quite possible. One poll can't tell us much, but the latest does seem to be signalling that, whatever is happening to Livingstone's share of the vote, Boris Johnson is not gaining on him.
In its frenzied campaign against Livingstone, the Evening Boris has two problems. It seems aware of only one of them. The one it's recognised - and feeling the need to own up to - is that Boris Johnson has a major credibility problem: hence Boris Gilligan's little bit of stick above and Boris McElvoy's bit of carrot last week. The problem it cannot see is the one it's never, ever considered a problem - its near-total absorption in a London comprising only the City, the West End and the suburbs. The rest of the capital is of interest to this tired, one-eyed old rag only as a place City-dwellers, other commuters and theatre-goers need warning about. It may just be that in that Other London support for Livingstone is hardening. If so, Boris Johnson's chances may be receding - with the Evening Boris partly to blame.
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