At The Guardian
My rather manic end-of-week roundup:
Times have changed, and for the better. Back in the dim, dark Tory days of John Major and Mrs T, politicians’ careers were ruined by revelations about drug use and “secret” children. Can’t see that happening to Boris or Ken. The Blond has told Janet Street-Porter - about doing dope ‘n’ coke when in his teens, which should bring in few more votes. And I’m with those in Michael White’s straw poll in believing that the news about Livingstone’s so–called “secret” lesser-known children might do him some good too, so long as none of them or their mums pops up in a tabloid crying “Cad!” He handled his BBC interview extremely well. If granting it was a planned, pre-emptive move, as some inevitably suspect, that just proves he isn’t stupid. It makes no difference, anyway - he must have been rehearsing it for years.
Here’s a Ken and Boris spoof. Now, shall we move on?
Arguments about who’s dodging which hustings have been a highlight of the week, the whole thing kicking off when Time Out complained that Boris – who their columnist had previously denounced as an upper class twit unfit to head the capital – had conveniently found himself double booked on the night of their event held on Wednesday at the University of London Union. But Team Boris hit back hard, and when I arrived at ULU was greeted - for the second time in the week – by the massed Chums Of Boris, a squad of cheery (mainly) youngsters wearing Back Boris polo shirts, some with very posh accents indeed. “He has a prior engagement,” insisted one jolly gal as she handed me a letter of explanation, and I’m sure no one so well bred would tell a lie.
And that was just the start. There’s been a letter to the Guardian, pointing out the ones Ken’s missed and further capital will be made out of what I’m told has been described as an “unavoidable diary clash” that prevents Ken attending the hustings organized by No2ID Cards for next Tuesday - Ken doesn't seem to be quite on board - and his non-acceptance so far of an invitation to attend the Tory Centre For Social Justice hustings on the 16th April.
The weeks’ other delights have been the Ken video out-take, in which he said that the highlight of his political career was grinding New Labour into the dust when standing and winning as an independent in 2000 - that won't have hurt his chances either - and the conflicting opinion polls, with ICM’s for The Guardian on Wednesday suggesting a much closer race than YouGov’s for the Standard did on Monday. The latter, published even as dashing Dave was re-launching his candidate in Edmonton - put Johnson ten points ahead on first preferences, the former had him just one point in the lead. The can't both be right. But could they both be wrong?
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