Sir Simon Milton: He's Made It Legal!

Not that I'm suggesting anything was illegal in the first place, you understand. Following this and this, the press release, just issued, reads as follows:

"Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has today nominated Sir Simon Milton as Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning. Sir Simon has announced his intention to stand down as a Westminster Councillor and as Chairman of the Local Government Association, once a successor has been nominated. His appointment as Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning will be subject to the appropriate procedures, with an interview panel chaired by Greater London Authority Chief Executive Anthony Mayer, which will include an independent element and a confirmation hearing, if required, by the London Assembly."

Can't get much more proper than that, eh? Has to be the best move for the mayor, especially after the Ray Lewis affair.

Comments

[angela]

Very good move. One of Boris's strengths is the way he can bounce back from setbacks, and he has done it time after time. He is very resilient.

[Hawkeye]

Oh please! Your "bounce back from setbacks" is my stumbling around in the dark, directionless and without a clue as to what he's trying to do. As to why he's HAD to bounce back "time after time"...!!!

[Adam]

It's known as the Coogan bounce:

http://www.dvdfever.co.uk/reviews/doalanpb.jpg

[Dan Wilson]

Will "an independent element" mean: "a member of the Conservative party"?

[Mr. Stop Boris]

I'd certainly agree that this is the only sensible way forward with this one (other than not employing Milton at all, which might be preferable actually!). Mind you, it's funny that they should dither for ten weeks and then take this decision so quickly when an inquiry starts into Boris's appointments, isn't it?

I see they still haven't listened to the Watches (Mayor-® and Boris-) and stopped issuing these confusing Deputy Mayor titles. This time we have a Deputy Mayor to be appointed by the Mayor after an interview by a Mayer - nice touch :)

[Tom]

One of Boris' weaknesses is the way he has to keep bouncing back from setbacks. I'd rather have a steady hand on the tiller than a rubber ball richocheting around the poop.