London: Mayor & More

NO2ID Hustings

Looks like Ken still isn't down for this one. I wonder why?

Havering & Redbridge

The first of five mini-profiles of London Assembly constituencies I'll be doing for the Guardian.

Boris Johnson & Time Out: The Mag Responds

The following is a letter sent to the Evening Standard - though not yet published there - by a Time Out spokesperson concerning Boris Johnson's non-appearance at the magazine's forthcoming hustings:

"We are incredulous that Boris's team is angry about the way we have handled our hustings event on April 2. We have bent over backwards to accommodate Boris Johnson and his campaign team so they can attend the event.

Initially, We were informed by his team that April 2 was free but they would not agreeing to anything until we had a definite 'yes' from Ken. Ken's office briefly confirmed April 3 as a date, but as that wasn't good for other candidates they then changed back to April 2. Boris hadn't said yes to April 3 and we informed him of the change back to April 2 as quickly as possible.

When we went back to Boris, they said they'd just booked in a dinner function at Heathrow. None of the other candidates had given us any conditions about appearing. We then tried to negotiate a change of time with Boris' team so that we could fit in around his engagement and even asked them for a better date. We received no answers to any of our phone calls or e-mails. Likewise, when other senior members of our editorial team, and our editor, tried to contact them about the event they were also met with unreturned phone calls and e-mails.

We then interviewed Boris in person and asked him if he would be attending the event. He told us he was interested but I needed to sort out the details with his PR, who was also there at the interview. We discussed various possibilities in case Boris could not turn up in person; including a mobile or video link up She told me she would 'sort something out.'

We immediately contacted her following the interview with details of an audio link up. After a week of trying to set this up with her and her team, she finally got back to me on March 28th saying neither a mobile or video link up was possible. We asked if she wanted to send a representative from his team and she said no. At that point we withdrew Boris's name from the ticket information.'"

Letter ends.

On The March

Spot the Tory bloggers.

Boris In Profile

That's sorted the pic for the postage stamps.

Backing Boris

Young people these days...

Time Out Hustings: A Statement From Team Boris

A spokesperson says:

“Boris was never due to attend the event on April 2nd as he had a longstanding engagement to talk to local newspaper editors. We had hoped to take part in the hustings when it was still planned for April 3rd but unfortunately TimeOut decided to reschedule for the day before instead. We’re disappointed TimeOut has claimed Boris has withdrawn as this is simply not the case but wish them a successful event without him.”

Statement ends.

Why Has Boris Withdrawn From The Time Out Hustings?

It's happening on Wednesday, but Boris has pulled out. I wonder why. The Tory Troll has a theory.

UPDATE: Dave Cole agrees with the Troll.

UPDATE 2: Team Boris responds.

Lib Dems In North-East

No doubt encouraged recent by-election results the Lib Dems clearly believe they're in with a shout in North East. Their candidate Meral Ece has been out and about with Brian and, like him, bashing everything and anything Labour.

Boris & Dave

I'll be in Edmonton as this post goes live, in Bounces Road Community Hall with The Blond and Boy Dave. Team Boris bills this as the launch of the final phase of Johnson's election campaign. Ray Lewis, of Eastside Young Leaders' Academy will be providing the street cred. They're touching three bases here: crime, youth, social responsibility. We're also seeing Boris and the New Model Tory leader presenting a unified front in an Assembly constituency - Enfield and Haringey - that Labour only just holds. Team Ken's counter attack is already underway. Its press release says: "Boris Johnson is a throwback to another era...[He] represents the revolt of everything that is old against everything that is new...he is the 19th century candidate for Mayor of London." This seems a fresh line of attack. Will it negate the "time for change" message or, simply by drawing attention to it, reinforce it?