My end of (last) week roundup. Nearly forgot.
When people talk of celebrating London's multicultural diversity, they're usually making the case that Indian cuisine, Polish plumbers and immigration in general have been a good thing. And fair enough. But does their spirit of inclusivity extend to attractive bungalows in leafy Woodford with beautifully kept front gardens and little curving driveways upon which sit gleaming silver Mondeos? (Is it a Mondeo? I don't do cars).
It's a top blog, you know, despite my presence on it...
There was so much crazy action in the mayoral campaign last week that Londonist was left gasping to keep up. The most entertaining bit was when Boris Johnson launched his environment manifesto with a photo opportunity on Hampstead Heath. BBC London viewers and others were treated to the splendid sight of The Blond hacking his way through a patch of north London undergrowth – perhaps specially provided for the occasion, who knows? – wearing that mildly self-satirising expression we all know and some love, but which he probably needs to keep off his face between now and 1st May.
He's on Any Questions this evening. Starts at 8.00.
In Saturday's Guardian, Martin Kettle urged the Lib Dems to replace Paddick with Vince Cable: "He would waltz it." Ooh-er! "Waltz it," seems a bit bold, but then I've been too chicken to predict anything about this contest except that Paddick can't win it. And it gets you thinking. How about a sort of Vince-Brian dream ticket, with Cable as the candidate and Paddick guaranteed to be his advisor on policing? Tempting? Martin's piece also says:
"The biggest story in the [recent YouGov] poll is, of course, about Johnson and Livingstone. It tells us we can now assume, unless something big changes, that Johnson will be London's mayor in six weeks' time. The poll is also a reminder that Livingstone's first-preference support has a glass ceiling at just under 40%. His 37% rating in YouGov is precisely in line with what he got in first preferences in both 2000 and 2004. He has always been beatable by a competitive rival if the second preferences do not fall his way."
Good point about Livingstone, which might add credence to my theory that the Standard's War On Ken could harden committed support for him. It's those second preferences that look most worrying for him, though. And where does Johnson's apparent surge leave the Paddick strategy of saying only he can beat Livingstone? If Johnson stays well ahead, he might have to start saying he's the only one who can beat The Blond. But let's remember, it is only one poll. And I still think the Ass Factor will come into play.
They keep asking me back...
Londonist was at the Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday for the formal launch of Ken Livingstone’s mayoral election campaign. Setting aside the usual cynicism about politicians and the worrying stuff in those Evening Standard exposes, it was quite a stirring occasion. Doreen Lawrence introduced the mayor, paying tribute to his achievements including his contribution to putting the capital at ease with its own cosmopolitanism. He thanked her for her role in improving the attitude of the Met before going on to express pride in his achievements going way back to the GLC days and emphasising his desire to see London keep moving forward.
My end-of-week round up for the politics blog:
Another week comes to an end and still The Blond has failed to make an utter pillock of himself. What’s up with him? Can’t he read a script? Well, yes he can, and do so rather well, as I saw on Monday morning when he unveiled his housing manifesto at the Royal Institute of British Architects. Very confident he was – so confident I later thought he must have already been told the findings of the Evening Standard/YouGov poll that that began appearing on the capital’s streets even as he spoke. These showed Johnson surging to a twelve-point lead over Livingstone, and there was more gloom in the small print for the Labour man.
Another Blond-bashing site appears.
They're not happy with me. Neither is George Galloway. I wonder how happy that makes Sian and Ken?
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