Video head-to-head

WestBromBlog

Did anyone notice that at about 1 minute in, Ken is either praising or trying to steal Thatcher’s legacy?. He stood there grinning at Docklands and said; “20 years ago there was not a single job here, now there are 100,000”. Yes 100, 000 thanks to Thatcher. It was Thatcher who designated the Docklands an ‘enterprise zone’ and it was Thatcher who set up the 'Docklands Development Corporation’. It was Thatcher who laid the foundations to Canary Wharf in the late 1980’s, all in the face of opposition from the Ken led GLA!

Simon Orr

Ken doesn't actually mention anything he'd do if re-elected mayor except 'not make mistakes'. Great.

Tim Carpenter

The scary thing is that Ken talks of the Mayor affecting so much of our daily lives as a GOOD thing! What I want is a Mayor that keeps OUT of our lives and leaves us alone or at best acts invisibly in the background.

Tiberius

Boris has developed a very effective means of delivery, avoiding the comedy. His jabbing fist and finger clearly indicate his opponent is responsible for all the ills. But as someone from the shires, the most refreshing aspect is to hear him speak about London, not some private fiefdom called Laanden.

Caroline

Boris’s effort could hardly have been 'more pared down', but you forgot to mention the murky, miserable and finger wagging negativity. Ken’s broadcast with bright, optimistic, and vibrant views of London and his real engagement with the public is the winner.

Max Kaye

Caroline, Livingstone 'engages' with the public in the same way a prison bully 'engages' with a fresh-faced new convict.

Phil Davies

Ken is filmed sitting on the Tube in a seat reserved for disabled people - how's that for showing respect for fellow Londoners? Disgraceful.

Colin

So is Boris teh new 'great clunking fist'?

Oscar Miller

Caroline the 'murky miserable' stuff is justified criticism of Ken's legacy. And there's plenty of positive 'will do' stuff in there. Ken's optimism is boasting. Come on - you can do better than that.

Fergus Pickering

Ken's film must have cost a lot more than Boris's. Who paid for it?

Caroline

Yes Oscar, I'm sure I could do loads better, but do you know my friendly love bomber, I really can't be ar%ed. I've just been watching on politicshome the 'debate' between the three mayoral candidates, well, to be accurate I watched the introductions (boring) and until they started on about bendy buses - then I lost the will to live and switched off. Why do they do it? Why do they continue with this rubbish format of each standing behind a podium with Paxo sneering out questions and the candidates all arguing amongst themselves like kids, and it turns into a garbled nightmare. I can't stand it. For goodness sake why don't they do a one to one. Well, I'll answer my own question - it's because there'd be complaints that they were not treated equally I suppose. I'll be very impressed if anyone stuck with it. It just completely cheeses me off. End of. Except to say, and it's been mentioned elsewhere, why hasn't ConHome and CH covered it? Tell you why - Boris was rubbish.

Phil. Don't know what happens when you travel on public transport. On my local bus there are seats reserved at the front for for elderly, disabled and Mum's with prams. If they aren't being used - guess what? I'm allowed to sit down for the duration of my journey, and if the seat is required en route by any of those groups - I stand up. Duh.

Fergus - pay peanuts get monkey.

Bill Badger

Even from the video I'd go for Ken. We go to London generally twice a year, and each time we notice improvements everywhere. If only a Labour government had given him better support, it would have been even better, with greater progress on the Underground repairs and improvements - what a scam the PPP idea turned out to be there. (you MUST try a to get a read of Monbiot's book The Corporate Takeover Of Britain.)
The main Tube contract went to Metronet, a consortium of engineering companies, and each sub-contract went to one of them, with lenient terms and no oversight or supervision. Ken was powerless to do anything, until their over-runs and losses led to crisis and they wanted a massive bail-out, as though none of it was their fault. It has left the Tube repairs 2 years behind schedule and the government £2billion in debt; whilst the members of the consortium walk away unscathed. Many of them individually are now still picking up lucrative govt. contracts. I don't alway agree with Ken, and actually like Boris as a character; but he would be a disaster as Mayor of London. Overall, Ken has made massive improvements, and I long for him to continue, and for the Labour government to learn from him and improve the rest of the country.