The coalition for a Boris victory
James Forsyth 12:34pm
When David Cameron addressed Tory MPs on Friday, he told them that the London Mayoral
elections were ‘the binary moment of 2012’. He argued that if Labour lost in London, one of their traditional strongholds, it would be a disaster for Ed Miliband. In the Cameron
narrative, a Boris victory in May would mean that the Labour leader would remain under pressure and continue to be the subject of regular attacks in the press.
Interestingly, there are Liberal Democrats close to Nick Clegg who share this analysis. Their worry is that a Livingstone victory combined with bad local election results for Lib Dem could turn the deputy Prime Minister back into the party leader under pressure.
Clegg, who loathed being the political media’s quarry, has no desire to return to being the hunted. For this reason, the Liberal Democrats leadership is amenable to the coalition providing the London Mayor with a few wins before election day.
Boris also spoke to Tory MPs on Friday. He, as always, had a memorable turn of phrase. He said that a Livingstone victory would be ‘excrescent from the steaming bowels of the trade union movement.’
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Nick
February 26th, 2012 12:53pm Report this commentToday's revelations that Livingstone has used the tax avoidance measures he lambasts others for using to avoid £50k of tax has surely destroyed any chance he had of beating Boris.
It must make it very difficult for the likes of the unions (and other Leftist groups) to actively support him when he has been shown to be completely hypocritical on tax.
Sylva
February 26th, 2012 1:18pm Report this commentCalm down dear. Why all this panic ? Ken will be back, the BUFFOON out and then the coalition will be in tremor, SIMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PayDirt
February 26th, 2012 1:19pm Report this commentPolitical commentators getting it all wrong, nothing unusual. Ken is terrible, Boris is worse because he does not deliver for the voters. He delivers punchlines yes, but when it comes down to it, what he has actually achieved? A Boris victory would mean Cameron getting contaminated by Tory outoftouchness.
PayDirt
February 26th, 2012 2:22pm Report this commentBoris riding bikes, Olympics ho-ho
He's so ambitious don’t we know
but don't forget folks thats what you get folks
for making whoopee
Another year or maybe less
what's this I hear? Well you can't you guess
Voters feel neglected and he's suspected
of making whoopee
Boris raising taxes, riding in taxis
Up for PM, he needs the practice
but don't forget folks thats what you get folks
for voting Tooree
Publius
February 26th, 2012 2:56pm Report this comment"Liberal Democrats close to Nick Clegg..."
Everything is about Clegg and his job. Nothing else matters. He is the antithesis of a statesman.
Ron Todd
February 26th, 2012 3:17pm Report this commentThe client groups of big state socialism and big state multiculturalism will forgive Ken for maximising the amount of state money he keeps, after all they will want Ken to maximise the amount of state money they get.
Paddy
February 26th, 2012 3:22pm Report this commentNick: "avoiding £50k of tax has surely destroyed any chance he had of beating Boris".
Why? This story won't make it into the mainstream media.....so no one will know about it.
Verity
February 26th, 2012 3:53pm Report this commentPaydirt - V clever, but it would have scanned better if, instead of "voters feel neglected" you had written "folks feel neglected".
Just sayin'.
Fergus Pickering
February 26th, 2012 4:00pm Report this commentI read it in the Sunday Telegraph. Is that mainstream. I don't think it will make much difference. Those who vote for Ken know he is a chancer. They like it.
Jeremy
February 26th, 2012 4:17pm Report this commentBoris Johnson:
‘excrescent from the steaming bowels of the trade union movement.’
Boris. Mate, I understand what it is that you are talking about. But millions will not. Like the philosopher (Greek), you need to both clarify and to extend your argument. You need to make it very, very clear to 'The Man In The Street' precisely what it is that you are talking about, and what you mean by it.
That may be - but only 'may be' - the path to victory.
Verity
February 26th, 2012 6:13pm Report this commentJeremy writes to the man who was elected Mayor of London: "Boris. Mate, I understand what it is that you are talking about. But millions will not."
But the millions who speak English will. The millions who do not speak English will not be voting for Boris, even if he addressed them in Urdu.
"Like the philosopher - Greek ...". Which one?
"You need to make it very, very clear to the Man on the Street precisely what it is that you are talking about and what you mean by it."
I am sure the elected Mayor of London will be most grateful for your tutelage in how to speak before an audience and how to win an election in a capital city.
Jeremy
February 26th, 2012 8:33pm Report this commentAbout Verity:
The great thing about a person with no sense of humour is that they are - in ways unbeknownst to themselves - very, very funny.
PayDirt
February 27th, 2012 8:59am Report this commentVerity, thanks for the comment. You are right. However I live within the Mayor's domain so I get to vote, it's as a voter I'm neglected right now. BTW how's the alternative Wall doing? Should I make time to visit?
Andy Carpark
February 27th, 2012 9:10am Report this commentAbout Jeremy:
A man so effete he probably sprinkles parma violets on his doner kebab.
Tiberius
February 27th, 2012 12:57pm Report this comment"...no sense of humour..."
And even less of a sense of irony.
HackneyJon
February 28th, 2012 10:21pm Report this commentThe Mayoral Election will be a very close run thing. A couple of months ago - for some reason - Boris supporters were claiming that his re-election was in the bag. It could never be so. Even in 2008, in the depths of Labour unpopularity during the Brown premiership, Boris only won 6% more of the vote than Ken. Labour's recovery since has been far from convincing, but they are scoring far higher in the opinion polls now than they were 4 years ago. It is unlikely that Boris can repeat his 2008 win. If Labour had put up a fresher and more attractive candidate than Ken, Boris would not have a prayer. As it is, it will be very close I think, with the odds on a narrow Johnson defeat.
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