ARmy Rumour SErvice

Originally Posted by telecaster

Wasn't referring to politeness.I meant forelock-tuggers, cap-doffers, "Sir knows best" types.False class consciousness.

All I have seen re that is to see through the class bits, are you Dave Spart?

Originally Posted by ugly

All I have seen re that is to see through the class bits, are you Dave Spart?

Sorry old chap, don't understand your banter.Algy might.

Originally Posted by telecaster

Sorry old chap, don't understand your banter.Algy might.

At least we are both agreed on something then

Originally Posted by ugly

Boris may well be playing the long game, if CMD cant put the Tories in unshared office next time then perhaps a coup is on the cards and David Davies and Boris are just the types to stage the coup. Which one becomes Heseltine who knows?

I think sunnoficarus had the answer as to the game Boris is playing.

Originally Posted by sunnoficarus

Boris is also well aware that staying within the parliamentary party was not going to work for him. The blue labour faction would have fought him tooth and nail, instead he's sat outside the circus building a huge public following at large and let the blue labour experiment run its flawed course.

If Boris had remained an MP, he would have probably been a cabinet minister, but forced to toe the line of collective responsibility. Here's he's "outside the circus" and not doing too bad a job of running London. In fact I'd go so far as to say Boris is running London better than CMD is running the UK. If Boris ever does become PM, he's had a pretty good grounding in the requirements for the job.

Originally Posted by ugly

Ken has managed the unmanageable in galvanising enough Tory voters to keep him out of office, Kens die hard Dave Sparts etc will always vote for him but if London voters return a Labour council and reject a Labour Mayor is telling!

Ken was probably too left wing to win against a competent Tory candidate - and he had his past record to contend with. For example, I've not forgotten Livingstone cosying up to the odious Hugo Chavez during his time in office. At least Boris hasn't signed any agreements with Venezuela. Nor have I forgotten how hypocritical Livingstone was in the campaign - criticising bankers for tax avoidance then getting caught doing the same thing yourself was not a smart move. Livingstone was carrying a lot of baggage.

Livingstone also had an iron grip on the levers of power within the Labour party in London - and that got him the candidature. But appealing to left leaning political activists is not the same as appealing to a broader electorate. Had Labour put up a more centrist, moderate candidate, I think Boris could have been in trouble.

Wordsmith

Originally Posted by Pyianno

I agree completely - I can't stand Ed Milliband. I suppose at least Boris has that going for him - he is likeable. But I don't think he is any more 'in touch' than Cameron/Milliband.

I don't want Politicians that are 'in touch', i want politicians that are competent.

Not sure about the latter, remember when they split their own vote first time around, Ken is an ego freak and wants to die or at least retire in the job, something denied him by Labour and by Maggie dissolving the GLC! He had in fact peaked too early, about 10 or 15 years ago in fact and if the GLC had continued would possibly have been a senior minister under Blair.
Thankfully he wasnt.


Sorry the last bit of wordsmith!

Originally Posted by sunnoficarus

I don't want Politicians that are 'in touch', i want politicians that are competent.

Tough to be competent in a democracy when you're incapable of grasping the views of the electorate. You need to have some idea of the effect your policies have and elites have proven historically incapable of this.

Actually come to think of it when was the last competent PM? Blair in his first term? Thatcher? Pre-Thatcher you'd probably have to go back as far as Macmillan (an elite!).

Britain just not very good at producing leaders.

Originally Posted by rebel_with_a_cause

As a "normal" Londoner I can only say "Thank fuck for that". The thought of my hard earned going to support Ken's lefty policies was really worrying me.

....Hmm? funny that, as I'm also 'a normal Londoner' and was sick to fecking death of my friends and family suffering under Boris and his Tory cnuts policies that have put up the cost of travel, reduced the cops on the streets and generally lied and cheated in a way that only Tory cnuts can. People are already struggling due to his posh mates policies......

.....but that's the beauty of democracy, the people have spoken......maybe us Londoners aren't so bad off after all if they still wanted Boris the knob in charge?.....oh, can he at least get a fecking trim, the tw*t.