As I mentioned in my post about voting, the London Mayoral election was the most important one to me. It was the one that will directly impact my life.
I actually had most of this written (in draft form)the weekend before the vote, but never quite got a chance to write it up properly and post it. I still think it may be interesting, even though less relevant now.
Unfortunately none of the candidates stood out. So instead of voting for someone I wanted to, I had to run through eliminate everyone I didn’t want to vote for. This was actually pretty easy, and left me with two choices, none of which blew me away, but where good enough to make a decisions
I had a few rules of thumbs that applied to all candidates.
- St George's Day Parade: Negative Marks - London is perhaps the most multicultural city in the world. Most English people I know living in city only half know and barely have any interest in St Georges day. I doubt the rest of us imports have any interest. Do you really think this the most important thing to get right in the city?
- Abolishing the congestion charge: Negative Marks - Look I didn’t want the congestion charge and I think it's poorly implemented idea. But it's in. You might as well run it and see what you can do to improve it, rather than just scrapping it and wasting all that money.
- Running the tube late: Positive - Ok this one I like, but it really Simon Hughes idea. So he gets full marks for it and the rest of you get minor points
Right so lets look at the candidates
Frank Maloney - UK Independence Party
Abolish congestion charge, St. Georges Day Parade - Negative.
Nothing much compelling.
NO VOTE
Ram Gidoomal - Christian Peoples Alliance
"I will do all I can to bring Christian values ...."
Look I'm Jewish. I don't want a mayor who is concerned about religion. If you are religious that’s great. I don't want region as anything to do with my mayor. And we saw what Bush and his 'Christian Values' has managed to do. Mention religion and you are not even being considered for my vote. Religion has nothing to do with being mayor. If it's part of your agenda, you are not part of mine.
NO VOTE
Ken Livingston - Labour
You've had your shot and you blew. I always thought congestion charging was a crap idea and I stand by it. You paved Trafalgar square for no apparent reason at an exorbitant cost and screwed up traffic chronically. You've fudged the traffic lights to drive the case for both of these. The only thing I think you've done is improve the busses, and that had nothing to do with you as much as the people implementing it on the ground. You got the answer wrong when asked what a bus fair was in London. You're suggestion running the tube later on Friday and Saturday nights, which one is not your idea and two you've had four years to do it, why now? Bugger that. Also you have a face that looks like you've done something seriously wrong with gerbils.
NO VOTE
Julian Leppert - BNP
In summery, blind raciest.
NO VOTE
Derren Johnson - Green Party
Lofty unrealistic ideas. Call me when you have lofty realistic ideas. Or just something that may actually work
NO VOTE
Dr Tammy Nagalingam - Independent
Some good ideas, but her candidate information is appalling presented. For someone running for mayor, that’s like going to an interview dressed in ripped jeans. I want a mayor who can communicate effectively.
NO VOTE
Lorna Reid - IWCA
Commercially unviable ideas.
NO VOTE
Lindsey German - Respect
Stupid Party name. Commercially unviable ideas. Also you talk a lot about Iraq and things that are part of Labours national policy. I want a Mayor to run my city in the best possible way. In my opinion the Mayors stance on Iraq is almost irrelevant to me. Show me you know how to run a city. All your showing me is that you are going to use the Mayorship to have a go at the government. Quite frankly I think that will distract you from sorting out things that will sort out the city.
NO VOTE
Ok that rules out the people I am not going to vote for. That leaves two candidates. Thrilling. Be nice if one of the candidates stood out. Oh well then lets look at the two of you.
Steve Norris - Conservative
Ok I'll be honest, there is not much about Norris that blows me away. But he has one thing none of the other candidates have, and that is the best laid out manifesto. His plans and ideas are communicated far better than any of the other candidates. Surprising that for a job like the mayor there is only one candidate who can communicate ideas clearly. I actually think this is a very strong quality for someone who I want to be mayor. The other thing I like is that he seems to actually be interested in analysing situations before implementing plan. Where as I get the feeling some of the other candidates are more interested in lofty plans but without the analysis. I wouldn't normally vote for him, especially with the fact I'm not impressed by him abolishing the congestion charge even though I don’t want it. But he isn't Ken Livingston, and that’s enough reason to vote for him.
SECOND CHOICE VOTE
Simon Hughes - Liberal Democrat
Ok turns out old Simon had the best ideas of the lot. The late night tube was his idea so I'll give him credit for that. He wont extend the congestion charging zone, and has smart ideas on how to improve it, so top marks there. I have concerns over how much he is interested in being mayor and how much he is interested in being a Lib Dem party member against Labour, but I can live with that. Also I'm not sure of the point of wanting to pedestrianise Oxford street but I can live with that. General portfolio is pretty good and makes the most sense out of all the candidates.
FIRST CHOICE VOTE
Of course since this was meant to be posted last week, we know my .
I really wanted to vote for Richard.
1. RR
This is a really good posting. It’s good to know that some people do take the time to think through their vote. Even better to know that you did vote…and I’m glad you went for your first choice because I was a bit worried when I say what your second one was ;-)
2. Simon
Thats mayor Adrian, not major
3. Adrian
Simon, fixed. Although the current mayor is a major pain.
RR, yeah my second choice was the best of the worst & and someone who wasn’t Ken. I didn’t want him in, but I didn’t want him in less than I didn’t want Ken back in. Not that it matters a jot.
4. razorhead
This is such a good idea! We should give all politicians report cards! I’m so excited, I’m going to use another exclamation mark for the hell of it!
5. matthew
I wanted a virgin too…
Oh you wanted to VOTE for a virgin? As in Virgin boss Richard Branson?
Err…me too. Yeah. Totally.
6. Morgan
Good call. Good post.
7. Ian
Alright. The congestion charge is like one of the best ideas ever. London is congested… because there are too many one person cars driving around the city centre. Having to pay for that priviledge makes people think twice. And Ken is my man. He says what I think. Make Bush pay the congestion charge when he comes through London with his two mile long convoy. And I don’t recognise him as the democratically elected leader of the US either. And the buses rock too!
8. Adrian
Have you driven through London lately? It’s still just as congested as ever. So the congestion charge has done bugger all except impact local business and disadvantage low income workers.
Strike one for Ken.
Making Bush may the congestion charge is bollocks. It has zero impact on anything. He says what he thinks is pretty meaningless when it’s political rhetoric as far as I am concerned. I want a mayor to run my city as best as possible. I don’t want a mayor with a political agenda. Sure there is cross over, but that doesn’t give credentials to being fit for the mayoral job.
And like I said in my post, Ken’s actually connection with getting the busses to run, IMHO is largely questionable. And let’s ask what exactly has he done? He’s simplified all the fares, but just making them all the same, the most expensive price. He’s improved maps and a few other things.
For 4 years I would expect a bit more. No, screw that, I would expect a lot more.
Let’s hope Branson runs next time round so there is someone I actually want to vote for.