On Apr 15, 7:42 pm, "Ian F." wrote:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...-details/Don%2...

An important read, this - seems it's pointless voting for anyone other
than Ken or Boris!

Terrible piece from Gilligan (quelle surprise). He implies that it
won't make a blind bit of difference whether Ken-or-Boris wins on
first-preference votes or second preference votes.

This is rubbish. If the first-round outcome were 33 Ken / 33 Boris /
32 Brian / 2 nutters, and the second-run outcome were 51 Boris / 40
Ken / 9 nobody, then this would make a massive difference to the three
parties' positions, strategies, and behaviour over the next few years
- both in London and nationwide - compared to a first-round outcome of
51 Boris / 40 Ken / 7 Brian (with no second preferences cast) / 2
nutters. But the final outcome would be the same.

So vote for whichever party you most support as first preference,
because *that will determine how important they are perceived as being
in London*. Just remember that if you don't have one of Ken or Boris
*somewhere* down on your paper, it's unlikely to make much of a
difference to the final result.

[I assume the reason for Gilligan's hatchet-job is primarily that he's
worried people will vote for left-wing parties first and Ken second to
punish Labour while keeping Boris out. In fact, this is still a Very
Sensible Thing To Do if you're left-wing and dislike current Labour
policies, but don't want a right-wing buffoon in power...]

--
John Band
john at johnband dot org
www.johnband.org