In article ,
(Bruce) wrote:

On Thu, 13 May 2010 19:59:57 +0100, Basil Jet
wrote:

If Boris stands down to become an MP, Simon Hughes would make a good
Con/Lib coalition candidate.


Which of the many versions of his sexuality do you think Hughes would
declare for that particular campaign?

I happen to know that your snide remarks are completely wide of the mark.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

On May 13, 7:59 pm, Basil Jet wrote:

On 13/05/2010 19:51, Tom Anderson wrote:

On Thu, 13 May 2010, Paul Corfield wrote:

On Thu, 13 May 2010 14:34:12 +0100, Basil Jet
wrote:

He wants to be mayor again...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...7711806/-.html

Not exactly news is it? He's been saying it for years.

I actually think it would be a mistake because he would be too easy a
target for the loons on the right. Labour need a proper contest to
select their candidate and we have to hope there is a decent field to
choose from and people who have plenty of good ideas.

Or, you know, the main opposition to Bojo the Clown could be from a
party other than Labour. Maybe even one which was in government more
recently.

Hmm, like it or not, I find it hard to see the battle for the
Mayorality in London being something other than a Labour versus Tory
contest.

Also. the association of the Lib Dems with the government come 2012
(if it does last) might make it a bit hard for them to put up a strong
fight against the Conservatives for the Mayorality.

Re the main opposition to Bojo the Clown - I rather doubt that Bozza
will be running for re-election in 2012, unless he feels that the Con-
Lib coalition has scuppered (or at least delayed) his prospects for
advancement in Westminster.


If Boris stands down to become an MP, Simon Hughes would make a good
Con/Lib coalition candidate.

Just because there's a Con-Lib coalition in Parliament at Westminster
it doesn't mean there's going to be Con-Lib coalitions elsewhere.
There isn't going to be a Con-Lib coalition in the London Assembly
(the Lib Dems in the Assembly continue to regard themselves as part of
the opposition), nor do I imagine for a month of Sundays that there
will be a joint Con-Lib candidate for the Mayorality in 2012 - if
there is then I will eat my hat (a road cone in this instance).

Simon Hughes wouldn't sign up as a hypothetical co-Tory candidate
anyhow.

On 13/05/2010 20:41, Mizter T wrote:

On May 13, 7:59 pm, Basil wrote:

If Boris stands down to become an MP, Simon Hughes would make a good
Con/Lib coalition candidate.

Just because there's a Con-Lib coalition in Parliament at Westminster
it doesn't mean there's going to be Con-Lib coalitions elsewhere.
There isn't going to be a Con-Lib coalition in the London Assembly
(the Lib Dems in the Assembly continue to regard themselves as part of
the opposition),

Of course, because they have no say in running things. And if they stand
against the Tories in 2012, they will continue to have no say in running
things, and there's a fair chance that the Tories will have no say in
running things either. Together they will walk it. Or cycle it.

On May 13, 9:00*pm, Basil Jet wrote:

On 13/05/2010 20:41, Mizter T wrote:

On May 13, 7:59 pm, Basil *wrote:

If Boris stands down to become an MP, Simon Hughes would make a good
Con/Lib coalition candidate.

Just because there's a Con-Lib coalition in Parliament at Westminster
it doesn't mean there's going to be Con-Lib coalitions elsewhere.
There isn't going to be a Con-Lib coalition in the London Assembly
(the Lib Dems in the Assembly continue to regard themselves as part of
the opposition),

Of course, because they have no say in running things. And if they stand
against the Tories in 2012, they will continue to have no say in running
things, and there's a fair chance that the Tories will have no say in
running things either. Together they will walk it. Or cycle it.

Bear in mind that the London Assembly is a rather different beast when
compared to a local or county council, or Parliament, or indeed the
assemblies of Wales or NI (which are themselves both rather distinct
from each other). The London Assembly is more about oversight and
scrutiny, as opposed to governing - the executive power is held by the
Mayor. The Assembly does have a vote on the budget, but it's only on
the overall budget, rather than a line-by-line break down of it

Tom Anderson wrote:

Or, you know, the main opposition to Bojo the Clown could be from a party
other than Labour. Maybe even one which was in government more recently.

The Liberal Democrats are extremely weak in many parts of London with very
little organisation - in the local elections last weak they only put up 12
candidates for the 60 council seats here in Newham and couldn't field a
candidate for borough Mayor. They're further hampered by a structure that
gives too much campaign power to local parties and doesn't easily adapt for
the GLA elections - by a lot of accounts their effort in the last elections
was often hampered because different borough parties within the same
Assembly constituency were not co-ordinating well.