Anyone else see Boris on the local news last night threatening the protesting
motorbikers with not being able to use the bus lanes if they didn't stop
the protests? While I think the bikers are whinging about nothing (its only
a quid a day FFS) I don't think Boris did himself any favours whatsoever as
he came across as rather petty and vindictive. I wonder if Cameron might
start moving him out to arms length fairly soon...

B2003

wrote in message

Anyone else see Boris on the local news last night threatening the
protesting motorbikers with not being able to use the bus lanes if
they didn't stop
the protests? While I think the bikers are whinging about nothing
(its only a quid a day FFS) I don't think Boris did himself any
favours whatsoever as he came across as rather petty and vindictive.
I wonder if Cameron might start moving him out to arms length fairly
soon...

Most of the comments to BBC London seemed to favour him -- motorbikes
aren't particular popular, even when they're not protesting about a
measly £1/day parking charge. At least Boris was sober and sensible
when he made his verbal attack; Ken was filmed often enough making
drunken outbursts that were hard to support (eg, anti-semitic).

On Fri, 4 Jun 2010 11:42:21 +0100
"Recliner" wrote:
measly £1/day parking charge. At least Boris was sober and sensible
when he made his verbal attack; Ken was filmed often enough making
drunken outbursts that were hard to support (eg, anti-semitic).

Well thats true. Ken still hasn't had the balls to apologise for that
remark AFAIK.

B2003

On 4 June, 11:46, wrote:
On Fri, 4 Jun 2010 11:42:21 +0100

"Recliner" wrote:
measly £1/day parking charge. *At least Boris was sober and sensible
when he made his verbal attack; Ken was filmed often enough making
drunken outbursts that were hard to support (eg, anti-semitic).

Well thats true. Ken still hasn't had the balls to apologise for that
remark AFAIK.

No, it isn't true. Well, he may have made drunken outbursts, but the
"anti-semitic" accusation was rather contrived even if one didn't know
the character. Actually knowing his work makes it totally
ridiculous. It was Boris, not Ken, who scuppered the anti-racist
festival in London and has made dubious racial remarks.

"MIG" wrote in message

On 4 June, 11:46, wrote:
On Fri, 4 Jun 2010 11:42:21 +0100

"Recliner" wrote:
measly £1/day parking charge. At least Boris was sober and sensible
when he made his verbal attack; Ken was filmed often enough making
drunken outbursts that were hard to support (eg, anti-semitic).

Well thats true. Ken still hasn't had the balls to apologise for that
remark AFAIK.

No, it isn't true. Well, he may have made drunken outbursts, but the
"anti-semitic" accusation was rather contrived even if one didn't know
the character. Actually knowing his work makes it totally
ridiculous. It was Boris, not Ken, who scuppered the anti-racist
festival in London and has made dubious racial remarks.

I agree that Ken isn't really anti-semitic, but his virulent hatred of
the Daily Mail/Evening Standard meant that he rather lost control of
what he said when drunk (which seemed to happen quite often), leaving
himself wide open to such criticism. He was also keen on some rather
rum, not to say dangerous, characters.

On Fri, 4 Jun 2010 03:56:55 -0700 (PDT)
MIG wrote:
No, it isn't true. Well, he may have made drunken outbursts, but the
"anti-semitic" accusation was rather contrived even if one didn't know
the character. Actually knowing his work makes it totally

Possibly, but it was still an unpleasent and OTT remark.

ridiculous. It was Boris, not Ken, who scuppered the anti-racist
festival in London

Thank god. The unemployed crusty brigade and militant left have enough excuses
for causing a nuisance without giving them another one. And what would it
achieve anyway? Would all the BNP members watching that load of scruffy oiks on
TV suddenly see the error of their ways, hand in their memberships and go buy
Mandela T-shirts? Do me a favour.

B2003

wrote in message

On Fri, 4 Jun 2010 03:56:55 -0700 (PDT)
MIG wrote:
No, it isn't true. Well, he may have made drunken outbursts, but the
"anti-semitic" accusation was rather contrived even if one didn't
know the character. Actually knowing his work makes it totally

Possibly, but it was still an unpleasent and OTT remark.

ridiculous. It was Boris, not Ken, who scuppered the anti-racist
festival in London

Thank god. The unemployed crusty brigade and militant left have
enough excuses for causing a nuisance without giving them another
one. And what would it achieve anyway? Would all the BNP members
watching that load of scruffy oiks on TV suddenly see the error of
their ways, hand in their memberships and go buy Mandela T-shirts? Do
me a favour.

Boltar -- you and I agree again!

Recliner wrote:
wrote in message

Anyone else see Boris on the local news last night threatening the
protesting motorbikers with not being able to use the bus lanes if
they didn't stop
the protests? While I think the bikers are whinging about nothing
(its only a quid a day FFS) I don't think Boris did himself any
favours whatsoever as he came across as rather petty and vindictive.
I wonder if Cameron might start moving him out to arms length fairly
soon...

Most of the comments to BBC London seemed to favour him -- motorbikes
aren't particular popular, even when they're not protesting about a
measly £1/day parking charge. At least Boris was sober and sensible
when he made his verbal attack; Ken was filmed often enough making
drunken outbursts that were hard to support (eg, anti-semitic).


Care to back up something that looks rather libellous with some actual
facts? Speaking as someone of Jewish descent who voted for Ken three
times I've never taken the anti-Semitic thing as being remotely true*,
rather it's another in a long line in groundless smears from the part of
the political spectrum that shouts 'anti-Semitism!' every time someone
points out obvious facts such as that Israel is run by barking mad
psychopaths.

Actually, anyone wanting film of a drunken Mayor making a fool of
himself is advised to seek out the footage of Boris at last year's City
Hall reception for London Pride (the LGBT festival, not the beer,
although it's possible Boris got confused).

As for the bikers - Boris has previously said there'll be a decision
based on an independent report into the effect of the bus lane trial, so
if he's now changing his mind in favour of making transport policy
decisions based on political patronage to people who please him that's a
retrograde step in my book, and worth noting as a footnote to his real
character.

Tom

* A couple of examples: Nicky Gavron, Ken's long-term deputy Mayor, is
of much the same origins as my Mum, daughter of a German Jewish refugee
mother. He was also mates with the Miliband brothers' father Ralph,
also a Jewish refugee from Europe. Plenty of Marxist Jews around
left-wing London in the old days, of course, so anti-Semitism isn't
really a great position to adopt for ambitious left wing London
politicians. If you want real anti-Semites try the old-school Tory
right, fundamentalist US Christians or the BNP.

On Fri, 4 Jun 2010, d wrote:

Anyone else see Boris on the local news last night threatening the
protesting motorbikers with not being able to use the bus lanes if they
didn't stop the protests? While I think the bikers are whinging about
nothing (its only a quid a day FFS) I don't think Boris did himself any
favours whatsoever as he came across as rather petty and vindictive.

On aggregate, probably not. But i thought it was brilliant, and i am now
more disposed to vote for him.

Not disposed enough to actually do it, but more so!

tom

--
There is no harm in being sometimes wrong especially if one is promptly
found out. -- John Maynard Keynes