On Mon, 14 Nov 2005 21:46:55 -0000, "TKD" wrote:


"Gavin Hamilton" wrote in message
.. .



I was thinking of large parts of Surrey, namely Weybridge, Walton on
Thames etc, and the likes of Watford and Denham, all of which fall
inside the M25. Not all of these can be described as having a net
effect of zero...........

I still don't see how or why those places could move from the South East
England or East of England regions to the London region without giving
the residents the same voting rights as those already in the London region?
There isn't any argument, benefit or precedent to support such a thing.


If Ken wants Greater London to use the M25 as THE boundary he will
have to include those areas and, I suspect, the political forces will
not want upset the current cosy voting pattern - god forbid that the
blue rinses of Walton & Weybridge should have a say in the election
of the Greater London assembly and the mayor of London. I can just
imagine some candidate saying (to paraphrase Patrica Hughit -
patronising old bag) "this electorate is too middle class".

File under "good idea - not politically acceptable".

G

I was thinking of large parts of Surrey, namely Weybridge, Walton on
Thames etc, and the likes of Watford and Denham, all of which fall
inside the M25. Not all of these can be described as having a net
effect of zero...........

I still don't see how or why those places could move from the South East
England or East of England regions to the London region without giving
the residents the same voting rights as those already in the London region?
There isn't any argument, benefit or precedent to support such a thing.


If Ken wants Greater London to use the M25 as THE boundary he will
have to include those areas and, I suspect, the political forces will
not want upset the current cosy voting pattern - god forbid that the
blue rinses of Walton & Weybridge should have a say in the election
of the Greater London assembly and the mayor of London. I can just
imagine some candidate saying (to paraphrase Patrica Hughit -
patronising old bag) "this electorate is too middle class".

File under "good idea - not politically acceptable".


For a start it will not be his decision, it will be made at Westminster level.
I'm not entirely sure why he wants to extend the border as it doesn't make
much political sense for him personally as most of the newly added London
electorate would be unlikely to vote for him, preferring a low-tax, low-spend,
"everyone have as many cars as you like" Tory mayor. The other problem will
be the local government districts which will need to be redrawn. There will
be small chunks left of districts outside the M25 that will need to absorbed
into some other entity. Which perhaps uncovers his real intention. If the
boundary is extended the existing London Boroughs will need to be reformed
and he has already suggested larger "super boroughs". The intention is
possibly to eliminate such thorns in his side as the City of Westminster London
Borough Council. Statue of Mandela anyone?

On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:12:44 -0000, "TKD" wrote:


If Ken wants Greater London to use the M25 as THE boundary he will
have to include those areas and, I suspect, the political forces will
not want upset the current cosy voting pattern - god forbid that the
blue rinses of Walton & Weybridge should have a say in the election
of the Greater London assembly and the mayor of London. I can just
imagine some candidate saying (to paraphrase Patrica Hughit -
patronising old bag) "this electorate is too middle class".

File under "good idea - not politically acceptable".


For a start it will not be his decision, it will be made at Westminster level.
I'm not entirely sure why he wants to extend the border as it doesn't make
much political sense for him personally as most of the newly added London
electorate would be unlikely to vote for him, preferring a low-tax, low-spend,
"everyone have as many cars as you like" Tory mayor. The other problem will
be the local government districts which will need to be redrawn. There will
be small chunks left of districts outside the M25 that will need to absorbed
into some other entity. Which perhaps uncovers his real intention. If the
boundary is extended the existing London Boroughs will need to be reformed
and he has already suggested larger "super boroughs". The intention is
possibly to eliminate such thorns in his side as the City of Westminster London
Borough Council. Statue of Mandela anyone?


Which is more or less what I said...............

G

Gavin Hamilton wrote:

On Mon, 14 Nov 2005 21:46:55 -0000, "TKD" wrote:


"Gavin Hamilton" wrote in message
. ..



I was thinking of large parts of Surrey, namely Weybridge, Walton on
Thames etc, and the likes of Watford and Denham, all of which fall
inside the M25. Not all of these can be described as having a net
effect of zero...........

I still don't see how or why those places could move from the South East
England or East of England regions to the London region without giving
the residents the same voting rights as those already in the London region?
There isn't any argument, benefit or precedent to support such a thing.



If Ken wants Greater London to use the M25 as THE boundary he will
have to include those areas and, I suspect, the political forces will
not want upset the current cosy voting pattern - god forbid that the
blue rinses of Walton & Weybridge should have a say in the election
of the Greater London assembly and the mayor of London. I can just
imagine some candidate saying (to paraphrase Patrica Hughit -
patronising old bag) "this electorate is too middle class".

File under "good idea - not politically acceptable".


Maybe if they did, Ken could extend the Congestion Charge Zone to
everything within the M25 ? (and maybe include the anti-clockwise
carriageway of the M25 :-)

On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 21:42:33 +0000 (UTC), matt
wrote:

Gavin Hamilton wrote:

On Mon, 14 Nov 2005 21:46:55 -0000, "TKD" wrote:


"Gavin Hamilton" wrote in message
...



I was thinking of large parts of Surrey, namely Weybridge, Walton on
Thames etc, and the likes of Watford and Denham, all of which fall
inside the M25. Not all of these can be described as having a net
effect of zero...........

I still don't see how or why those places could move from the South East
England or East of England regions to the London region without giving
the residents the same voting rights as those already in the London region?
There isn't any argument, benefit or precedent to support such a thing.



If Ken wants Greater London to use the M25 as THE boundary he will
have to include those areas and, I suspect, the political forces will
not want upset the current cosy voting pattern - god forbid that the
blue rinses of Walton & Weybridge should have a say in the election
of the Greater London assembly and the mayor of London. I can just
imagine some candidate saying (to paraphrase Patrica Hughit -
patronising old bag) "this electorate is too middle class".

File under "good idea - not politically acceptable".


Maybe if they did, Ken could extend the Congestion Charge Zone to
everything within the M25 ? (and maybe include the anti-clockwise
carriageway of the M25 :-)


I was under the impression that the M25 was already subject to parking
charges already :-) Actually, although I only live 40ish miles from
London I haven't been inside the M25 for about 18 months.

G

matt wrote:

If Ken wants Greater London to use the M25 as THE boundary he will
have to include those areas and, I suspect, the political forces will
not want upset the current cosy voting pattern - god forbid that the
blue rinses of Walton & Weybridge should have a say in the election
of the Greater London assembly and the mayor of London. I can just
imagine some candidate saying (to paraphrase Patrica Hughit -
patronising old bag) "this electorate is too middle class".

File under "good idea - not politically acceptable".

Maybe if they did, Ken could extend the Congestion Charge Zone to
everything within the M25 ? (and maybe include the anti-clockwise
carriageway of the M25 :-)

I can just see Ashtead and Leatherhead jumping for the joy at this prospect!

At the moment there is a real concern that any Greater London wide
congestion charge could cause problems in Surrey, not least for Epsom &
Ewell as a lot of roads cross the bit of Kingston that sticks out. Forcing
traversing motorists to go round on roads that aren't designed for rat runs
would be a nightmare.

On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 17:04:40 -0000, "Tim Roll-Pickering"
wrote:


I can just see Ashtead and Leatherhead jumping for the joy at this prospect!


Well, Leatherhead is already served by TfL bus 465 with London fares
applying.

In article , Gavin Hamilton
writes
If Ken wants Greater London to use the M25 as THE boundary he will
have to include those areas and, I suspect, the political forces will
not want upset the current cosy voting pattern - god forbid that the
blue rinses of Walton & Weybridge should have a say in the election
of the Greater London assembly and the mayor of London. I can just
imagine some candidate saying (to paraphrase Patrica Hughit -
patronising old bag) "this electorate is too middle class".

Um, the whole *idea* of the GLC was to bring lots of Tory areas into the
voting of the London County Council and thus eliminate this Labour
stronghold.

I'm sure Ken knows just how bad an idea *that* was.

--
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