The Social Affairs Unit Blog has an interesting piece on the likely runners and riders in the 2008 London mayoral race for the Conservatives. The names listed by Watlington are Margot James (pic, below right), Syed Kamall, Nicholas Boles (pic, right), Simon Milton, Richard Stephenson (pic, below left), Steven Norris, Richard Barnes, Roger Evans, Brian Coleman, Angie Bray and Ray Lewis. There should be one main criteria for any of these candidates when they ponder whether they should start. They need to look at themselves in a mirror
and ask one question: can I win? Name recognition is hugely important in this sort of race and only one of the candidates passes that test - Steve Norris. I've always liked Steve. If he had stayed in Parliament he would be have been a leading player over the last ten years. His previous to runs for the mayoralty have been well run and he did better than many people expected. However, I'm not convinced he should do it again. But the trouble is, there are very few who are better known. The only two
who spring to mind are Sebastian Coe and Michael Portillo. Neither are likely to want to throw their hats into the ring, and in Portillo's case I doubt whether many Conservatives could bring themselves to tramp the streets for a man whose main preoccupation these days is to trash the very Party that gave him his career. One other consideration is the candidate's ability to fund the campaign. The Party won't be contributing a penny, as I understand it, so whoever wins the nomination had better have some deep pockets or have the ability to dip their hand into other people's. This rules out about half the list I name above. I wonder if the Cameroons are looking for a celebrity figure to take on the mantle. How about it Bob Geldof?!
The Social Affairs Unit Blog has an interesting piece on the likely runners and riders in the 2008 London mayoral race for the Conservatives. The names listed by Watlington are Margot James (pic, below right), Syed Kamall, Nicholas Boles (pic, right), Simon Milton, Richard Stephenson (pic, below left), Steven Norris, Richard Barnes, Roger Evans, Brian Coleman, Angie Bray and Ray Lewis. There should be one main criteria for any of these candidates when they ponder whether they should start. They need to look at themselves in a mirror 
and ask one question: can I win? Name recognition is hugely important in this sort of race and only one of the candidates passes that test - Steve Norris. I've always liked Steve. If he had stayed in Parliament he would be have been a leading player over the last ten years. His previous to runs for the mayoralty have been well run and he did better than many people expected. However, I'm not convinced he should do it again. But the trouble is, there are very few who are better known. The only two 
who spring to mind are Sebastian Coe and Michael Portillo. Neither are likely to want to throw their hats into the ring, and in Portillo's case I doubt whether many Conservatives could bring themselves to tramp the streets for a man whose main preoccupation these days is to trash the very Party that gave him his career. One other consideration is the candidate's ability to fund the campaign. The Party won't be contributing a penny, as I understand it, so whoever wins the nomination had better have some deep pockets or have the ability to dip their hand into other people's. This rules out about half the list I name above. I wonder if the Cameroons are looking for a celebrity figure to take on the mantle. How about it Bob Geldof?!
16 comments:
Andrew Boff!
I like Steve too but two attempts is enough I think? Some people think the more you try the more people like you - I have a feeling that if you've tried and been rejected a coupla times you should stand aside. We can't cope with another 4 years of Evil Livingstone.
None of them will win so I'd look for someone willing to work for the next two elections, to build a winning profile.
I'd back Richard Stephenson, but I don't live in London so I'll leave you to Ken.
Richard Stephenson? Like the guy immensely, did a grand job with conference 2 years ago, is highly liked by the public tha know him (seen him operate at grass roots, where the grannies lap him up as loveable and the young respond to him in droves)
He fulfils much of the compassionate conservative message DC wants out there - young, achieved of his own merit in business, charity work and treks, etc, plus politically experienced from his time in Huntingdon under JM. Then again, half the list you have reads like a first draft of the A List - the other half being Assembly members, I assume
But I thought he had major problems with the party heirarchy during his tenure at the top of the national convention - some of the old dinosaurs dislike him and made huge problems.... I can see them briefing against him out of pure spite
I also think his age would be a barrier against him being a Mayoral candidate - can you see London putting an early 30-something in control of their pride and joy?
Agree with Graeme that Steve is good value but has had two shots - going a third time for the same post is exactly the same as running twice for the same parliamentary seat - people remember you failed twice before, familiarity breeds contempt.
Personal feeling is that if this was the short list, go with Syed Kamall - he has a business record in London, which wins over the business community, he has a record in office that is not associated with the assembly, is well spoken and, more importantly, is London through and through, in both his birth, schooling and the majority of his uni time - Edmonton as well, ideal chance to raid support on David Lammie's patch....
Steve deserves credit for taking on an impossible task in the last two Mayoral elections but I really think the time has come from someone new and completely different. Syed Kamall would be a really great choice - everyman quality, great life story etc.
If Lord Coe could be persuaded to stand, then he would seem the most likely to win.
However, Syed Kamall would be a fantastic candidate - young, passionate speaker, very good one-to-one and a strong campaigner. What's more, he would be brilliant in the job. I work with Syed and have seen what a great job he is doing as an MEP. Ken wouldn't know what had hit him.
Can I start the campaign now?
Let's face it. Ken is going to wipe the floor with all of that list. Why not give Prisoner FF 8282 another shot... at least we could all have a laugh as he reinvents himself again.
Anyone but Norris. Preferably Syed.
Agree with most of this. Steve Norris is a good guy but having lost twice to Ken he should really give someone else a chance.
The potential field is not great talent wise: out of that lot, though, Margot James would send out the most inclusive message in terms of the bigger political picture.
I think the best solution for the Tories in the light of this would be to do what New Labour did in Tatton in '97 and get behind a good independent candidate who can beat Livingstone. The name of Sir Simon Jenkins springs immediately to mind.
As for Portillo - hasn't he left the party? I read somewhere that he had not renewed his membership this year?
they're all doomed,so if they have to fund it themselves then it's wise to pick someone rich who can afford to burn money.
So it's Michael.He must be on millions for the places he puts his nose these days.
I think Margot James would be an excellent candidate and Mayor. She also has great 'grass-roots' support through her ties with UCL and the wider student community, who have been pretty galvanised in campaigning over the recent years.
A fresh face versus the repugnant newt could work extremely well.
Its got to be someone who knows enough about London & a track record of delivery there too. Simon Milton fits the bill and has been delivering urban renewal Conservatism in multicultural, diverse Westminster for a few years longer than Tory top-team have been talking about it
I heard that it was too be Lord Coe after his involvement in winning the 2012 bid (and that came from a very credible source!).
Steve Norris ran as a moderniser in a local election, dragging a party stuck in the past behind him.
I think London voters would be much more interested in him than the non-entities and people in the infancy of their political career mentioned here. I like Syed and Margot but what experience do they have to be Mayor? How does being on the list to be elected an MEP or coming third to Frank Dobson show the kind of electoral abilities necessary to defeat one of the most enduring political figures in the UK? Both have won fewer elections than Steve.
The other names are complete jokes. Richard Stephenson or Nicholas Boles up against Ken Livingstone? Give me a break!
Let Tory supporters in an open primary decide but I think it has to be Steve Norris.
I think some people on this site aren't looking at the entire picture. All the personal venom ("evil," "repugnant" etc) directed against the Mayor is one of the ways we Tories have played into his hands and casts doubt on the judgement of those who deploy it.
Londoners want someone who looks and sounds like a Mayor, and who has enough experience, charisma and leadership to fix the big problems of crime and transport.
Contrary to the politically correct thinking in CCHQ, Londoners won't be any more inclined to vote for someone simply because they are minority ethnic, gay or female. They will want someone big enough to solve the big problems Livingstone has failed to deliver on.
I think that person is Steve Norris.
Oh, if its not Norris, the party will be doomed to failure.
Who are Margot James or Syed? Although the election is for London Mayor, the national press take an interest and you really need someone with decent experience, the others will all make us look very silly very quickly and we know what happens to inexperienced nonentities (IDS...).
I thought Steve did well - he out-polled the party and is now within a stone's throw of Livingstone. Only the Tories would be dumb enough to start over again with someone new. Steve has the experience and credibility and seriousness no other plausible candidate can match. I say just give it to him (he's the original moderniser, after all) and let him get on with it.
Simon Milton is going to succeed Sandy Bruce-Lockhart at the LGA after the local elections, and is not going to be Mayor. I reckon it'll by Syed Kamall.
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