political commentator * author * publisher * bookseller * radio presenter * blogger * Conservative candidate * former lobbyist * Jack Russell owner * West Ham United fanatic * Email iain AT iaindale DOT com
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
ConservativeHome's London Mayor Poll
ConservativeHome has an excellent post today with the results of its London mayoral survey of 1500 Tory members. It shows Seb Coe as the overwhelming favourite for the nomination, which is a pity as there's a fat chance of him standing. Bizarrely, three people of the two hundred who wrote in their choice nominated me to stand. Not a cat in hell's chance. I'd rather stick needles in my eyes. So far, only two people have formally stuck their heads over the mayoral parapet - Warwick Lightfoot and Victoria Borwick. I understand that my touting of Nick Ferrari a month ago has resulted in him thinking about it quite seriously. God, what have I done?! ConservativeHome now has a separate London Mayor blog which you can bookmark HERE.
All very sad really - so little chance of a Tory London Mayor that they've made it almost a free role, sort of muggins turn for a day to be the candidate, bit like the "star chimp" in today's tea party at London Zoo.
ReplyDeleteNothing will change of course until Keninspart decides to go. Which according to rumour may not be all that long delayed; apparently he's sick of the job and wants to retire to 40 acres in Sinn Fein country as Lord Derry or Lord Maze or whatever. The problem he has is who to annoint as successor; his old left comrades all hate him and he loathes them; and he can't bear the thought of handing over to Nicky Gavron who was forced on him as the price of re-admission to Labour and who he barely speaks to. In fact, story has it that he would sooner hand over to anyone, even the Tories, rather than Labour take the job. Which explains why he is so very nice in public to the next Mayor of London - step forward - Lord Coe, the heir to Lenninspart, ruler of London, and Ken's best friend!!
Don't forget Anyone But Ken for why London must be saved.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I don't understand why Ken is supposed to be so unbeatable. All someone has to do is utter those magic words - "I'm going to scrap the congestion charge" - and they'll be in.
ReplyDelete"I understand that my touting of Nick Ferrari a month ago has resulted in him thinking about it quite seriously. God, what have I done?"
ReplyDeleteIain - get onto his breakfast show and bully him into standing!
The last person on earth I would want to see as Mayor of London is Coe. As Hague's Chief of Staff he was worse than useless. As for the Olympic bid, with all the money, effort and a first class staff he is so hopeless that he would have lost that if Chirac hadn't pissed off the Fins by comparing their cooking to British cuisine. They would have voted for France otherwise and we would have been spared the expense and disruption of having the games in London. Anyone but Coe.
ReplyDeleteWhat about The Dear Leader himself. He's going to be looking for a job soon.
ReplyDeleteEr...Norris said he would scrap the charge last time - and lost. Again. Ken has no intention of standing down and the idea of Seb Coe becoming Mayor is laughable. He was a truely awful Member of Parliament.
ReplyDeleteNick Ferrari - never was a man so aptly named.
ReplyDeleteLet's look at the declared candidates
ReplyDeleteBorwick - a nobody
Lightfoot - a twit
Boles - arrogant wannabe
What a shower!
Oh, he did? Duh. My mistake. Still, I don't understand why Ken seems so hard to beat.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that someone persuades Andrew Boff to enter the race. I have found him an inspirational Tory here in Hackney, where most Tories wouldn't even bother trying; and he inspires through a simple commitment to improving the lives of the people who actually live here, without too much theologising about this or that philosophy. Actually his thinking about Toryism and the inner cities is a beautiful (imo) update on Disraeli's view that about the point of the Tory party. I hope he's thinking about it and more London Tories get to hear about him.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to your poll, Iain?
ReplyDeleteWe voted in that one too. What were the results?
Yeah, Julia has a point. Come on, Iain, what's the point in us participating in these things if you don't give us the final results? Will you publish the final result this week, please.
ReplyDelete