The latest poll has Johnson ahead 54-46 in the run-off. I just wonder how much of this is down to the Evening Standard effect - by all accounts it's turned into a propaganda pamphlet for Johnson since the campaign kicked off (I was living in London in 2008 and I recall there were similar complaints then). It's worth asking whether it's really acceptable for a free sheet - particularly one as high-profile as the Evening Standard - to take such a blatantly politically biased line.

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Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.

Of course it isn't, but who's going to stop it?

2008 was fucking incredible.

Lovable Boris has this chap as his spin doctor:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005 ... servatives

Standard today trumpeting £110m for cycling projects and all axed by Johnson from before, and worth 2 years Western Congestion Zone income he threw away. They did an even handed bit but then said "Boris will get more money out of central government". An argument they didn't make in 2008.

Excellent. Standard worried the "granny tax" could cost Johnson the election. Seeing Johnson wanted the 50p tax rate to go altogether, he would presumably have had to hit ordinary joes harder than Osborne did.

Let's see you "maverick" your way out of that. Maybe Lynton Crosbie can identify some more Muslims or something.

Johnson wants to take oversight of schools in London from LEAs.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012 ... ndon-riots

Seeing Gove wants no schools left in LEAs, that's a rather interesting proposal.

Not to mention that London LEAs are being followed as good practice. All except Merton and Croydon have been rated as adding value.

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"If the past really is a foreign country, I'm surprised that 'The Daily Mail' would want to live there.” - Roger Quimbly

Funny. The big money clearly gets you access, but they'll easily argue that's just a fundraiser.

They seem to have been less careful with the £12, which they actually say is a chance to win access.

If this develops, I bet he'll make a load of jokes about the £12and get away with it.

Btw, the biography by Sonia Purnell is good. Loads of bad shit already forgotten. Including a deputy mayor called Ian Clement being convicted of fraud.

Still, Livingstone employed that black bloke- who didn't even face charges.

I bet he wouldn't try that outside a mosque, or on a bus.

I see the Evening Standard has a new editor.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/ma ... g-standard

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Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.

Boris Johnson in foul-mouthed rant at Ken Livingstone over tax claims
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012 ... ivingstone

In which both come off badly. I'm sadprised* that Labour have stuck with Ken, it seems like they need someone new, untainted, and young to run. As an outsider I find both of them quite disagreeable as candidates, although Boris slightly more due to his shadier past.


*aw yeah, fuck you 'disappointed'

That's a very fair point.

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Where there is great doubt, there will be great awakening; small doubt, small awakening, no doubt, no awakening.

Johnson has the easiest press of any politician.

No other politician but Livingstone would have done the congestion charge.

Yeah but BORIS HEE FUNNEEEEE!

Not joking, such sentiments got him in last time.

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Ten seconds... the pain begins.

Fifteen seconds... you can't breathe.

Twenty seconds... you give up and turn off the Jeremy Vine show.

He's a legend, innee?

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Where there is great doubt, there will be great awakening; small doubt, small awakening, no doubt, no awakening.