Doreen Lawrence lamps Boris

[ViolentPanda]

Ah! I get it! So the word 'piccaninny' was actually some sort of secret code word only understood by fellow racists, to awaken them from their apathy to support a mayoral bid in five years time.

You obviously haven't "got it" at all, unless you're talking about syphilis.
Where did I say anything about Johnson's mayoral bid (something of a recent choice, and therefore irrelevant to the points I've made)? I'm talking about Johnson's entire political "project", his editorship of the Spectator and prior work on the editorial staff of the Telegraph, his progression through the bastions of the white British establishment, his neo-"Monday Club" connections and views. Give him 5 years after he fails to win the mayorship, and he'll be back in Conservative politics, and much further to the right than he currently is because he knows Cameron's bid to win the next election will fail, and that the tories will veer hard-right, where a character like Johnson can make his mark.

This really is bordering on consipiraloonery

But not to the same degree that your reply borders on inane stupidity, I can assure you.

 

[ViolentPanda]

No

Really?

Why is Johnson standing down as MP for Henley, in that case?
Surely he doesn't believe that adding another job to his already copious portfolio (MP for Henley, Editor of The Spectator, Assistant Editor Daily Telegraph, EEC Correspondent Daily Telegraph) would strain his wits unduly?

 

[agricola]

Why is Johnson standing down as MP for Henley, in that case?
Surely he doesn't believe that adding another job to his already copious portfolio (MP for Henley, Editor of The Spectator, Assistant Editor Daily Telegraph, EEC Correspondent Daily Telegraph) would strain his wits unduly?

According to this Guardian article, he will only stand down if he wins - which given how popular and how effective Livingstone has been, is probably sensible.

 

[agricola]

You obviously haven't "got it" at all, unless you're talking about syphilis.
Where did I say anything about Johnson's mayoral bid (something of a recent choice, and therefore irrelevant to the points I've made)? I'm talking about Johnson's entire political "project", his editorship of the Spectator and prior work on the editorial staff of the Telegraph, his progression through the bastions of the white British establishment, his neo-"Monday Club" connections and views. Give him 5 years after he fails to win the mayorship, and he'll be back in Conservative politics, and much further to the right than he currently is because he knows Cameron's bid to win the next election will fail, and that the tories will veer hard-right, where a character like Johnson can make his mark.

I dont think Johnsons politics could ever be described as "hard right" - he is just your archtypical toff, albeit one who is clever enough to come across as amiable and to only antagonize those groups of society who are unlikely to vote for him anyway.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

According to this Guardian article, he will only stand down if he wins - which given how popular and how effective Livingstone has been, is probably sensible.

To be honest I think that's only fair no matter how good his chances of winning are.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I dont think Johnsons politics could ever be described as "hard right" - he is just your archtypical toff, albeit one who is clever enough to come across as amiable and to only antagonize those groups of society who are unlikely to vote for him anyway.

I haven't claimed that his politics are hard right, I've mentioned that he's comfortable with the hard right and with racists, and that in my opinion he's taken the poisoned chalice of the mayoral candidacy to deliberately position himself as not being part of the Cameron "set" (especially after having lost his shadow cabinet position), so that he can take advantage when Cameron fails and the Conservative party dives hard rightward. He's certainly got the connections in the wider rightwing establishment to pull off such a stunt.

 

[agricola]

I haven't claimed that his politics are hard right, I've mentioned that he's comfortable with the hard right and with racists, and that in my opinion he's taken the poisoned chalice of the mayoral candidacy to deliberately position himself as not being part of the Cameron "set" (especially after having lost his shadow cabinet position), so that he can take advantage when Cameron fails and the Conservative party dives hard rightward. He's certainly got the connections in the wider rightwing establishment to pull off such a stunt.

I dont think it is a poisoned chalice - he probably recognizes he has little chance of winning - but it will give him plenty of exposure at a national level.

As for the Tory Party going to the right, it is somewhat strange that it hasnt already - especially with so much of the media banging on about asylum seekers / chavs / criminals / terrorists for the past decade or so.

 

[keicar]

Really?

Why is Johnson standing down as MP for Henley, in that case?

But you asked if he *had* to stand down. He doesn't.

Alex Salmond is Scottish First Minister and a Westminster MP.

 

[keicar]

Oh dear. *pats keicar on the back* Dub has found his new play thing, good luck!

I'm afraid he hasn't.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I dont think it is a poisoned chalice - he probably recognizes he has little chance of winning - but it will give him plenty of exposure at a national level.

As for the Tory Party going to the right, it is somewhat strange that it hasnt already - especially with so much of the media banging on about asylum seekers / chavs / criminals / terrorists for the past decade or so.

I don't see it as strange, to be honest. IMHO the constituencies are up a gum tree, they've seen three tory leaders get kebabed for oscillating between the centre and the right in pursuit of "floating voters", and now they're maintaining discipline and letting the leadership play the "compassionate conservatism" card, to see if it floats. When it doesn't they'll try the other alternative, especially if that means hoovering up people who're too timid to vote UKIP or BNP.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Alex Salmond is Scottish First Minister and a Westminster MP.

The west Lothian question is an ingredient in a different kettle of fish.

 

[agricola]

I don't see it as strange, to be honest. IMHO the constituencies are up a gum tree, they've seen three tory leaders get kebabed for oscillating between the centre and the right in pursuit of "floating voters", and now they're maintaining discipline and letting the leadership play the "compassionate conservatism" card, to see if it floats. When it doesn't they'll try the other alternative, especially if that means hoovering up people who're too timid to vote UKIP or BNP.

Which is precisely why I think it is strange - it hasnt worked three times in succession, so they do it again? (which is fundamentally what Cameronism is IMHO, albeit with some rather unsavoury additions, as Private Eye is showing).

I would have thought that an old-style Tory stance would play out well with their altogether unreformed core support, and to a lesser extent with the country at large - especially as the media has done so much of their work for them.

 

[keicar]

The west Lothian question is an ingredient in a different kettle of fish.

Indeed,but my point was there is no *requirement* to give up a Westminster seat if you become Mayor (or,indeed hold any other postition in devolved government- Ian Paisley would be another example and there are proberbly others)

Whether someone *chooses* to give up their seat is another matter. Boris certainly does not have to give up his seat merely to stand, and he would be wise not to do so, because this is going to be close. Indeed I'd make Livingstone slight favourite at present.