OAPs attack London Mayoral candidates

[dirtylover]

My God that was funny! For some reason there was some confeence with OAPs in Camden - I've never seen such a high octane political event - they literally swarmed the stage and started fighting amongst themselves. I feel proud.

Anybody care about who becomes next Mayor of London? I think my vote will be with Ken, unless someone better comes along. I think the tory guy stands a good chance - he wants to abolish the congestion charge, and he harps on about crime (even though it's lower) - think he'll appeal to people like my boss.

(thread started cos I thought it would be good to get some British politics on the go - so much more light-hearted than American politics )

 

[Guest]

dl, tell us more. I'm so tired of our news. P.

 

[SummerMorning]

British politics exist? I thought it was just the third way now...

 

[oggbashan]

I only care about the Lord Mayor of London - the one that runs the City of London.

Unlike the Mayor of the rest of London, the Lord Mayor gets NO pay and spends much of his own money on providing the Lord Mayor's Show and the banquets for visiting dignatories.

Several years ago it was calculated that being Lord Mayor for a year cost one million pounds. How many politicians would stand for a post that cost them money?

However, many politicians would like the power to be able to say 'No' or 'Wait' when The Queen or Tony Blair wants to visit, to have their own Police and their own Army (who pay to belong).

Traditions are odd.

Og

PS. William the Conqueror built the Tower of London outside the City of London to overawe the citizens. It didn't work on the citizens even if it was a useful prison for traitors. The citizens knew they controlled the money and they still do.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Could someone please explain the differences between the Lord Mayor and the Mayor?

Ignorant American here.

 

[Guest]

Could someone please explain the differences between the Lord Mayor and the Mayor?

Ignorant American here.

One is very, very posh and steeped in tradition, the other is a socialist (the current one is, anyway. Good old Red Ken! )

Lou

 

[dirtylover]

As far I know, the Lord Mayor doesn't have that much real power, and presides only over the city of London (ie the centre), and has been around for donkeys. The Mayor of London is quite a recent thing and the current one, Ken Livingstone, has attempted to tackle things such as traffic congestion (somewhat controversially) and crime...

However, I'm sure Og probably knows more than me...

(I'm leaving soon, so don't really care about the upcoming election, although I quite like Ken - quite outspoken)

P- I had a quick look for the story, but didn't come up with anything - it was just a small, regional piece )

 

[Guest]

My God that was funny! For some reason there was some confeence with OAPs in Camden - I've never seen such a high octane political event - they literally swarmed the stage and started fighting amongst themselves. I feel proud.

Anybody care about who becomes next Mayor of London? I think my vote will be with Ken, unless someone better comes along. I think the tory guy stands a good chance - he wants to abolish the congestion charge, and he harps on about crime (even though it's lower) - think he'll appeal to people like my boss.

(thread started cos I thought it would be good to get some British politics on the go - so much more light-hearted than American politics )

Thanks, DL!

I'm proud, too. You should see my Nan when she goes on her political rallies.

Oooh, oooh, we've got the local elections coming up soon. Who will you be voting for?

Let me just throw my political leanings into the mix... I've always voted Labour, and I don't see any need to change the way I vote right now. Although, they don't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning overall control of the council in my area, so, I might use my vote tactically and vote Lib Dem, anything to keep those bloody Tories at bay.

Am I being controversial? I hope so! But, I doubt it.

Lou

 

[dirtylover]

I love to see TB go (haha, like tuberculosis - not too offensive, but still makes you feel really ill). Yeah, the prospect of Michael Howard getting in is kinda scary, and the Lib Dems seem a little wet...crap - there's no-one. Last time I voted the Green Party (cos I'm a hippy at heart), but they're even scorned by Green Peace...

When are the local elections?

I'd love to see Robin Cook as PM, but that's hardly going to happen is it?

 

[Guest]

Here ya go, if anyone's interested. Only 144 of the 387 councils in England will be holding elections in June, and they are...

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN 2004
NON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COUNCILS ELECTING HALF OF THE
COUNCIL EVERY TWO YEARS (6)
CHELTENHAM
FAREHAM
GOSPORT
HASTINGS
NUNEATON & BEDWORTH
OXFORD CITY

NON METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COUNCILS ELECTING BY THIRDS (83)
1. ADUR * ~
2. AMBER VALLEY
3. BARROW – IN – FURNESS
4. BASILDON
5. BASINGSTOKE & DEANE
6. BASSETLAW
7. BEDFORD
8. BRENTWOOD
9. BROADLAND ~
10. BROXBOURNE
11. BURNLEY
12. CAMBRIDGE CITY ~
13. CANNOCK CHASE
14. CARLISLE CITY
15. CASTLE POINT
16. CHERWELL
17. CHESTER CITY
18. CHORLEY
19. COLCHESTER
20. CONGLETON
21. CRAVEN
22. CRAWLEY ~
23. CREWE & NANTWICH
24. DAVENTRY
25. EASTBOURNE
26. EASTLEIGH
27. ELLESMERE PORT& NESTON
28. ELMBRIDGE
29. EPPING FOREST
30. EXETER CITY
31. GLOUCESTER CITY
32. GREAT YARMOUTH ~
33. HARLOW
34. HARROGATE
35. HART
36. HAVANT
37. HERTSMERE
38. HUNTINGDONSHIRE ~
39. HYNDBURN
40. IPSWICH
41. LINCOLN CITY
42. MACCLESFIELD
43. MAIDSTONE
44. MOLE VALLEY
45. NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME
46. NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE
47. NORWICH CITY ~
48. PENDLE
49. PENWITH ~
50. PRESTON
51. PURBECK
52. REDDITCH ~
53. REIGATE & BANSTEAD
54. ROCHFORD
55. ROSSENDALE
56. RUGBY
57. RUNNYMEDE
58. RUSHMOOR
59. ST ALBANS CITY
60. SHREWSBURY & ATCHAM
61. SOUTH BEDFORDSHIRE
62. SOUTH CAMBRIDGESHIRE ~
63. SOUTH LAKELAND
64. STEVENAGE
65. STRATFORD-ON-AVON
66. STROUD
67. SWALE
68. TAMWORTH
69. TANDRIDGE
70. THREE RIVERS
71. TUNBRIDGE WELLS
72. WATFORD
73. WAVENEY
74. WELWYN HATFIELD
75. WEST LANCASHIRE
76. WEST LINDSEY
77. WEST OXFORDSHIRE
78. WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND ~
79. WINCHESTER
80. WOKING
81. WORCESTER ~
82. WORTHING ~
83. WYRE FOREST ~
* = Adur district council may move to an electoral cycle of elections of half
the council every two years (2004, 2006).

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COUNCILS ELECTING BY THIRDS (36)
Note = Whole council elections are likely to be held on revised and
updated warding for all metropolitan authorities in 2004
1. BARNSLEY
2. BIRMINGHAM CITY
3. BOLTON
4. BRADFORD CITY
5. BURY
6. CALDERDALE
7. COVENTRY CITY
8. DONCASTER
9. DUDLEY
10. GATESHEAD
11. KIRKLEES
12. KNOWSLEY
13. LEEDS CITY
14. LIVERPOOL CITY
15. MANCHESTER CITY
16. NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
17. NORTH TYNESIDE
18. OLDHAM
19. ROCHDALE
20. ROTHERHAM
21. SALFORD CITY
22. SANDWELL
23. SEFTON
24. SHEFFIELD CITY
25. SOLIHULL
26. SOUTH TYNESIDE
27. ST HELENS
28. STOCKPORT
29. SUNDERLAND
30. TAMESIDE
31. TRAFFORD
32. CITY OF WAKEFIELD
33. WALSALL
34. WIGAN
35. WIRRAL
36. WOLVERHAMPTON

UNITARY AUTHORITIES ELECTING BY THIRDS (19)
1. BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN ~
2. DERBY
3. HALTON ~
4. HARTLEPOOL ~
5. KINGSTON UPON HULL
6. MILTON KEYNES
7. PETERBOROUGH ~
8. PLYMOUTH
9. PORTSMOUTH
10. NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE
11. READING ~
12. SLOUGH ~
13. SOUTHAMPTON
14. SOUTHEND ON SEA
15. STOKE ON TRENT
16. SWINDON
17. THURROCK ~
18. WARRINGTON ~
19. WOKINGHAM ~
~ = Whole council elections to be held on revised and updated warding.

Hmmm, so it seems my previous post is null and void. My local council isn't in that list. Ho hum.

And, DL, nah, I can't see Robin Cook being in the running, somehow. Gordon Brown could be, though!

Lou

 

[ABSTRUSE]

So you get to vote for your PM? I always thought Maggie Thatcher was born in to the position and stayed there until the end of time, then along comes Tony Blair.

and BTW, what the hell does the Queen carry in her purse? mint's, tissues, lipstick and cab fare?

~A~trying to learn British politics

 

[dirtylover]

Wow - thanks Lou - but I won't be here - I'll be in Spain, lazing about on beaches - Yay!

The Queen's purse - wow, does this merit a thread unto itself?

I guess - -

a vibrator shaped as a 12" black cock...

 

[Guest]

Wow - thanks Lou - but I won't be here - I'll be in Spain, lazing about on beaches - Yay!

The Queen's purse - wow, does this merit a thread unto itself?

I guess - -

a vibrator shaped as a 12" black cock...

Well, just make sure you do your duty and send in a postal vote, young man! Or, a proxy vote. I could be your proxy for ya.

Lou

 

[Guest]

So you get to vote for your PM? I always thought Maggie Thatcher was born in to the position and stayed there until the end of time, then along comes Tony Blair.

and BTW, what the hell does the Queen carry in her purse? mint's, tissues, lipstick and cab fare?

~A~trying to learn British politics

Purleese, show some respect. We refer to it as Her Maj's Vag (well, those that have seen the Bottom Live show, do. )

Lou

 

[dirtylover]

Well, just make sure you do your duty and send in a postal vote, young man! Or, a proxy vote. I could be your proxy for ya.

Lou

My foxy proxy?
lovely jubblies...

(hmmm - British politics eh?)

 

[Guest]

My foxy proxy?
lovely jubblies...

(hmmm - British politics eh?)

Yeah, not that good at hot, topical debate, are we? A couple of exchanges, then it's on to more important carnal matters. I wonder if that's how it goes in the House of Commons? It was for John Major and Edwina Currie (ewwww!).

My 6th form Politics teacher will be turning in his grave...

Lou

 

[snooper]

I love to see TB go (haha, like tuberculosis - not too offensive, but still makes you feel really ill). Yeah, the prospect of Michael Howard getting in is kinda scary, and the Lib Dems seem a little wet...crap - there's no-one. ...

Overheard on a bus in a South Wales valley:
"I don't bother to vote any more. One party led by a drunken Scotsman and the other two by Tories. Why bother?"

 

[oggbashan]

As far I know, the Lord Mayor doesn't have that much real power, and presides only over the city of London (ie the centre), and has been around for donkeys. The Mayor of London is quite a recent thing and the current one, Ken Livingstone, has attempted to tackle things such as traffic congestion (somewhat controversially) and crime...

However, I'm sure Og probably knows more than me...

(

The Lord Mayor does preside over the City of London but has more real power within the City than Ken Livingstone has outside it for the rest of London.

The Lord Mayor doesn't have to shout about the powers he and the City Council have. They just do things quietly and 'have words in people's ears' - such as Cabinet Ministers. The City of London represents the people who own the country, not the politicians who think they are running it. 'The City' can even have some influence on multinational corporations - Tony Blair would like that influence. The City's Aldermen and Councillors do not have to raise funds for their campaigns because they can fund them out of their own petty cash.

Because of historical precedents The Lord Mayor can stop anyone entering the City of London just because he says so. There is a security ring around the City. Every vehicle entering has its registration checked by computer against police records and will be stopped if there is any problem. The Queen and Tony Blair have to ask the Lord Mayor's permission before entering the City, even just to go to a service at St. Pauls' Cathedral.

The Lord Mayor is the real thing, a representative of a body with real powers and its OWN MONEY. The Mayor of London is a pale imitation.

Og

See my story 'Ancient Liberties'

 

[upfront]

So you get to vote for your PM? I always thought Maggie Thatcher was born in to the position and stayed there until the end of time, then along comes Tony Blair.

Since no one else answered this question:

We don't get to vote specifically for our PM. We vote for our local Member of Parliament, who usually belongs to one of the main parties; each party elects their leader, and the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons becomes the PM.

I think there are quite a few people who vote Labour, but would like to vote for a PM who isn't Tony Blair. Blair's not as out of his depth as your president, but only because he's riding piggy back on Bush's shoulders. I reckons it's time he made a swim for it, don't you?

 

[oggbashan]

More Useless Information

It used to be against the law to elect a Jew to a public office.

Whenever the City of London was short(ish) of cash they would elect a Jew who had money. The Jew had to pay a fine because he couldn't take up the post.

The City got tired of this nonsense in the 19th Century. They really wanted to elect a Jew because he was the best person for the job (and had lots of money). They elected him and challenged the Houses of Parliament to disqualify their candidate.

The Houses of Parliament obliged and disqualified the new Lord Mayor, and ordered the City to hold a new election. They had another election and elected the same Jewish Lord Mayor. After several attempts the Houses of Parliament changed the law allowing Jews and Roman Catholics and Non-Conformists to hold public office, not just in the City of London but throughout the UK.

The City of London and its Jewish Lord Mayor had won religious tolerance for the whole country. The Mayor was Sir David Salomans (1855).

List of Lord Mayors of London

Og

PS. Dick Whittington (of DW and his cat) was a Lord Mayor of London three times. (1397 twice and 1406) His 'cat' was his trading boat.