In the end Labour's vote didn't quite come out. Poor Ken. I listened to his concession speech with a few tears going on. To me its proof that to win an election today you need personality more than policy. Johnson's campaign had no substance at all - Lynton Crosby's strategy of taking one dog whistle issue and being relentless about it seems to have worked. But the "he's a right larf" factor did its work. And the four by four brigade in the bits of London that aren't really London did the rest.
Ken has personality and actually delivered a huge number of votes given the national picture, but he had also antagonised the outer boroughs, with the Tories succeeding in spreading scare stories about the level of the congestion charge. Sleaze allegations did not help. His last gift to London was to help Labour stabilise its position on the Assembly. We picked up Brent, which was a surprise, and we held onto Haringey. With 8 Labour members, 3 Lib Dems and 2 Greens, the 11 Tories will be unable to claim the whip hand, unless the Lib Dems do the dirty.
The Evening Standard's role in the campaign will be the subject of media studies dissertations for some time. I don't think I'll ever be buying it again. All in all a numbingly awful day for us. No excuses. The Party has to do better.
About Me
- saato
- I secretly think I am the new Keats. Its all a pathetic fallacy of course, but it helps me get the creative energies focused. The other stuff is rambling nonsense. You really don't want to read it.
3 comments:
I'm disgusted that you have been buying The Evening Standard in the first place.
Or the London Lite!
Rougefern, quit complaining! Serves you right for coronating Gordon in the first place. Absolute madness not to hold a proper contest and instead present the electorate with a fait accompli. Moreover it's a sad indictement on the quality of those in the cabinet that after 10 years there wasn't a credible challenger. Any sane minded individual outside the Labour Party could tell you the south east/middle England wouldn't vote for a dour jock after Blair.
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