‘I would have done that if I have thought that there was anything new or interesting in it.

It is the most interesting of the lot. To have at this late stage, Boris come across as the clown that he is.

What is really interesting is that Boris could have even got close to Ken in the polls let alonge be 15 points ahead at one stage.

So it is that that we should analyse. Who has been behind it, and how do we see them off. AFTER the election.

I can’t imagine anyone who would not be embarrassed by their stance vis-a-vis Boris.

“I do agree in general that experience outside politics is a benefit. But its not reasonable to assume that a lifetime within the Met. is really connecting you with the life the rest of us lead.”

I still think it is better that politcians enter politics only after a reasonable career outside the political sphere.

“Leon, you don’t really need to do much to ‘balance’ things out – just post Hari’s interview with Boris Johnson.”

I would have done that if I have thought that there was anything new or interesting in it.

Halima:

I meant that it was a bad example to suggest that somehow gay clubs suffer much worse violence than non-gay clubs, and that somehow a drunken fight at night is unique to the gay scene.

Sure everyone knows about drunken violence in UK town centres.

‘his choice of a club to illustrate violence was a bad one’

It wasn’t a bad one. It is notoriously well known for being a posh gay cocktail bar .

But i guess if the audience didn’t get this then it wasn’t an effective example – trouble is generally people know little about gay london life.

My guess is Lib Dems saw Ray Mallon did quite well up north and thought it was worth a shot – but no. Not in this case.

Leon, you don’t really need to do much to ‘balance’ things out – just post Hari’s interview with Boris Johnson. It is far more revealing about Cameron’s desperation. Its Yeltsin all over again.

“So I don’t see how his point is not valid. Perhaps as you say he didn’t make them well – but I thought they are sensible points. When a gay man is attacked outside a gay bar as he is leaving, he isn’t being attacked for being a man. When a Muslim woman is spat at in a bus stop or has her hijab yanked, it isn’t because she is a woman. Some parts of our social identities invite more hostility than others.”

In town centres, especially those with clubs, there are plenty of late night violent incidences. Often these are random, brought about by drunken behaviour. Therefore I am not sure that Brian Paddick’s description was apt; there are so many fights around clubs, and I don’t know if gay clubs suffer more (not to say that there aren’t ever any racist or homophobic attacks, but his choice of a club to illustrate violence was a bad one).

Rohin:

“As an aside, does “experience outside politics” mean you’ll be a better mayor?”

On balance, yes. People with experience outside the political world have greater experience of the real world, which in genereal is a good thing because it gives them a different perspective on matters.

“No…I don’t think so. I may not comment much but I still read most of what’s posted on PP and I think Boris has come in for more criticism than Livingstone by a way. But I haven’t objectively measured this.”

Boris has come in for the most criticism, but Brian and Ken have taken flak as well.

Which is good; I like the fact that the site does not support one candidate, and that all three of the main candidates have come in for criticism.

No…I don’t think so. I may not comment much but I still read most of what’s posted on PP and I think Boris has come in for more criticism than Livingstone by a way. But I haven’t objectively measured this.

?? i dont know anything about this shadow lounge place but is he implying “straight people” don’t like to party and fall out of bars at 2 o clock? Goodness, that sounds very odd, where has this man been living? What a statement to make.

Thanks for clarifying – giving coverage to all candidates is good thing.

I was confused about other things like your take on his speech. I understand him loud and clear.

Brian P is saying gay men are more at risk to crime for X and Y reasons, in the same way that the biggest victims of street crime generally are young men for X and Y reasons.

So I don’t see how his point is not valid. Perhaps as you say he didn’t make them well – but I thought they are sensible points. When a gay man is attacked outside a gay bar as he is leaving, he isn’t being attacked for being a man. When a Muslim woman is spat at in a bus stop or has her hijab yanked, it isn’t because she is a woman. Some parts of our social identities invite more hostility than others.

Needless to say, for me, as a young black/asian woman, standing at a bus stop in Eltham in Woolwich strikes me with fear. For my white friends this is a non-issue. Same bus stop but victim was likely to be different.

I too was annoyed, as I was torn between him and Boris. Not anymore though.

Halima:

“I am confused – what was the point of this article?”

Most of the attention in this race has focused on Boris and Ken, and I thought this was interesting because it actually highlighted some of Brian Paddick’s policies and beliefs, in one of the areas which you would expect him to be strongest in.

Leon:

“Hmmm I think it’s time I post up another article negative about Bojo so nobody gets the wrong impression about PP’s political slant!”

Heh. Given that most of Pickled Politics’ mayoral articles have been anti-Boris, I don’t think that anyone will see us as a pro-Boris blog. Which is good; I like the fact that the site does not support one candidate, and that all three of the main candidates have come in for criticism.

http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com

A serious let-down.

Shows what I know!!!

It’s right that all parties should do more to vocalise support for LBGT. If the candidate in particular didn’t defend this point well, others should.

It would be good to refer to hetereosexuals such as myself as hetereosexual, and not straight, which would follow that gay people are homosexual and not whatever the opposite of ’straight’ is.

As for Johan Hari’s: We now make up fifteen percent of this swirling, whirling world city’s electorate
You sure? What a load of bollocks. Get over yourselves.