Comments on: Ray Lewis resigns

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:26:11 +0000

It’s been revealed that Lewis was in fact arrested THREE times! Dear oh dear.

By: marvin

marvin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:02:33 +0000

Thanks Bert. This is quite shocking from Pierless Plod

We know that if an offender stabs / shoots someone the police will not attend (yesâ€¦ thatâ€™s right) until we have an ARV / dog patrol etc. The average response officer will be prevented from attending the scene and will RV several hundred yards away waiting the 40 minutes (itâ€™s always 40 minutes!) for backup. That gives the offender lots of time to get away / dispose of evidence.

We gots serious problemos with dealing with potentially fatal violence.

By: Bert Rustle

Bert Rustle — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:16:17 +0000

Reportedly the inquiry has now been cancelled, implying Lewis will not get his job back. Meanwhile, at Inspector Gadget ... London Deputy Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has announced the formation of a special knife-crime unit to address the recent spate of fatal stabbings in London. ... Now that 18 youngsters have been stabbed to death this year in London alone, I take it that the Liberal Elite who donâ€™t like us searching people will now blame us for not controlling knife crime? ... Comments by Comments by Nightjack 11 and Pierless Plod 12 are illuminating and imply that this is simply window dressing.

By: Kulvinder

Kulvinder — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:02:53 +0000

Lewis was ARRESTED. Although no charges were filed, what does this really tell us about this individualâ€™s character?

Nothing, the police would have simply arrested him as part of their investigation. He has not been convicted of anything.

By: The Friendly Infidel

The Friendly Infidel — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 10:24:31 +0000

I think Boris got lucky here and Ken made a himself look a bit silly. Had Lewis remained in role as long Jasper Lee had he may have caused some real damage, instead its been nipped in the bud early into this administration and sent a message internally to other delegates. Ken affectly states he let Jasper Lee operate for 7 years before taking any action, hardly a good boast.

TFI

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:36:17 +0000

We need to be clear about this. I find it quite ironic that people are trying to justify Lewis’ behaviour by saying that ‘it’s a shame, cos he’s done some really good work with young black people…’ Surely that is not the point is it? The allegation from the Church of England (no less) is that this man took advantage of vulnerable people (took their money and would not return it until pressed by the Church and the police!). There were also allegations of sexual misconduct and the police have confirmed that between 2003 and as recently as this year, they received and investigated 6 complaints against Lewis of common assault and child cruelty (these complaints were made by 6 different young people). In one instance, Lewis was ARRESTED. Although no charges were filed, what does this really tell us about this individual’s character? He lied about being a JP and whilst embellishing your CV is not a crime, taken together with everything else, Lewis looks very dodgy indeed….very Walter Mitty. More importantly, Boris Johnson MISLED the public when he said that he ‘was not aware’ of Lewis’ past. In fact, he was written to and had a secret meeting with members of the Church of England. BoJo LIED and should also resign. Let us not shed a tear for Lewis. To do so is to like saying, “it’s a shame a person has been discovered to be a paedophile…cos he did such brilliant work with children!” Utter nonsense!!!

By: Kjulvinder

Kjulvinder — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:31:52 +0000

Theres a difference between being a youth worker and being part of a fairly powerful mayoral administration; at the very least giving the impression he was a magistrate when infact he was not undermines his credibility.

I don’t for a moment hold the position that everyone has to have a perfect past in order to be successful in their later life, but the fundamental thing about public life is trust; its harder to trust someone if you think they’re being less than candid.

By: Leon

Leon — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:14:34 +0000

I would hazard a guess that it will now be open season on all public figures for some considerable time.

You can thank Andrew Gilligan for that.

By: Bert Rustle

Bert Rustle — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:18:28 +0000

Is it not the case that some of the best youth workers have convictions for serious crimes, including murder? What Ray Lewis is accused of is minor in comparison.

I would hazard a guess that it will now be open season on all public figures for some considerable time.

This does not add up. Is Ian Dale over the target with Ray Lewis & the ‘Uncle Tom’ Hating Leftists

… I have one thing in the back of my mind – the hundreds of black kids who have graduated from the Eastside Young Leaders Academy who Ray Lewis saved from a life of crime. Whatever the outcome of the Narey Inquiry, I for one shall not lose sight of the amazing work Ray Lewis has done with these kids over the last five years. …

By: Ravi Naik

Ravi Naik — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:49:33 +0000

“Just trying to survive the credit crunch and trying to get over an enormous Euro2008 hangover”

Joder tio, pues que final! Muchas felicitaciones!

“I resent those who see Day 1 of his term as Day 1 of the opposition campaign to win the next election. If politics does not have a practical end and is just about travelling rather than arriving, then I donâ€™t want any part of it”

I also voted for Ken because for all the cronyism and arrogance (oh yeah, omg! and the routemaster!), I felt that Boris was completely out of his element. I have to say I am disappointed with the Left, how they decided to engage in stupid and petty persecution against McGrath – but then again, it’s all politics, though I wonder if Londoners gain anything by this. I do think however, that Ray Lewis did well in resigning. The allegations are serious and compromise public trust for a man in his position.

By: cjcjc

cjcjc — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:02:57 +0000

Surely Ken should rather be telling us that the “campaign” against Lewis is “racist”?

By: El Cid

El Cid — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:36:54 +0000

Hello PP peeps. Long time no speak.
Just trying to survive the credit crunch and trying to get over an enormous Euro2008 hangover (campeones, campeones, campeones, oe oe oe oeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!)

Here’s my 10 pesetas.
As ever, I will try to give you slightly different perspective by trying to link the “political” with the lives of real people.
Unlike many of you lot, I don’t live and breathe party politics. Like most people I find a lot of it boring but unlike the majority I don’t find it so boring that I will never read blogs like PP or watch 10 minutes of Question Time.

My thoughts re Mr Lewis are twofold.

1) Being a bad loser shows a disrespect for the democratic process and for the electorate.
I voted for Ken, albeit reluctantly, but I accepted Boris as mayor and wished him well. I love my city and know that its status as the world’s global financial hub and multicultural metropolis bar none is something that should not be taken for granted. I resent those who see Day 1 of his term as Day 1 of the opposition campaign to win the next election. If politics does not have a practical end and is just about travelling rather than arriving, then I don’t want any part of it.

2) A flawed society sometimes needs flawed policymakers. If you can’t relate to the problem, how can you solve it? If you grow up in a nice bourgeois bubble, go to public school, away from the ills and pressure that impact our inner-city youth, then the greater the chances of growing up with an unblemished record. But can you really relate and understand? The problem with the Labour Party is that it is too elitist at heart. Labourites should ask themselves — what is it that they want to achieve? The media needs to ask itself that too.

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:33:50 +0000

You’ll forgive me for wanting a bit of independent verification of what Mr. Lewis has achieved or indeed what his friends in the Conservative Party say about his work, given recent events.

By: Trooper Thompson

Trooper Thompson — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:57:20 +0000

I don’t know much about the guy, but I think this is a shame. Ray Lewis has done some great work, as far as I know.

By: Leon

Leon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:43:58 +0000

Noe that Boris Johnson wasnâ€™t even besides him when the statement was made.

Yep. Maybe it’s time the bookies provided odds on which Bojo aid will resign next?

By: Kulvinder

Kulvinder — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:43:11 +0000

From what i can tell Boris has said he’ll reinstate him if he clears his name (not when, eh?); so the damage to Boris should be limited. It’d be worse if he was still in office and facing these allegations, this way hes been disassociated from the office of the mayor until some sort of conclusion is reached.

Incidently i disagree with Lee Jasper that there is a racial undertone to this (im presuming that actually was him in the other thread). Quite simply those in the public political life have to expect this kind of examination of their past.

By: Sunny

Sunny — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:41:31 +0000

Noe that Boris Johnson wasn’t even besides him when the statement was made.