ConservativeHome's London Mayor blog

Ryan Robson: Apres le deluge

My numb fingers delivered my last crumpled and damp 'Back Bozza' flyer through the letterbox below the green 'NO JUNK MAIL WHATSOEVER!' Sign (clearly a Tory voter). Inside the occupants were squeezed together on a warm sofa, beers in hand, cheering on Chelsea's European campaign.

Outside, Boris' loyal fans in Wandsworth were on the last leg of our own London final.

Despite the appalling weather, it had not been a bad evening's leafleting - 300 delivered, only two 'canvassed' properties with Vote Ken stickers in the window, one deranged dog, three scrapped knuckles from a medieval draft excluder and four Labour leaflets retrieved and 'recycled'.

Livingstone's shredding period

We're loathe to be presumptive about the mayoral contest, the outcome now depends on the ground war which means all of us getting out to campaign for Boris.

But it's worth pausing a second to consider the difficult days that would follow a Boris win. Something not generally known about is that Ken Livingstone and his cronies have two whole days - starting from the result being announced on Friday evening - before they have to leave their offices. By way of contrast, if David Cameron wins the next General Election he would take control of the levers at 10 Downing Street the next morning and the whole process would be overseen by the cream of Britain's civil service.

So assuming there are no recounts Boris' team will have to wait until Sunday evening before getting the keys to his offices.  What controls are there to prevent industrial-scale shredding of paperwork that Livingstone and his Socialist Alliance inner circle might want to keep away from the incoming administration?

We understand Boris HQ have been taking calls from GLA insiders anxious to declare themselves as allies should he win, but they are undoubtedly outnumbered by Livingstone's cronies. Estimates of the size of his "hardcore" vary from thirty to eighty employees, although the Mayor is only supposed to handpick a dozen for his personal team. Boris may face some tough decisions in identifying staffers who are nominally public servants but are, in reality, Livingstone placemen.

If the busiest period of Boris' working life ends in success, his most difficult challenges will only have just begun.

Livingstone pulls out of another mayoral debate

Ken Livingstone doesn't seem to be following Jonathan Freedland's advice to debate with Boris more - he has today withdrawn from the hustings hosted by the Centre for Social Justice. He won't commit to next Tuesday's No2ID hustings either. Boris Johnson commented:

"As millions of pounds of taxpayers money under his care remains unaccounted for, Ken Livingstone has chickened out from the rightful scrutiny that he should be under from the voluntary sector. I think it is a disgrace that he is avoiding answering for his failure to protect taxpayers’ money and ensure it goes to the groups who are making a real difference in London. In addition he is now so desperate to keep his party onside, he’s ducking questions from voters on the Government’s ID card system.

I repeatedly visit boroughs who tell me they rarely see Mayor Livingstone. The question Londoners should be asking is when will the Labour Mayor turn up and face the music about his failure to deliver over the past 8 years?  Clearly he has had his day and is so arrogant and out of touch that he thinks he is beyond scrutiny.

Unlike the current Mayor, I am happy to answer questions from all communities and set out how I intend to make London’s streets safer, improve public transport, protect open spaces and provide value for money and will continue to do so up until May 1st."

It's ironic that the Guardian did a story yesterday on Boris rationing the debates he was attending. Not only was it largely based on the false claims that he had pulled out of the TimeOut debate (the date was changed to be a day earlier which was the same night as a dinner with newspaper editors that had been arranged six months earlier, TimeOut then proceeded to claim Boris was attending before making publicity from claiming that he had pulled out), but it conveniently didn't look at the events that Livingstone hasn't been turning up to. Just in the last month or so he has failed to attend the following:

• 11th February - Islington Commission on Safety at St Mary’s Church, Islington. Discussion about the vital issue of gun, knife and gang crime.
• 21th February - UK Youth Parliament visit at Ministry of Sound, SE1. Many young people were let down by the Mayor who failed to show at this event about how to engage them in this election.
• 15th March - Federation of Small Business hustings at Novotel, Hammersmith. Brian Paddick didn't show up either.
• 29th March - Peace Tree event at Damilola Taylor Centre. Hundreds of young people from Peckham attended this event and manned stalls – Boris visited every stall and talked to families who had lost loved ones through knife crime.

Some quick reflections on the mayoral vote

So Boris has won and won convincingly with 79% of the vote.  Victoria Borwick, previously the least known of the three candidates, came second.

Each of the three defeated candidates made their contributions.  Warwick's manifesto was stuffed full of useful ideas.  Victoria's no-nonsense approach to crime would give London some of what Giuliani-Bratton gave to New York.  Andrew Boff's ideas for a more democratic London - with powers to recall the Mayor - will, I hope, find their way into Boris Johnson's manifesto.

The level of participation was very disappointing.  Only 0.37% of eligible voters took part.  It might have been different if CCHQ had advertised the vote more enthusiastically but probably not much better.  The only real way in which turnout would have become respectable would have been a heavyweight contest - the Norris V Borris contest was the one ConservativeHome had hoped for.

Boris certainly has the charisma to win and London badly needs a break from Ken Livingstone's taxes, waste and political grandstanding.  On Radio 4 this morning Mr Johnson said the top issue facing London was the need for a more democratic London - with greater involvement of the London boroughs.  He attacked Ken Livingstone's imposition of rabbit hutch dwellings on London communities.  Over time Mr Johnson will need punchier messages than that.

He may also have a very big decision to make if Gordon Brown calls a General Election.  Will he fight Henley and risk communicating a lack of belief in his mayoral candidacy?  Or will he vacate Henley and risk having no elected position next May?

After the ups and downs of this process we can at least all agree that it's good we don't have Greg Dyke as our candidate this morning!

Boris wins 79% in mayoral vote

Boris Johnson: 15,661 (79.0%)
Victoria Borwick: 1,869 (9.4%)
Andrew Boff: 1,674 (8.4%)
Warwick Lightfoot: 609 (3.1%)

CCHQ have released the following statements...

Caroline Spelman: “I am delighted to announce Boris Johnson as the Conservative Mayoral candidate. Running a London wide open primary is a first in British politics. I would like to thank all our excellent candidates for the hard work they have put in. By opening up the process and running open hustings we have given all Londoners the chance to vote on the Conservative appointment and influence the outcome. The Conservative Party can now unite behind Boris to offer the people of London a real alternative to the misgovernment of London that we have seen for the past 8 years.”

David Cameron: “Boris will be an excellent candidate and I know the Party will unite behind him to remove Ken Livingstone from office. It’s about time that all Londoners had the chance to vote for real change.”

Boris Johnson: “I’d like to thank Londoners for giving me this opportunity.   As I visited all of London’s 32 boroughs in the last few weeks, the message is loud and clear – King Newt’s days are numbered. Across London I’ve met people fed up with paying so much to city hall and getting so little in return.  The job of the Mayor is simple - to get people to work on time, to ensure people feel safe on the streets, to help people find a place to call home, to celebrate our diversity and to champion our success.  My determination to lead this city is stronger than ever. After seeing both the good and bad that London has to offer, I am committed to making London greater and standing up for every Londoner that invests so heavily in our city.  I want to be a Mayor for all Londoners, from Zone 6 to Zone 1. A Mayor that will listen, will learn and will lead.”

Multiple ballots

Like Shane Greer I know of a number of people who have received more than one ballot paper for the mayoral section, one of whom has received four! Apparently the forms don't even state that it is against the rules to vote more than once.

Has anyone else had this experience? Although a database error has presumably sent duplicates out at random it would be worrying for the legitimacy of the selection if it was a widespread occurence.

12.30pm (Sept 12th) clarification from a party spokesman:

"Rigorous systems are in place to recognise if someone has voted more than once and each voter will only have a single vote counted. There are instances when members may have received more than one ballot paper if they have been members in more than one place."

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the problem isn't just down to being a member in different places, but it's reassuring to know that the party can somehow filter out multiple votes anyway.

Deputy Editor

Who will pay for the primary process?

As well as reserving billboard space for a possible autumn election, Party Chairman Caroline Spelman has written to today's FT to say that the Tories won't profit from the voting mechanism for the mayoral primary:

"Sir, I was disappointed by your report ("The £1.50 vote", August 21) about the Conservative London mayoral selection process, in particular the claim of "suggestions" that the process has been turned into a profit-generating exercise.

The £1.50 ballot line registration charge does not even cover our basic administration costs. Our open primary is an effort to counter growing political apathy. It is a pity you have chosen to portray it in such a cynical light.

Caroline Spelman,
Chairman, Conservative Party"

This letter worries me slightly as I had hoped that a portion of the £1.50 would indeed go to Tory funds.  We already know that certain Labour people want to influence the result by running a campaign to elect the weakest of the four candidates (whoever that might be).  I had hoped that this would be discouraged by the thought that such a campaign would be contributing to Tory coffers.  I certainly don't think it's unreasonable to say to a person who is genuinely interested in nominating an alternative to Ken Livingstone that part of the cost of their txt vote would go to helping elect that person.  I'm waiting to hear further explanation from CCHQ and will post again when I hear more...

ConservativeHome reporters wanted for mayoral hustings

Confirming our post of last Friday the Conservative Party has issued information about the mayoral hustings:

"The Conservative Party has confirmed the dates for their London Mayoral hustings. The Conservative Party has selected four excellent candidates to contest the London-wide open primary. Any voter in London can register to take part in the open primary which will decide the Conservative candidate for the May 2008 Mayoral election.
 
The hustings are being held around London and all Londoners are invited to attend. To book a place at a husting voters are asked to email [email protected] or telephone Emma on 0207 984 8152. The hustings provide an opportunity for Londoners to question the candidates after hearing what each would do as London’s Mayor.
 
The hustings will be:

• Monday 10 September 18.30 - Thames Room, Park Plaza Riverbank, 18 Albert Embankment SE1 7JT
• Tuesday 11 September 19.30 - Lambourne Room, Town Hall, High Road, Ilford IG1 1DD
• Wednesday 12 September 19.30 - Winston Churchill Hall, Manor Farm Site, Pinn Way, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7QL
• Friday 14 September 19.30 - Open Door Community Centre, Keevil Drive, Beaumont Road, London SW19 6TF"

If you would like to report on one of these hustings meetings - in the same way ConservativeHome readers covered the 2005 leadership hustings - please email me.

Hustings meetings - dates and venues

These are the times and venues for the mayoral hustings meetings (to be fully confirmed on Monday morning). I don't yet have information on how you apply for tickets to attend them - or whether they are ticketed events at all...

1. Monday 10 September 6.30 pm, Thames Room, Park Plaza Riverbank, 18 Albert Embankment SE1 7JT
2. Tuesday 11 September, 7.30 pm Lambourne Room, Town Hall, High Road, Ilford IG1 1DD
3. Wednesday 12 September, 7.30 pm Winston Churchill Hall, Mannor Farm Site, Pinn Way, Ruislip, Middx HA4 7QL
4. Friday 14 September, 7.30 pm Open Door Community Centre, Keevil Drive, Beaumont Road, London SW19 6TF

Boff, Borwick, Johnson and Lightfoot proceed to hustings stage

Greeting the shortlist, Caroline Spelman said:

“Last year David Cameron said he wanted to bring a new dimension to politics, and to change the way things were done. Now the people of London are going to be given the opportunity to choose the next Conservative candidate for Mayor of London. It’s the first time a primary process has been used to select a candidate for Mayor of London - a first for London and a first for politics in Britain.  I congratulate the candidates who have made it through to the primary process and wish them all the best over the coming months.”