Mayor of London

[stevie boy]

another blow for the useless labour party

[Marky B]

Originally Posted by stevie boy another blow for the useless labour party

Gordon Brown says he is now going to listen to the people. Tony Bliar said in 1997 "We are not the masters,the people are our masters".
Ta Ta
Marky B

[dremble wedge]

Originally Posted by CaptainWaggett I'm not sure the ability to translate Euripides is a requirement for the job of Mayor of London.

True, but it's a pity it isn't...

[dremble wedge]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook How would that sound as a slogan? "BJ for the mayor of London!"

There'd be a sudden rush of candidates...

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by CaptainWaggett I'm not sure the ability to translate Euripides is a requirement for the job of Mayor of London.

Originally Posted by dremble wedge True, but it's a pity it isn't...

Yes, It was nice to hear Kenneth Clarke, a jazz fan, hosting a tribute to Humphrey Lyttleton last week. Was the last pm to have a visible hobby Ted Heath.

Freddy

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Freddy Yes, It was nice to hear Kenneth Clarke, a jazz fan, hosting a tribute to Humphrey Lyttleton last week. Was the last pm to have a visible hobby Ted Heath. Freddy

Ken Clarke's had a long running series about jazz on Radio 4.

What about Lembit Öpik? He doesn't conceal his hobby. How are the Cheeky Girls doing now?

Steve

[GRAEME]

Johnson is a right wing creep. Under the eccentric clown is an authoritarian elitist with absolutely no idea about, or interest in, how ordinary people live their lives.

It is to be hoped he proves a colosal embarrassment to the Tory party. Might have been an own goal in the long run.

[batman]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook "BJ for the mayor of London!" Steve

Where do I apply?

[batman]

Originally Posted by Joenoir ... but does he have the legs for it!

A bit lumpy .... but they look to be in good shape!

[homeguard]

Originally Posted by GRAEME Johnson is a right wing creep. Under the eccentric clown is an authoritarian elitist with absolutely no idea about, or interest in, how ordinary people live their lives. It is to be hoped he proves a colosal embarrassment to the Tory party. Might have been an own goal in the long run.

You seem to know him so well. But do you think for one minute he's managed to fool you as well, wise as you are? What's wrong with a bit of authoritarianism if it works. Remember the good old days of 'noblis oblige', or as my old dad used to say, "never vote for some bugger who has to earn a living doing it".

Regards,
HG

[penfold]

Originally Posted by homeguard What's wrong with a bit of authoritarianism if it works. Regards, HG

That's precisely what a lot of ordinary decent Germans and Italians were saying in the early thirties....look what voting for Hitler and Mussolini did for them in the longer term...

[homeguard]

Originally Posted by penfold That's precisely what a lot of ordinary decent Germans and Italians were saying in the early thirties....look what voting for Hitler and Mussolini did for them in the longer term...

Not quite the same though, is it? Mussolini was voted into the Italian Chamber of Deputies in March 1921. Then the Communist Party called a general strike, supported by the Socialist Government. Facing economic disaster, the Italian King Vittorio Emmanuelle lll asked Mussolini to form a government. Within six months the strikers were back at work, and love him or hate him, Mussolini began building Italy into a more modern society - famously "getting the trains to run on time", etc. (Tip there Boris). As for Hitler, he never was voted in by the people of Germany. For coniving deals look up Frans von Papen, Kurt von Schleiser and, of course, President Hindenburg. In fact Hitler lost massive public support between July and November 1932. It was a group of the most influential bankers and industrialists (many Jewish families amongst them) who saw Hitler as their only sensible leader who would be "good for business", and who leaned on Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor on January 30th, 1933.
Of course these powerful people who were not bred for the job always go mad at the end, even, (I have to admit), grocer's daughters. Rather proves my point I think.
With masses of respect for my hero Penfold,
HG

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by homeguard As for Hitler, he never was voted in by the people of Germany.

Maybe they didn't all vote for him personally, but they voted the Nazi party into power. So he took power just as legitimately as any British Prime Minister who took over the leadership of their party when it was in power. More so because the German people knew that Hitler was really the head of the National Socialists. OK, the way they then handled things once they had enough seats wasn't strictly all that legal, but they were voted into power by the German people.

Oh, and Mussolini never got most of the trains to run on time. The only train that he was concerned ran on time was the one that took him to the big meeting with Hitler in 1934. Did Mussolini really make the trains run on time?

Steve

[penfold]

Originally Posted by homeguard Not quite the same though, is it? Mussolini was voted into the Italian Chamber of Deputies in March 1921. Then the Communist Party called a general strike, supported by the Socialist Government. Facing economic disaster, the Italian King Vittorio Emmanuelle lll asked Mussolini to form a government. Within six months the strikers were back at work, and love him or hate him, Mussolini began building Italy into a more modern society - famously "getting the trains to run on time", etc. (Tip there Boris). As for Hitler, he never was voted in by the people of Germany. For coniving deals look up Frans von Papen, Kurt von Schleiser and, of course, President Hindenburg. In fact Hitler lost massive public support between July and November 1932. It was a group of the most influential bankers and industrialists (many Jewish families amongst them) who saw Hitler as their only sensible leader who would be "good for business", and who leaned on Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor on January 30th, 1933. Of course these powerful people who were not bred for the job always go mad at the end, even, (I have to admit), grocer's daughters. Rather proves my point I think. With masses of respect for my hero Penfold, HG

It was so much simpler in a feudal society, wasn't it??? You knew where you stood (or knelt, or prostrated yourself) when someone (in)bred for the job waltzed by to claim droit de seigneur on your wife or daughter with his goons pressing swords into the back of your neck. And the excitement of having your right to food being wiped away if your Lord fancied a hunting park.....and the honour of being pressed into military service the moment he has a squabble with another inbred foreigner.
Still, in these exciting new times, all of London is now going to feel what living like a medieval serf under a cretinous Norman Lord must have felt like....
Honestly HG, I thought all this forelock tugging crap went out with the abdication. Where the hell have you been this last seventy years???

[Mark O]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook Oh, and Mussolini never got most of the trains to run on time. The only train that he was concerned ran on time was the one that took him to the big meeting with Hitler in 1934. Did Mussolini really make the trains run on time? Steve

An interesting trivia website there I wasn't aware of Steve, as for Boris, I just hope he dosen't have any plans to abolish the 'Travelcard' , which as I recall nearly happened pre-Blair, it's a boon for those of us who live in the Home Counties and enjoy regular trips into London........it certainly won't help 'Congestion' if he does