London Mayor

This week it's local elections day. Over the past few weeks the media  has focussed almost exclusively on the race to be London Mayor. Sadly this contest has shown the worst of personality politics. From day one, the media decided that it was Ken v Boris. Both candidates have to a greater or lesser extent chosen to "go it alone", much of their material ignores the party label. In Boris Johnson's case for good reason, it seems he has a higher level of popularity than his party and its government. He has, to my surprise, managed to separate himself in the mind of the public from his "posh boy" chums. It's amazing what appearances on TV Quiz shows will do.

Johnson is helped by a pliable media headed by the Standard, a free paper that has become his marketting agent. Stridently anti-Livingstone, its extolls Johnson's virtues on a daily basis. In comparison this has not been a good campaign for Ken Livingstone, he above any other politician, would not have expected fair treatment from a Conservative weighted press. However to his detriment, he has scored a number of own goals, especially regarding his tax affairs that leave him appearing like damaged goods. His message that "you're better off with Ken" has struggled to get across.

Other candidates have been desparate to get a moment in the spotlight. Lib Dem Brian Paddick has been the ultimate one trick pony, telling anyone who'd listen, that he once was in the Metropolitan Police. Meanwhile Jenny Jones, the Green candidate, found it difficult at first to project herself during televised debates largely because these debates were poorly chaired and allowed Johnson and Livingstone to talk over each other, and ignore time restrictions. To Jenny Jones credit, she is the one candidate who has injected policy into the campaign, and has forced  cycling and air pollution onto the agenda.

The press have made scant regard to the candidates of the far right, and have in fairness been more interested in the presence of an independent candidate, who offers a resting place for those who are inclined to tar all parties with the same brush. The fact that she is openly campaigning for a third runway at Heathrow, is a pill hard to swallow for me and I assume many residents of South and West London.

In addition to the Mayor, the London Assembly is also being elected. Voters will get three ballot papers which I suspect will lead to some confusion. For mayor voters get two choices, and if no candidate gets 50%+1 on the first ballot, all but the top two candidates are eliminated and their votes are redistributed according to their second preferences.

The Greens are asking supporters to vote 1 Jen 2 Ken, which reinforces that this is all about second preferences. With the Lib Dem if freefall, the second preference aspect is hard to predict. The gap between Boris and Ken appears to be narrowing, but approaching election day, the bookies make Johnson 1-5 favourite, which is not a prediction that I find at all amusing or appealing.