'Boris is the Mayor' [RED KEN DOWN IN FLAMES]

Evening Standard ^ | 02.05.08 | Paul Waugh, Pippa Crerar and Joe Murphy

[Enchante]

Boris Johnson is the new Mayor of London, his rivals conceded tonight.

The Tory MP scored a stunning election victory to end Ken Livingstone's eight-year reign and round off a disastrous 24 hours for the Labour Party.

After a nailbiting count, Mr Johnson was so far ahead on first-preference votes he could not be caught by Mr Livingstone, even after second preferences were taken into account.

Labour officials conceded privately that the Conservative was too far ahead. At 5pm, Mr Livingstone's campaign chief Tessa Jowell said: "The reports I'm getting suggest Boris Johnson is ahead.

"If Ken has not won, London has lost somebody very special." Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick conceded defeat, saying Mr Johnson had won. Mr Livingstone did better than expected in north London - but the "Boris effect" proved unstoppable elsewhere.

Mr Johnson, 43, was endorsed by the Evening Standard and his triumph follows our exposés of the Mayor's office.

Mr Livingstone's aide Lee Jasper was forced to quit after reporter Andrew Gilligan revealed his links to a group that mislaid taxpayers' cash. Police were called in after we reported allegations of irregularities in millions of pounds of London Development Agency grants.

The result in London came on a nightmare day for Gordon Brown, as Labour crashed to its worst town hall results in 40 years and lost more than 300 council seats.

[The KG9 Kid]

Thanks to both of you for the info. I bookmarked them both and am listening right now!

[agere_contra]

This link here leads to the BBC iPlayer.

Alternatively this link should do it. It's all advertless classical music you can (more or less) flip through - look out for Sara Mohr-Pietch and/or Rob Cowan as the best shows (just IMO).

Hope you like it!

[We Dare Defend Our Rights]

Red Ken will now move across the pond, as there are places for him in the Democrat party, where he would be called a moderate.

Good job London.

[Billthedrill]

"If Ken has not won, London has lost somebody very special."

Yeah. Special. Like Cambodia lost somebody very special when Pol Pot snuffed it. BTT.

[BigEdLB]

from Wikipaedia...

Johnson wrote the following about Islam in his Spectator column in 2005:

"It is time to reassert British values…That means disposing of the first taboo, and accepting that the problem is Islam. Islam is the problem. To any non-Muslim reader of the Koran, Islamophobia — fear of Islam — seems a natural reaction, and, indeed, exactly what that text is intended to provoke. Judged purely on its scripture — to say nothing of what is preached in the mosques — it is the most viciously sectarian of all religions. The trouble with this disgusting arrogance and condescension is that it is widely supported in Koranic texts, and we look in vain for the enlightened Islamic teachers and preachers who will begin the process of reform. What is going on in these mosques and madrasas? "When is someone going to get 18th century on Islam’s mediaeval ass?"

He has also written "Whatever you say about the Russians, they have no qualms when it comes to abusing human rights, if that means cracking down on Islam.

Methinks Politically Correct is not in His Honor-Elect's vocabulary

[No Truce With Kings]

“’Ken the Red’ loses but they elect a guy named “Boris” who is NOT a red?”

I wonder what Natasha thought about that.

[BigEdLB]

Actually Johnson’s wife is named Marina - very Russian

But her maiden name is Wheeler...

[Grut]

"If Ken has not won, London has lost somebody very special."

What's that Southernism? "Isn't that special?"

[BigEdLB]

Actual Votes from 7 of 14 Constituencies reporting so far 1st Choice votes

Johnson, Cons 489,629
Livingstone, Lab 473,496
Paddock, LD 106,979
Barnbrook, BNP 43,558
Berry, Green 37,077
others, 54,024
http://results.londonelects.org.uk/

[BigEdLB]

Actual Votes from 9 of 14 Constituencies reporting so far 1st Choice votes

Johnson, Cons 671,205
Livingstone, Lab 579,139
Paddock, LD 145,817
Barnbrook, BNP 49,962
Berry, Green 48,576
others, 6,907
http://results.londonelects.org.uk/

[BigEdLB]

Actual Votes from 11 of 14 Constituencies reporting so far 1st Choice votes

Johnson, Cons 800,677
Livingstone, Lab 723,223
Paddock, LD 183,953
Berry, Green 56,462
Barnbrook, BNP 55,188
others, 74,724


Note : Others at the 9 constituency point vote : 63,907 (was typo)

http://results.londonelects.org.uk/

[BigEdLB]

Actual Votes from all 14 Constituencies reporting so far 1st Choice votes

Johnson, Cons 1,043,761 43.3%
Livingstone, Lab 893,877 37.1%
Paddock, LD 236,895
Berry, Green 71,134
Barnbrook, BNP 69,710
others, 94,561


Note : Now the 2nd place choices of those who did not vote for Johnson or Livingstone are added to the totals, and so we wait for those VOTES

http://results.londonelects.org.uk/

[BigEdLB]

With 2nd choice included


Now we know why this man is smiling....
Final #s
Johnson, Cons 1,168,738 53%%
Livingstone, Lab 1,028,966 47%


It's all over - Official!

http://results.londonelects.org.uk/

[windcliff]

Thanks for the links.

[xp38]

[snugs]

Just watched the speeches.

[snugs]

Not sure if it a drubbing for the left or anti Government anti Brown vote.

[snugs]

Great photo of Boris

[snugs]

Boris and politically correct cannot be spoken in the same sentance LOL

[snugs]

She is half Indian