Last Night’s Debate
Did anyone watch Sky’s Mayoral debate? It was fundamentally pointless. This was one of the last chances for Londoners as a mass audience to see the candidates, and learn more on policy - but not so. Instead, it was a return to the same stilted punch and judy routines: Boris is a racist, Ken hates everyone, yadda yadda.
Boris trotted out tired old lines he’s used in every speech and debate so far, but got uproarious laughter this time. I couldn’t work out why until I noticed on Tory Troll that the debate was in Sloane Square - Boris country. A sneaky little attempt to weigh it in Boris’ favour on Murdoch’s (minon’s) part, perhaps? The audience simply hated Ken.
And this came with the last minute sucking up to Paddick as Ken and BoJo tried desperately to harvest Lib Dem votes. Paddick, meanwhile, was as rude as possible to them, presumably in an attempt to keep hold of his voters, and mark him out as an assertive, strong candidate.
As it is, he just looked like a shrill prat.
I’d go on, but there’s a far more interesting account over at Tory Troll, who was actually there. I quote perhaps the most interesting backstage detail:
The rest of the debate descended into a flattery-fest as both Boris and Ken fought to see who could be nicest to Brian whilst Brian tried to be as nasty as possible in return. But once the cameras turned off, the crowds left and Andrew Gilligan was out of view, Boris and Ken were left on the stage and suddenly they looked and sounded like old friends.And like Ken’s embrace of Boris as the two walked off the Question Time stage last week, I saw a moment of truth behind the stage-managed indignation of recent weeks. Because behind all of the personal attacks that the candidates, journalists and bloggers have made over this campaign, it is easy to forget that this is a contest between two well-meaning and likeable characters. And although Boris’ has not quite been able to bring himself to look Ken in the eye when they were standing at the podiums, I suspect that they would quite happily share two stools at a bar.
Posted in: London Mayor, Murdoch, Punch and Judy, TV
Of course, because nobody living outside Sloane Square could possibly travel there for a debate! Johnson got cheers in Lambeth last week. If you are going to criticise Boris Johnson at least make it about substance not vacuous slurs about the Murdoch media. I don’t think he’s the best candidate, but his failings are entirely unconnected to his ability to get a giggle anywhere in London. Such needless and counter-productive leftist slurs are unwarranted, unnecessary and unwelcome.
Sensitive much, Ali? I’ve attacked Boris on policy on a number occasions, enough to qualify the odd patch of grumpiness at vacuous laughter at vacuous, old jokes. To accuse me of “counter-productive leftist slurs” is, meanwhile, the height of hypocrisy. For all you attack Ken for being, “nasty” - and that is usually the extent of your eloquence on the matter - you very rarely elaborate on what he’s doen wrong. Indeed, I believe there have perhaps been one or two substantive posts on the matter, and both were fairly thin.
The fact is that, as usual, Boris’ performance in that debate was piss-poor, and yet he got cheered. I will get irritated at that, and justifiably.
I refer you to my previous comments, especially:
True to my word, I stopped writing bitter blog posts.
As somebody who used to go to school in that area I must emphasise that it would have to have been a distant travel. There are a vast number of 4X4s and even more Tories. Ken angered them beyond reason with the expansion of the congestion charge {which I can appreciate, but will repeat that the majority of Londoners favoured since it is a highly under-reported statistic} and are doubtless filled with unmitigated, giddy at a Conservative having a prospect of becoming London Mayor, which would be the most powerful position one of them has filled for over a decade.
I have not seen the debate myself but find the explanation perfectly plausible.
It’s crazy to suggest that these hustings have been attended only by local residents.
But not that they might be in a majority, perhaps a considerable one. Which would be enough to influence volume, would it not?