London Mayoral Election

The question you've got to consider though is - do I want an overt rascist as the mayor of London. What message is that sending out to the young Muslim, the young black and other ethnic minorities?

Zac is our MP and is actually a very good one. He organises a lot of regular meetings for discussions and Q and A sessions. My dh invariably goes. I have emailed him about the cost of housing around here (horrendous) and received a very quick, apparently personal and detailed reply.
I heard recently that shortly after becoming an MP he spent an entire day travelling with a disabled constituent around London on public transport (at the disabled person's request) so that he could see for himself how hard it was.

Ironic -given what is being said about Labour at the moment!

If anyone wants to catch up on why many people think Goldsmith has run a disgraceful campaign, here is a Youtube

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KBpBkkbpjs

They are also listed under anti-social finance on Ethical Consumer and TaxResearch.
So instead of paying their taxes properly, they give the money to Goldsmith.
Nice.

They also own or owned Tory headquarters. You'd think they'd realise it's not a good thing to do now, definitely not the right thing.

Yes and named one school after their mother , they make their money now in property in this country

Reuben Foundation runs private Jewish schools.

Loved the second link Jen , thank you for both links

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www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/03/luxury-flat-developers-reuben-linked-to-46000-of-donations-to-zac-goldsmith

Here's another bit of sleaze to do with Goldsmith.
Good timing.

As is the fact that the government has handed over the NHS files to Google for all patients in the Royal Free hospital group.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/03/now-or-never-three-non-amigos-dave-boris-zac

This is brilliant.

That's interesting durhamjen. From the comments on the Standard's facebook page people seem to be blaming Khan for doing something that it was actually done by Goldsmith.

According to an Evening Standard poll, Khan will win on the first ballot.
Goldsmith only gets 37% with Kahn getting 53%.

From what I understand, it's every separate council which sets its own tax rate.

The mayor has a precept added because he is responsible for police, fire, etc., and TfL.

"Mr Goldsmith said he would be able to freeze the precept - about £276 a year for a Band D property - because he had secured a deal with ministers to protect police numbers at 32,000.

“I believe we can go further, but I’ve not promised things in my manifesto that I’m not absolutely certain I can deliver,” he said.

The Mayor’s precept is worth £767 million a year, with £567 million going on the Met, £138 million on the London Fire Brigade and £69 million for services including transport and City Hall itself."

So whatever you have read, Kahn cannot set the bands himself.
Where did you read that? Goldsmith's leaflets?
Presumably if Goldsmith has secured a deal to keep police numbers at 32,000, that will apply to any mayor. They cannot say that will only apply if you vote for Goldsmith.

www.ibtimes.co.uk/boris-johnson-embroiled-race-row-after-part-kenyan-jibe-against-barack-obama-1556266

At least you are getting rid of this idiot. He's getting more like Trump every day.

Is it up to the mayor to do that?
I've no idea - just asking.

I have read that Sadiq Khan wants to review our council tax bands and that is how he will make a lot of money. It is many years since a D band owner paid £65000 for a house! That band would be upped to F and F would be L or M or whatever. That would be money for old rope, the minor problem would be how many of could afford much more?

Women's Equality Party have a candidate who I like the sound of.

www.politics.co.uk/news/2016/04/22/revealed-zac-goldsmith-repeatedly-lobbied-ministers-about-ba

Zac Goldsmith's selective memory.

They were both chosen out of a number of candidates from their respective parties. So some people must have faith in them.
Do you live in London, Christalbee?
Presumably you will be voting for one of the others, then.

Don't like either of them!! They both behave like squabbling children, and I cannot see that either of them will be good enough to be our Mayor! Sad lack of decent candidates...

Wow this is electrifying I must read on.

I doubt those who are having their benefits reduced think him a good MP after he voted for the cuts

I will be voting for Khan. He is not my favourite politician and I hope that he does not join the Progress clan in undermining Corbyn but is probably the best choice of those that have a chance of winning.
Goldsmith can't help his background but he does not have to use offshore companies to buy properties and he could explain the £300m he has in a Swiss account and whether he pays tax on it. It must affect his way of looking at the world. Being rich isn't inherently bad but inherited wealth at that level must at least give rise to a strong possibility of not understanding what things are like for the least fortunate? Why did he vote for disability cuts whilst being a patron of a disability charity? Why did he vote for the bedroom tax? It can only be because he has no idea how these things impact on people who need every penny.

I never liked Ken Livingstone but I did admire the way that he travelled by tube every day so had first hand knowledge of what the rest of the punters put up with on a daily basis struggling to get to work in central London.

Zac Goldsmith has been a great MP for Richmond. He is the only MP in the last election to increase his majority significantly. He always responded positively to any constituent who contacted him, he is a tireless worker and it is not his fault that he has a privileged background.