London Mayoral Election

Sir??
Are Aussies allowed to be Sir?
Apart from Sir Les Patterson?

I can't remember what JMcD said exactly, as I was nodding off by then, but I think he said that he had campaigned on various issues with ZG and had never found him to be racist.

Then why did he use racist allegations ?

It will be interesting to hear what Goldsmith has to say for himself over the next few months. He seems in the past to have wanted to project himself as a 'nice guy' and he certainly hasn't done his personal reputation any good.

Somebody may very well have 'put words into his mouth' but it was still his choice to speak them.

I know several people who know him well and say he is a really nice guy. Which is why I was truly disappointed and amazed that he allowed his campaign to take a racist and very unplesant turn. Either he is not so nice, or incredibly naïve to allow himself to be manipulated like that.

Amazingly proud of Londoners to not have allowed all this unpleasantness and antisemitic accusations change their mind. Well done Khan.

I am only repeating what I thought I heard McDonnell say - he was magnaminous, and seemed surprised by ZC's campaign, although no-one had any idea at that stage what the result would be.

Not ZC, ZG
Probably time for tonight already

His sister Jemima has twittered - if that's what it called - supporting her brothers reputation but also congratulated Khan and London having a Muslim mayor. I have no idea if she has remained a Muslim but I thought her comments were fair and balanced.

Perhaps Goldsmith is a nodding dog,

Which makes his campaign seem all the more odd if Jemima is still a Muslim. Perhaps he handed it over to you-know-who and left it all in his 'capable hands'.

I don't know if she still a Muslim Jalima, she has two sons who are and it's reported she is close to her ex inlaws

Perhaps Goldsmith can't handle bullies, thinking of his father then perhaps

It would seem that Tory Central Office totally controlled his campaign. It seems that everyone close to ZG didn't recognise him in what was said with regard the racist propaganda. It didn't work in fact the turnout was much larger than normal and it is suggested that people turned out specifically to vote against the Tory campaign.

Let's hope they have learnt their lesson and will leave Corbyn alone. I won't hold my breath though.

My biggest shock was finding he was a Tory.

Leave Corbyn alone? We've got another four years of attacking him. Hope he stays the course.
On the other hand, if the Tory election expenses scandal really takes off, there may be an election sooner than that.
Apparently Cornwall is even looking into the Tory PCC election finances.

They will not back off Corbyn , do you think they fear the strength of his support ?

Apparently they are saying the nasty party is back. Question is - did it ever go away?

I can't see any appropriate thread to put this on and haven't the energy to start a new one - but have I just entered the twilight zone/parallel universe/a bad dream?

Has Neil Hamilton really been voted into office as a UKIP Assembly member for Wales?

What happened?

(Confused of London )

Yes, he has, Riverwalk.

At first I wondered if the Welsh had taken leave of their senses*, but I think he was voted in because the WA has a form of PR block vote.

Where's the man in the white suit? ;-(

*Sorry, ab and any other Welsh posters.

For the Assembly election it is done in two different types of voting. Most members are elected by the normal one vote per person for the candidate you want - then you get a second vote where you vote I think by party and number your choice from 1 through to however many parties are contesting. They have lists of candidates and it is a form of proportional representation and this then determines who gets another seat - this seams to be the section where the UKIP got most if not all their winners.
I heard a snippet of an interview this morning on BBC Wales TV which sounded as if most of the UKIP candidate will be unable to take their seat in the Senydd as they have other full time jobs!!! If that is the case then it sort of takes some of the people's representation away from them - although I personally would not have voted for them.

Interestingly as I live in France now I can still vote in local elections and also parliamentary ones but not Assembly ones. Although in fact at this election there was a by-election in my constituency as the MP resigned his seat in Westminster to stand for the Senydd - he has been a very good MP and was elected to the Assembly.

All UKIP were elected through the PR system. It sort of puts me off.

In Wales, I mean.

Absolutely right Jen --- fancy having Neil Hamilton as an Assembly member - he said in his interview today that he has never been inside the building yet!!! He and Christine were drinking champagne for breakfast!!

Well, at least he is Welsh
He was born in Fleur-de-Lis, near Blackwood - the South Wales town which is home to the Manic Street Preachers - and grew up in the Carmarthenshire town of Ammanford.

Mark Reckless was born in London and I don't know about the five other new AMs

Thanks for the explanation Welshwife. That's the system which is used in Germany.

I don't think Hamilton has another job (who's have him? lol), but will he still get paid if he doesn't attend? That's what UKIP MEPs do in the European Parliament.

Hamilton and the rest of the UKIP lot were voted in under the PR block . UKIP got it's votes from the farming areas . I was cross when the Beed said .leanne had taken the Welsh valleys for Plaid - no, she took one valley and she was born and bred in the Rhondda. I have canvassed for weeks, hardly anyone mentioned Corbyn , it was all what affects Wales , the farmers and getting out of Europe , the valleys and the loss of the steel works . I was pleased with the results in Wales - not with UKIP though - labour has been the government for seventeen years and lost just one seat to Plaid . The Tories did badly , talk of the Wales Tory leader standing down. The Libs won one seat, Kirsty Williams, she has stood down as Wales lib leader . There was one bi election, labour held Ogmore . So apart from UKIP who did gain Tory voters , Wales is still labour

Daphne certainly many Welsh voters have taken leave of their senses!

UKIP?

Neil Hamilton?

Something to be said for first past the post

Neil Hamilton??? The mind boggles - I can't get over it!

Hamilton won in the .mid and West Wales seat, he hasn't been seen in .mid Wales , thank God.