London Mayoral Election

Sorry, that was to suzy, not you, Jess.

You are going to tell us that Khan is a closet Tory next!

I think #cashforquestions and his dynamic wife will have an interesting time - I can't imagine them being a huge hit if they venture out into the Valleys or beyond though. Lesson one, how to use the simultaneous translation head sets when a Plaid AM is making a speech in Cymraeg.

It will be interesting to see what happens to UKIP after the referendum.
IN: they've lost. They are not going to get another referendum. What's the point?
OUT: they've one. Job done. What's the point in continuing? MEPs panicking because they are about to lose £80pa jobs and looking for other work. Do they re-invent themselves as the anti-immigration party AKA BNP etc?

Livingstone did stand as an independent first time round, which demonstrates that London Mayors have tended to be voted in on personality and London issues. Some people on here have claimed Khan's win a victory for Corbyn. OK Khan is in the Labour party led by Corbyn, but thats not the main reason people voted for him. I admire Corby's principles on things like the monarchy, but as an opposition leader he needs to make more of the own goals and U- turns the tories are making on a weekly basis.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/06/jeremy-corbyn-leadership-labour-mps-elections

Straight - autotext!

Jess, I assure you Mid and West Wales are farming areas and farmers in these areas said they want out of Europe . This constituency voted for a Lib, two labour and one UKIP . Not one seat was taken by UKIP on the first vote . Reckless got in on the PR vote in the south but again labour got first vote . Gower which labour lost as the last election was won by labour

No immigrants in Wales ?

Well, I don't know how long but he went to school and university here.
His first name is Mostyn. Perhaps he will revert to that.

I am not defending him btw - just like to get facts straightening!

Well yes- but how long has it been since he lived in Wales?

The gutter Press is having a field day 'London has fallen' and worse.

I know many here say we shouldn't 'judge' people for the newspaper they choose to read daily or regularly. But I never quite understand this- surely people choose to read a paper that represents and reflects their views, overall. If said views were appaling to them, overall, surely they would not read it and switch to another?

granjura did Neil Hamilton know where Wales is before this week?

I posted earlier that NH was in fact born in Wales (Blackwood) and bred in Wales (Ammanford as far as I remember)
(Not criticising your post, I don't manage to read them all, too busy!)

So, despite all else anyone can say about him, he is Welsh (that surprised me too).

I will reserve judgment for 6 months until the honeymoon is over. The man must be given a chance in London, I only hope that he stays with his manifesto.

Zac could not help his very privileged background but it did not help him in London. He does not have the personality that Boris has.

i1.wp.com/voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/160507Offord-charged.jpg

This is interesting. Shows what idiots some Tories can be.

Riverwalk:

'UKIP?

Neil Hamilton?

Something to be said for first past the post grin

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

I just couldn't believe my ears and eyes! I mean did he now where Wales is before this week? The blatant opportunism of this couple leaves me stunned- do they really have no shame?

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/06/doom-merchants-corbyn-viable-leader-labour

Here's one person who doesn't think Corbyn is a loser.

Great article Alea- and yet the one who won doesn't drink beer at all

So proud of London- for seeing past the smear campaigns, the accusations of anti-semitism in the name of anti-islam, and worse. Bravo.

I am surprised Zac allowed himself to be dragged down by racism and poor advice- as his sister says. He is apparently a really nice guy, but educated at Public School, living in Richmond and representing a very small elite .

Not an easy road for Kahn- as he will probably have more trouble with radical Muslims for being an open and modern Muslim with daughters allowed to wear what they like. I wish him the very very best- and lots of courage.

At least we will not have Goldsmith going for leader of the Tory party to replace Cameron.

I think it is great that London has voted for Khan and shown the world that London is an inclusive and forward looking city. He was a much more credible candidate from the start.
As for the 7 UKIP seats in Wales - representing the % of Welsh people that voted UKIP, the quality of the AMs reflects the paucity of decent candidates that UKIP can muster.
I was at a count on Thursday night (a fascinating insight into the way elections work BTW) and the leader of Welsh UKIP showed up. He got told off for using his phone in the count. And disappeared. I don't know whether he got thrown out or whether he had more important things to do than support his local candidate.
He's been elected as an AM despite the fact he is already an MEP so I don't see how he can do justice to both jobs.
Hamilton and Reckless presumably know nothing about Welsh politics.
Labour may not have an overall majority but suspect UKIP poor attendance may work in their favour.
I don't think UKIP gets its votes from farming areas Anniebach - I think it gets them from disaffected working-class people in poor areas, courtesy of the UKIP publicity machine AKA aspects of the UK media. It flummoxes me why else people in areas where there are no immigrants (because there are no jobs to attract them) are saying they are going to vote UKIP "because of all the immigrants".

You are right, Frank Dobson (no, me neither) was the Labour candidate in the first mayoral election in 2000.
In 2004, the second election was held. After being re-admitted to the Labour Party, Ken Livingstone was their official candidate. He won re-election after second preference votes were counted, with Steve Norris again coming second.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/06/vote-ruth-davidson-zac-goldsmith?CMP=share_btn_fb

This might bring some reasoned sanity into the debate?

Who claimed Corbyn was the driving force behind .khans campaign? Khan fought on the same values as Corbyn

Livingston stood for London mayor as an independent

I do think "Yes we Khan" is a clever slogan!
ZG alas appeared too posh for his own good and was a bad choice of candidate from the outset, however "green" his credentials might have been. For me, just his background distanced him from such a high % of the London electorate. Now compare and contrast with the leader of the Conservatives in Scotland, Ruth Davidson, born and bred in Scotland, went to the local primary school, a signaller in the TA for two years, a former Sunday School teacher and a thoroughly down to earth woman, entirely open about her sexuality and able to relate to her supporters of all backgrounds.
Just as Labour is not typified by flat caps, whippets and "down t'pit " stereotypes, the Conservative party needs to ditch its "toff" image.
(Just as a PS my eye was caught by a reference to Mark Reckless by Jalima, now that is not a surname to inspire confidence is it!!!)

Ok to all of the above but still doesn't mean Corbyn was the driving force in Khan's successful election, any more than those who voted for Boris Johnson last time were influenced by David Cameron. I know Corbinistas think he is a great leader, who has principled views on nuclear weapons and the monarchy etc. Speaking as a Londoner, I know that housing and transport were the important issues, and Khan certainly focused on those issues in his campaign.

Johnson will be wondering what to do with all his spare time. He only has a few jobs left. MP, writer for a paper and Brexiteer. Mind you it probably only meant turning up for the odd photo shoot being mayor so he won't have much time to fill.

Khan nominated Corbyn when he decided to stand for leader. Corbyn was at the private party last night.

The press claimed Caerwyn told Corbyn to stay away from Wales during the Senydd election - not true .

The press have a big problem with Corbyn, they are not use to a politician who refuses to dance to their tune , who refuses to abandon his principles and beliefs .

Who doesn't do photo shoots ,

A politician who doesn't care that his suit isn't Saville Row but cares deeply for the poor, the disabled, the homeless

The first politician to go to Port Talbot was Corbyn, Cameron went a few weeks later and didn't asked the Welsh First Minister to join the talks .

I see a peace in Corbyn , the peace one sees in a person who is true to their beliefs, I think the young people who have joined the party see this too

I don't think Corbyn had a part in Sadiq Khan's election. He may be a London MP /party leader but he didn't feature in the campaign to any great extent, he was hardly to be seen out and about. The London mayoral election has historically less to do with parties and their leaders, and much more to do with personalities and London issues. Which is why we had Ken followed by Boris. I think many Londoners ( me included) gave one of their 2 votes to Khan as a poke in the eye to the nasty campaign run by the Goldsmith camp. Plus the fact that Khan talks the right talk in terms of housing and transport etc. I hope he can now walk the walk!