BNP take seat on London Assembly

For the first time the BNP is represented on a "top tier" level of government. The regional assembly for London is the only one that is elected, all the others being quangos not wanted by the rest of England. So this Assembly allows for a proportional representation element and the BNP got above the 5% threshold. Richard Barnbrook, the mayoral candidate, will be the first BNP AM. He will be hoping this is no false dawn! One thing is for certain. I won't be around long enough to see a BNP PM if ever that eventful day should occur.

London Elects is the body that oversees this marathon adventure. The BBC was getting excited about turnout. Up to 45% - that's why the count took so long. "They were expecting a much lower figure!", they squeaked. Oh, really? So if it went to 60 or 70% would we be in the Zimbabwe realms of electoral counting? "A decision will be made at the end of next week. Will everyone stay calm, please!" Doesn't bear thinking about.

In the Top-up Vote, which is London-wide, the three main parties only got 72.39% of the vote between them. This means 27.61% voted for other parties. This is staggeringly high and shows that a proportional system will deplete the support for the supposed main players. On many occasions, we are told by politicians about opinion polls that the real poll is on the day. This day shows that the Conservatives are on 34.0%, Labour on 27.12%, and the Liberal Democrats on 11.22%. That poses the question - How can the Westminster system of election continue in a multi-party situation?

We have a failing Prime Minister in government on the "successful win" of his predecessor, who himself managed only to secure the support of 20% of the total electorate. The Labour Party has a large majority in the House of Commons, but little support in the country. The London Assembly has only a part elected by PR, but this London election shows that over a quarter of Londoners, in their hearts and minds, do not want the "three main parties".

Food for electoral thought!

Times man prepares for shock BNP victory!

Tim Hames writing in The Times today is contemplating the thought of the BNP gaining seats on the London Assembly. His reasons for this possibility are valid, that the BNP is better organised despite fratricidal outbursts, and that there are no Euro Elections to encourage support for UKIP. I'd be a bit bolder, though.

The nine months or so that Gordon Brown has been at the helm have seen issue after issue that the BNP can exploit. Because Brown and his gang have signally failed to deliver, and the two main opposition parties continue to speak mainly in soundbites, the BNP is able to benefit, albeit in certain areas.

They know how to raise fears over immigration, they can mention dodgy bankers, no jobs for whites, housing hard to get, people losing their homes, etc. All posed in simple but stark terms. Yes we have dodgy bankers, but they don't control immigration. Yes, we have mortgage foreclosures (not repossessions, please!), but this is not the fault of bad employers. The issues and the solving of problems are blurred and fudged.

New Labour cannot bring themselves to talk about or to the BNP. They don't confront them, they hide from them, in a poncy head-in-the-clouds superior way. So, because of their mistakes, the BNP is allowed to profit from embellishing the truth. A sort of spin in reverse.

We shall see what happens, but I feel that come May 1st, New Labour will have to get a grip, otherwise we may see polarisation for no apparent reason!

The Boris, Ken and Uncle Tom Cobley handicap stakes

Boris Johnson is a Conservative who has broken quite a few moulds. Ken Livingstone is a socialist who has cracked many moulds. This mayoral contest in London seems more about personalities than about policies. Is Boris bananas, bohemian or brilliant? Is he all three? Much is written about his perceived character, but not so much on his political ideas. Red Ken, Cheeky Ken, or just plain KEN! is a man living on the edge. Tony Blair tried the full-frontal Caesar attack, then aped Brutus, but still Ken stood standing. I think Londoners would have a fit if the mayor was boring. Nothing to talk about in the offices or cafes or bars.

The others in the contest are equally flamboyant, controversial, or mould-crackingly suitable. The Liberal Democrats have an openly gay ex-police chief in Brian Paddick, the Greens have Sian Berry (who is encouraging "EU citizens" to vote). Respect has disrespectfully split and is in two parts, one with Lindsey German as a Left List entrant and the other called Respect Renewal (not standing). UKIP is flying the flag with Gerard Batten, the BNP has its London leader in Richard Barnbrook, and the English Democrats have picked ex-rooftop protester Matt O'Connor. Added to them is Alan Craig of the Christian Peoples Alliance and Damian Hockney of One London.

Ten politicians hanging on the wall, or will it be sitting on the fence? Either way, this is probably the most mixed bunch of candidates any electoral contest in the British Isles has seen. And it has just five weeks to run!

In the late entrants enclosure is John Flunder of the Senior Citizens Party, Dennis Delderfield who has announced he would stand for the New Britain Party, and Chris Prior from the Stop Congestion Charging Party.

And them to the mix and you get a baker's dozen! Happing voting, London!

London Elects!