Labour and Ken

[Wij]

Hopeless Ed is letting Ken Livingstone dictate who he should employ amongst other things. If Ed had any leadership skills he would have insisted on a different candidate and not let this prick be a public face of the party.

What do our Londoners think of dodgy Ken? The left winger who embraces religious homophobes. The anti-rich man of the people who uses all the tax avoidance he can. The campaigner against the old-boys networks who rewards his cronies with highly paid non-jobs out of the public purse.

Endless fun to be had on this website (yes I know it's Tory backed so hardly impartial)

http://www.notkenagain.com/

 

[Aoami]

Wasn't Ken Livingstone regarded as a fairly decent Mayor?

 

[Wij]

That's why I'm asking the Londoners to see how he was regarded. He's still a hypocritical prick who shouldnt have been allowed to return to a mainstream party either way though.

 

[- English -]

didnt ken introduce those bus lanes on the motorway?

 

[DaGaffer]

Wasn't Ken Livingstone regarded as a fairly decent Mayor?

No, he was a self-serving cunt who introduced useless bendy-buses and tried to extend the congestion zone to encompass "rich" west Londoners, rather than "poor" east Londoners, even though the traffic stats showed it made no sense and the rich/poor west/east thing as a nonsense anyway.Wouldn't be so bad if he used public transport himself but instead he always takes taxis (on the public purse). He's also regularly accused of anti-semitism (I have no opinion), and he was pro-IRA back in the day. He also thinks he's funny, whereas Boris is funny.

 

[Wij]

He's very close to Islamist fronts who are anti-Semitic and homophobic yes.

 

[Wij]

As well as SWP cunts (who are also bizarrely addicted to Islamist groups)

 

[Raven]

He is basically your typical modern day vocal lefty.

Self serving hypocrite, out for all he can get. Whether he has worked for it or not, supporting his nu-old boys network.

 

[ECA]

Can anyone name a charismatic labour politician at the moment?

 

[Raven]

I quite like one of them, he has been on Have I got news for you. Can't remember his name though... Fat guy with glasses, looks a little but like Peter Griffin.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

He's an absolute twat of massive proportions.

It's fucking mental that Boris is obviously more capable, and sane than he is. And I'm more inclined to lean to the left.

 

[MYstIC G]

No, he was a self-serving cunt who introduced useless bendy-buses and tried to extend the congestion zone to encompass "rich" west Londoners, rather than "poor" east Londoners, even though the traffic stats showed it made no sense and the rich/poor west/east thing as a nonsense anyway.Wouldn't be so bad if he used public transport himself but instead he always takes taxis (on the public purse). He's also regularly accused of anti-semitism (I have no opinion), and he was pro-IRA back in the day. He also thinks he's funny, whereas Boris is funny.

This. I fucking hate Ken, he thinks he knows how to run London better than anybody, the bottom line is he doesn't.

At least with Borris the bendy buses have fucked off even if the new routemasters are fucking stupid.

First one to get rid of the congestion charge can have my support from now until they drop dead though.

 

[Tom]

The man is a loony. No matter what you say about Boris, he's a very intelligent well-educated man who cultivates his image as a buffoon perfectly. Ken is just your typical hypocritical left-wing crackpot.

 

[DaGaffer]

At least with Borris the bendy buses have fucked off even if the new routemasters are fucking stupid.

What's wrong with the new Routemasters? I think they look genius.

 

[Vae]

What's wrong with the new Routemasters? I think they look genius.

Agreed. They will be more expensive (£300k vs £250k for a bendy bus or £200k for a normal double-decker) but they will be more fuel efficient (by 15% or 40%). I think the routemasters are one of the most easily identifiable icons of London and Britain and as such are excellent for promoting the image of London worldwide rather than the generic European bendy bus!

 

[MYstIC G]

What's wrong with the new Routemasters? I think they look genius.

Look nice but:

• You have someone to help you hop on and off who doesn't collect or check fares???
• They're expensive the first 5 cost somewhere in the region of £8m inclusive of the development cost. £300k is the estimated ongoing purchase cost.

My gut still tells me that this would have turned out much better if they had chosen to work from the original design and introduce a modern engine with a better rear access (for prams, etc) and just bring back inspectors. Also why not rework the engine improvements into the current style double decker buses so you have a bus that was still around the £190k mark with all the fuel benefits?

 

[DaGaffer]

Look nice but:

• You have someone to help you hop on and off who doesn't collect or check fares???
• They're expensive the first 5 cost somewhere in the region of £8m inclusive of the development cost. £300k is the estimated ongoing purchase cost.

My gut still tells me that this would have turned out much better if they had chosen to work from the original design and introduce a modern engine with a better rear access (for prams, etc) and just bring back inspectors. Also why not rework the engine improvements into the current style double decker buses so you have a bus that was still around the £190k mark with all the fuel benefits?

The original design wouldn't pass any modern crash protection or disabled-access legislation, and there certainly wouldn't be any room for the hybrid-drive. As for integrating into the current double deckers, it was looked at as I understand it, but Boris' team, a. wanted something iconic, just like the taxis, and b. the hop on hop off thing is actually a HUGE benefit to passengers. Its massively frustrating on streets like Oxford Street to be stuck waiting on the bus for 20 minutes until the next stop 30 yards away because they're not allowed to open the doors. Especially in summer. As I understand it, the "helper" thing is for exactly those kind of situations; the rear door will be closed on the faster routes.

 

[Vae]

From what I read they plan (on the current route) to double staff the buses (i.e. driver + conductor) from 7-7 but out of those hours they will be single staffed and the rear platform will be shut.

 

[Lamp]

Fucking can't stand Ken Livingstone

I'd sooner have Rabid Space Swans as Mayor than Red Ken

 

[MYstIC G]

The original design wouldn't pass any modern crash protection or disabled-access legislation, and there certainly wouldn't be any room for the hybrid-drive. As for integrating into the current double deckers, it was looked at as I understand it, but Boris' team, a. wanted something iconic, just like the taxis, and b. the hop on hop off thing is actually a HUGE benefit to passengers. Its massively frustrating on streets like Oxford Street to be stuck waiting on the bus for 20 minutes until the next stop 30 yards away because they're not allowed to open the doors. Especially in summer. As I understand it, the "helper" thing is for exactly those kind of situations; the rear door will be closed on the faster routes.

No doubt it will be just as frustrating when someone given the title of "helper" tells you it's not safe to hop off and stands in the freaking way or shuts the doors because of H&S legislation.

The new design isn't iconic by the way.

 

[Wij]

http://hurryupharry.org/2012/03/19/...eclares-i-will-make-london-a-beacon-of-islam/

 

[Scouse]

Nookie Thompson?

Same as every other politician tbfh.

 

[Wij]

Not wanting to sound like a naive optimist but I think ken is in a different league to most politicians.

 

[Scouse]

Really? Did you actually watch the video or just read the (terrible) article?

He's in a mosque and, on the face of it, what he's saying seems perfectly reasonable. He's preaching to a bunch of religious people for their votes - the only difference here is that if he was in a christian church his level of bullshit wouldn't be newsworthy - it's what politicians have been doing for years.

They're all scum tbfh. The funny thing about Ken, unlikely as it seems, he's actually liable to do something good "for teh people" just to spite some rich guy he wants to piss off.

But then he'll fuck 'em over again ten minutes later so meet the new boss tbfh

 

[Wij]

He's in a mosque and, on the face of it, what he's saying seems perfectly reasonable. He's preaching to a bunch of religious people for their votes - the only difference here is that if he was in a christian church his level of bullshit wouldn't be newsworthy - it's what politicians have been doing for years.

If you'll climb off your high horse for a minute you might realise the problem is not saying nice things to Muslims in a mosque, it's the choice of mosque.

 

[Wazzerphuk]

He can't, someone removed the stirrups and his back is dodgy so he can't jump down.

 

[Wij]

*introduce randy stallion with aiming problems to Scouse's horse*

 

[Scouse]

It's the choice of mosque.

Personally, I've got no problem with the democratically elected Hamas.

Well, no more problem than I have with the just as twattish but internationally recognised Israeli government

 

[Wij]

Personally, I've got no problem with the democratically elected Hamas.

Well, no more problem than I have with the just as twattish but internationally recognised Israeli government

It's not just that. Ken's cronies in Tower Hamlets are pushing the anti-women anti-gay agenda and Ken supported the independent (really the Respect Party) candidate against the Labour one. Ed should have had the guts to slap him down. But he didn't.

 

[megadave]

I'd vote for him over Boris tbh, also the congestion charge is great