Hove today, gone tomorrow - 2 comments

Originally planned to post about this last Wednesday, but time and illness got in the way. Was amazed to read in the BBC's coverage of the (then) latest twist in the Conservatives' London Mayoral candidacy saga - Ferrari will not be Tories' mayor - that former Hove and Portslade candidate Nick Boles was believed to be the Tory frontrunner.

There's been plenty of coverage of Boles on this blog. Political historians will remember that, despite a fawning national press, he was unable to overturn a Labour majority of just 3171, last year. So shaky had seemed Labour's chances that the Guardian selected Hove as one of their four Conservative targets to watch.


Image (c) The Argus

Nick may have his talents, and is a Henry Jacksonite, but with a track record of ballsing-up what look like easy targets, is he really the chap to put up against a Labour majority of 161,202 (5.4% swing required), against (we assume?) an experienced a campaigner as Livingstone?

I would suggest no, but if views like this spread to the London arts world, perhaps the Conservatives might as well take a risk and go for someone with a track record of success.

"... if you [Blair, New Labour, etc.] carry on the way you are, I and others like me, might be seduced into voting for someone who could unleash who-knows-what over the next 18 years."

Shirley Porter, recently