Could Labour beat Boris if they got rid of Ken?

Could Labour beat Boris if they got rid of Ken?

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Could another candidate exploit the incumbent’s weaknesses? Perhaps the first election where we’ll the first impact of the riots will be that for London Mayor in May. The Tory incumbent, Mr. Johnson, looked far from sure-footed on his first day back after his truncated holiday and got booed at several locations when visiting the riot scenes. This has been the worst break-down in public order in living memory and there might be more to come. Boris’s failure to get back…

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Will the police feel less inhibited tonight?

Will the police feel less inhibited tonight?

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Picture mazherabidi Is that where political leadership helps? So we are entering night four of the disturbances, lootings, thefts, muggings and arson but the big difference is that the police are more prepared and have many more people available. My guess as well is that those policemen on the ground will feel a little less demoralised as has been evident on previous evenings. This is where the arrival back in the UK of Cameron and Boris is so important. Their…

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What’s this going to do to Britain’s reputation overseas?

What’s this going to do to Britain’s reputation overseas?

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Will there be a price to pay? The big global story over the past couple of days has been what’s happening in London and now other major cities. The media is driven by pictures and there’ve been enough dramatic material to feed the desire of editors to make their output look dramatic and interesting. But is this going to have a price? Could it mean that, say, overseas firms in the city decide that they shouldn’t maintain their London presences…

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Does Cameron need to say more?

Does Cameron need to say more?

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Will extra cops be enough? The Cameron statement had just two concrete measures – an increase from 6,000 to 16,000 in the number of police on the streets of London tonight and the recall of parliament on Thursday. But should he have gone further? Should other measures be considered? We’ll see what happens tonight. @MikeSmithsonPB

Will Cameron’s return help bring calm?

Will Cameron’s return help bring calm?

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Metro ..or will it spread more? So Dave is back and this morning we have a meeting a COBRA – a move that was so derided in the early days of Brown’s premiership in 2007. Maybe the idea that people at the top are fully focussed on dealing with the situation will provide reassurance to the public and to the police who’ve been asked to do a challenging job in almost a political vacuum. My guess is that we’ll see…

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The night continues…

The night continues…

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My wife and I have just got back from London where we have had a special dinner with our three children. We’ve been dead worried. Our elder daughter lives in Croydon – the other lives on the Clapham-Brixton border and, like tens of thousands of people tonight, no doubt, we’ve been worried sick about our loved ones. Thankfully I’ve just had a text and both the girls are now safely back home. Quite where this is all leading it’s hard…

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Reminder – PB Party a week tonight

Reminder – PB Party a week tonight

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View Larger Map The signs are that there’s going to be a good attendance of PBers at the next site event a week tonight. Like the past few London get-togethers the venue is the Dirty Dick public house in Bishopsgate which is almost across the road from the main entrance of Liverpool Liverpool Street station. The event starts at about 6.30. See you there. @MikeSmithsonPB

Is Boris making a mistake staying on holiday?

Is Boris making a mistake staying on holiday?

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Could his decision hurt him next May? The big riot follow-up story this afternoon is a meeting of Met chiefs with the home secretary, Theresa May, who has just returned from holiday. Quite whether this was her scheduled return date or she’s back early we don’t know – but at least it gives the impression that senior ministers are taking this seriously. Her presence in the capital after a worrying forty-eight hours for many Londoners contrasts sharply with Boris who,…

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