Ken Livingstone has been guilty of indulging in a "sickening orgy", Boris Johnson claimed towards the end of the Sky News debate between the three candidates for London mayor.
No, he wasn't talking about his Labour rival's colourful private life. Nothing to do with the recent disclosure that the Mayor has five children by three different women, either.
He was referring to the Mayor's wooing of Brian Paddick - the potential kingmaker in this election - for his second preferences in Thursday's election.
But the "orgy" jibe was a bit rich coming from Boris. And not because his own private life is pretty colourful, too.
"Ooh!" responded Ken, in his familiar nasal whine. "You've been flattering him all evening."
And so he had. I lost count of the number of times the Tory candidate either praised his Liberal Democrat opponent or sidestepped an opportunity to criticise him.
"I think Brian has some wonderful things to say," cooed Boris, in one of his most toadying pieces of fawning to the former top cop.
At the end of the debate, Paddick, pressed by Adam Boulton, would only say that he urged his supporters to "vote tactically" with their second preference. A hint that he'd like them to back Boris rather than Ken? Possibly.
The latest poll in London, by YouGov in Monday's Evening Standard, gave Johnson an 11-point lead over Livingstone on first preferences (46%-35%) and suggested he would win by 55%-45% after second preferences. I'm not convinced.
Most MPs at Westminster - Labour, Tory and Lib Dem - accept that Boris is ahead on first preferences. But many believe wily old Ken will scrape home on second preferences.
Hence the "orgy" of trying to secure Paddick's vital but so far elusive second preference endorsement. And Ken and Boris are both equally guilty.
Go to the front page of the politics site to vote for the winner of the debate.
Boris says
"It was him!! He had the Vindaloo."
Posted by: T.J. from Ireland 30 Apr 2008 09:57:41
Jon,
Do you think Boris could be saying, " I'll try and find a place for both of you once I'm elected "!
Posted by: Merv. Beszant, Dubai 30 Apr 2008 09:41:50
Didn't really watch the three musketeers at arms with each other in full, as I wil be doing that tonight at 21:00hrs on 501.
Of the snippets I did manage to catch, I could not beleive the repulsive marketing Ken had adopted and sanctioned thus far as to lie further to the cultural beliefs of Londoners insofar as the banishing of many a holy book.
So, having heard Boris state the fact that he was further repulsed by this perverse claim, one thing for sure, [Fun Boy Three-Our Lips Are Sealed].
Posted by: Khalid 29 Apr 2008 13:49:08
By a mile the best televised debate so far. Difficult to say who won - although in fairness to Boris I thought he gave by fa and away his most authorative performance of the TV Campaign.
Very well done Adam for the way you chaired it as well.
Posted by: peterbuss 29 Apr 2008 12:01:11
The Labour supporters believe they saw a great performence by Mr Livingstone, the Conservative supporters believe they saw a great performence by Mr Johnson, whilst the LibDem supporters believe they saw a great performence by Mr Paddick.
To be fair to Mr Paddick, he came over a lot better on Sky's "debate" then he did on QT. Perhaps he watched the replay of QT and felt he looked aggressive and arrogant, which was how I saw him.
In general terms, the candidates pretty much said the same thing. Mr Livingston dodged the question on Mr Jasper, Mr Johnson dodged the question on race.
The three candidates all appeared to be treading on egg shells so as to not upset anyone or any group, to a certain degree, this stifled debate.
I would have liked to have seen the other candidates on the stage as well, because I feel the media have concentrated too much on the three main parties. Had I been one of the "other" candidates, I would have felt hard done by as I was not given a similar platform or oppotunity to put over MY case.
Politicians around election time become "dogs with two tails" there is nothing more off putting, as far as I am concerned, than a politician kissing a stranger's baby; at any other time, he would be arrested for it!!
It seems politicians in general will say almost anything to get what they want...Power, that is what it is all about, gone is the concept of public service. Power and money and what that position leads to in the future.
So in summary, we won't get objective opinions or debate on here while so many are so loyal to their chosen party and cannot accept that any thing that their party states may be wrong or questionable.
On Thursday, all will be revealed and it can't come too soon as far as I am concerned.
Posted by: Madnurse 29 Apr 2008 11:05:58
I might be a tad biased because I thought BJ won by a London mile!
Go BJ.
Posted by: Northernhousewife 29 Apr 2008 10:19:03
Adam. Geat programme. Good fun.
Great host, there to put the audience's disparate points to the three candidates, not to parade his own macho ego. Kept the mood of a lively public meeting.
Good job well done. A lesson to the BBC.
Posted by: Northernhousewife 29 Apr 2008 10:18:02
Ken was expanding on his brilliant success in what he had described the day before as "ensnaring ... billions" out of the Government for the Olympics. "You make it sound like a contrick!" exclaimed David Dimbleby. "It was," said Ken, to a mixture of cheering and astonished boos. "Literally. Absolutely. This has worked as I planned."
Question to Brian Paddock Ex Cop:
Why has Ken Livingston not been arrested on Fraud charges?
Posted by: Mentor - Northumberland 29 Apr 2008 10:14:09
I'm sorry I had to watch this nauseating spectacle. Who produced this programme, Boris Campaign HQ? Every time Paddick or Ken spoke, we got a shot of Johnson looking stoic, Johnson looking amused, Johnson looking angry. Pre (and especially post) debate shows were essentially Ken hate-fests, with the loathsome Andrew Gilligan from the Ken-hating Evening Standard putting the boot in.
Where has Sky News' objectivity gone? You are clearly looking for a Johnson win.
Posted by: Mark, Swansea 29 Apr 2008 08:35:52
Can I make it clear I would not like people to back Boris against Ken. Neither would I like people to back Ken against Boris. Neither of them are fit to run London. The only advice I have is vote Brian Paddick first preference and decide for yourselves who to vote for second preference.
Posted by: Brian Paddick 29 Apr 2008 08:19:15
Yes, I was very surprised Livingstone didn't come back at Paddick when the LibDem candidate deliberately misrepresented Livingstone's previous Olympic 'con' comments, falsely claiming that Livingstone had instead admitted to conning Londoners about the *COST* of the Olympics.
Livingstone must be relying on LibDem second choice votes to let that blatant misrepresentation slide.
Anyone languishing in prison based on Paddick's testimony must be quite keen to talk to a lawyer tomorrow, claiming an unsafe conviction.
Posted by: Neil, Camden Town 29 Apr 2008 01:16:59
If there was any doubt before tonight then surely that is dispelled. Even Tories have to agree that Ken was way ahead. Lets get behind him all the way
Posted by: Craig 29 Apr 2008 00:50:07