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ElizabethSlim pickings
Posted by Elizabeth at 12:24pm on Fri 28 Mar 08
The Beatles versus Elvis. Jedi or Sith. Boxers or briefs. Marmite or not Marmite. Sometimes your only choice is to choose. And in just over a month, Londoners will be divided by the biggest showdown of all: Boris or Ken.

But on May 1 as Londoners trickle down to polling booths across the capital to elect a new mayor, the electorate will also choose the assembly members that are supposed to represent local interests and hold the new mayor into account.

While picking the head honcho can be managed easily enough: sense of humour? Vote Boris. Can’t stand the Evening Standard? Vote Ken. And if you fancy a toke of the wacky baccy and want to get away with it - it’s probably best to go with Brian.

But picking your assembly member is slightly harder.

Having spent the last few days chatting to a few of the candidates for Enfield and Haringey I couldn’t tell, particuarly with the Big Three, where one well-meant pledge started and another ended.

It seems that when it comes to winning votes it boils down to simple mathematics: exploit the lowest common denominator, the topics du jour, and follow this equation: crime + transport + climate change = ballots.

For bonus points mention your disgust at the post office closures.

We all know that variety is the spice of the life so it's no surprise that it's only the outsiders, who have no real chance of ever being successful, that say anything of interest and, this year, even they were boring.

The UKIP candidate moaned about the the fact that they don't get decent media coverage - but refused to say why they thought some of their policies might be unpopular. The Green candidate, although a rather nice chap, was quick to stress that, despite the name, they are not just a single-issue party. The Christian Party want to create more jobs not more converts. It's all so...safe.

I guess the general feeling is he who dares, doesn't win. And, sadly, that's what we call democracy.

You've got a vote - don't be afraid to use it.
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Posted by: Nik at 4:30pm on Sat 29 Mar 08
Surely it should be Beatles versus Stones, but I'd vote for you Elizabeth, you make a lot of sense, about how faceless the candidates are and how insincere their campaigns sound. Unfortunately I can't vote this time as I'm being detained at Her Majesty's at the moment - though I heard from a nark that getting onto the ballot roll isn't that sraightforward this time round, even if you're on the outside. FYI, I go commando - even in here.
Posted by: Christopher Robin at 9:27pm on Sun 30 Mar 08
Beatles
Was there even a character on Emmerdale called Jedi? If there was I don't remember him.
Boxers
Not marmite
Red Ken

See, that wasn't too difficult - but you strike me as a girl who finds it impossible to make a decision.
Posted by: Maximillian Chuff at 9:30pm on Sun 30 Mar 08
Is the title your tip for the Grand National Saturday?
Posted by: Tring Freedom Fighters at 7:59am on Tue 1 Apr 08
At least you have an assembly! Here in Tring our desire for autonomy is thwarted at every opportunity and we remain an oppressed people.
Posted by: Geoffrey Babakhanian at 9:37am on Tue 1 Apr 08
I used to love a good assembly - "When I needed a neighbour were you there, were you there?"
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