Closest to a memorable moment in the Newsnight debate was Boris Johnson’s repeated failure to answer the question about how much his buses policy would cost – even when Jeremy Paxman left his mark and walked up towards him to carry on repeating the question! I don’t think Paxman will have come out too well with this bullying-like walking up to someone who isn’t doing what he wants, but why didn’t Boris answer the question unless he’s got something to hide about how his policy doesn’t add up?

I went to the No2ID hustings last night.
All parties were there – except Ken, who supports ID cards of course.
(The inevitable cardboard figure was wheeled out to take his place.)

All I can say – and this as a Boris (anyone but Ken) voter – is that Boris certainly does need to tighten up on the details!

I enjoyed the contributions from the Left List and UKIP people.
The BNP person was in the audience – they should have let him on too.

Hi,

I’m sorry you didn’t find Siân’s website interactive enough, as Siân’s site is the only one brave enough to accept comments.

You can question Siân on each of her six key policies, and contribute your own ideas; see the policies at the top-right of http://www.sianformayor.org.uk.

Siân’s site also has plenty of videos; see http://www.sianformayor.org.uk/videos.html

The Green broadcast will be out next week; and you’ll be able to see it on the site then.

Hope you find all that interesting,

Gary Dunion
Chief Press Officer
Green Party

I thought the Newsnight debate was a bit of a shambles really – there didn’t seem to be much structure to it and a lot of the time all I could hear were candidates talking across each other and sniggering in the background whenever their opponents were trying to make a point. I don’t think any of the three came out of it looking particularly good.

Johnson was muddled and it was a clear failure on his part not to know how much his buses policy would cost. Livingstone was good on the figures and on what had happened in the past, but didn’t seem to really suggest anything concrete and new for me. Paddick was reasonable, but didn’t really manage to land any decent blows in on the other two. A shame, because I think this was a big opportunity for him. If I was marking them on their performances I’d say:

Johnson 4/10
Livingstone 4/10
Paddick 5/10

In reverse order: I’d agree with Publican’s Decoy that Paddick was the least awful of the performers on Newsnight, but that doesn’t mean he was stellar.

Boris, in particular, looked weaselly and ineffective.

Ken’s video is LOTS better than Brian’s, mainly because Brian’s is so negative: “London is a horrible scary, crime-ridden place where kids get stabbed” is never going to be as much fun to watch as “I love London, it’s so diverse and everyone is cool and YAY!”. I am particularly uncomfortable with Brian’s “cashing in” on the murder of Stephen Lawrence, and yes, the video looks very American, whereas Ken’s is much more homey and comfortable.

I watched the debate late last night and I agree – all three were awful. Though you could tell Johnson had been told to sound strong and authoritative and he was trying to best to talk loudly and give the impression he knew what the hell he was talking about. Paddick came across well I thought.

Though I agree with Jeannie, the ad is too negative.

Gary – thanks for letting us know! I think the interactivity of the site should be highlighted somehow on the front page (its not immediately obvious to casual visitors) and the videos link could be made more prominent too. Look forward to the video when its released!

The best part of the debate is caught on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRRYDVaXdaA

What exactly has Ken had to do with the creation of Canary Wharf’s 100,000 jobs?

I can’t bear this type of thing…does it influence anyone?

The Newsnight debate was depressing…but nothing in it to alter prejudices.
(Only that I wish I had a better ABK candidate than Boris!)

Brilliant Sandy, have just posted it, thanks.

I see that LC has become an offshoot of “stop Boris”!

Thanks, Sunny.

Our web chaps have been run off their feet handling the broadcast, which went out Tuesday and is now online at http://www.sianformayor.org.uk. And very nice it is too, with animation from Shroom Studios who I think have played a blinder.

However, they have found time to add a new and far more prominent link to the videos page to the left navigation as per your suggestion, and I’ll get them to look at promoting the interactivity of the policy pages next.

G

NB – that full stop has broken my link, so if anyone wants to go to Siân’s site, it’s here:

http://www.sianformayor.org.uk

Hi Gary, I linked it as soon as it was uploaded:
https://liberalconspiracy.org/2008/04/16/liking-the-green-broadcast/

glad you sorted out that videos link too!