Primary Level Thinking (Part 1)

Rumours that the state might pay millions of pounds for political parties’ candidate selection processes could be the final straw for the public, says Damian Hockney. “David Lammy’s recent call for ‘Primaries’ for the London Mayor elections was worthy of Marie Antoinette in one of her less thoughtful moments,” he says. “These exercises in central control will not fool anyone. And if the state were to pay for this process, then the tumbrils might finally roll.”

Nul points to the Euros

Less than four weeks to go to the important European vote! No not the Eurovision (that’s next weekend, and yes it’s far more important)…we’re talking about the European Parliament elections. Are your banners up? Damian Hockney, not a particular friend of the EU it has to be said, offers you his opinion on why “this election business has not really caught on in the new European democracy”…

Where have all the powers gone?

“More local powers”. The cry goes up (yet again). A scattergun of ideal world “why oh why” pieces in national and London newspapers last week, made form (of a sort) by the Tories. But it can’t happen, says former London Assembly Member Damian Hockney. Not really, not in the way people are being encouraged to think it can: “Don’t the politicians and commentators know where the real powers have gone? Or is it just another cynical political exercise,” he says. “They should at least tell us when they are proposing a policy which would break the law.”

Hail Mayor Boris – saviour of the Congestion Charge

Former London Assembly Member Damian Hockney reckons that the announcement about the scrapping of the Western Extension in London helps the Yes campaign in Manchester (results due later this week). Hockney also believes that the Mayor’s move has actually rescued the London scheme, and may even have given a boost to campaigners to introduce it elsewhere. An opponent of the charge as conceived, he explains why the Mayor may have given it the kiss of life, and offers a few interesting insights into the impact of London’s experience on the plans of other cities on the eve of the knife edge vote in Manchester…

Democracy, you’re nicked

When he was an MPA Member, Damian Hockney was alone for a year in calling openly for Sir Ian Blair to quit, at a time when the Conservatives were publicly backing the Commissioner. As an unknown politician from a small party, he was given lead item on all three national evening news broadcasts for his low level call and he says that’s when realised that the politicisation of the role of Met Chief was complete. He thinks that the latest developments hold dangers which are a logical extension of government muddying the waters of the way London is run. Today’s MPA meeting, the first with Boris as Chair, did not allay his concerns…

Tim Parker! Ray Lewis! Janet Worth!

Damian Hockney believes that the departure last night of the City Hall Director of Corporate Services is worth the media exclamation mark even if it does not get one…he thinks it will have more of an impact on how the Mayor delivers than the recent sausage machine of high profile advisers like Ray Lewis and Tim Parker entering and leaving the building. He says that ’small government’ must mean efficient government – and that the Mayor needs to get a grip on the running of City Hall, and not leave it to unelected senior advisers.

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