Showing posts with label London Standard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London Standard. Show all posts
Thursday, August 20, 2009
London Paper folds...
Sorry to hear of the demise of the Murdoch owned freebie The London Paper which was launched a few years ago to rival the London Standard's Lite free paper.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Recession can be good for you says Top Tory...
A senior member of David Cameron's Conservative team says "recession can be good for you" as anyone who loses their job will be able to spend more time with their family!
Andrew Lansley's offensive comments, made on an official Conservative Party website, are revealed on the Recess Monkey blog.
As the Monkey says, Lansley has let the cat out of the Tory bag and provided proof if it were ever needed that David Cameron's Conservatives are happy to sit back, do nothing and leave people to sink or swim in the current economic downturn - in contrast to Gordon Brown's action now to help pensioners, families and businesses emerge from the downturn quicker and stronger.
Don't try the link provided by Recess Monkey as it appears that Dave's team have attempted to destroy the evidence by airbrushing out Lansley's entire article from their official website.
At least it's being reported by the London Standard.
Another schoolboy error from Team Cameron.
UPDATE: The Telegraph is reporting that Mr Lansley, who is Cameron's health spokesman, has been forced to apologise for his rather ill-judged remarks...
UPDATE 2: The Guardian points out, it was only a week ago that Conservative Deputy Party Chairman John Maples was forced to apologise after he said that the recession "must be allowed to take its course".
As Work and Pensions Minister James Purnell says, Mr Maples may regret his remarks, but doing nothing is exactly what the Conservatives would do under Cameron/Osborne...
Well, if nothing else, the dividing lines are now crystal clear: Do Something to save jobs and help families, businesses and pensioners with Gordon Brown or Do Nothing under David Cameron.
Discuss!
Andrew Lansley's offensive comments, made on an official Conservative Party website, are revealed on the Recess Monkey blog.
As the Monkey says, Lansley has let the cat out of the Tory bag and provided proof if it were ever needed that David Cameron's Conservatives are happy to sit back, do nothing and leave people to sink or swim in the current economic downturn - in contrast to Gordon Brown's action now to help pensioners, families and businesses emerge from the downturn quicker and stronger.
Don't try the link provided by Recess Monkey as it appears that Dave's team have attempted to destroy the evidence by airbrushing out Lansley's entire article from their official website.
At least it's being reported by the London Standard.
Another schoolboy error from Team Cameron.
UPDATE: The Telegraph is reporting that Mr Lansley, who is Cameron's health spokesman, has been forced to apologise for his rather ill-judged remarks...
UPDATE 2: The Guardian points out, it was only a week ago that Conservative Deputy Party Chairman John Maples was forced to apologise after he said that the recession "must be allowed to take its course".
As Work and Pensions Minister James Purnell says, Mr Maples may regret his remarks, but doing nothing is exactly what the Conservatives would do under Cameron/Osborne...
Well, if nothing else, the dividing lines are now crystal clear: Do Something to save jobs and help families, businesses and pensioners with Gordon Brown or Do Nothing under David Cameron.
Discuss!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
BREAKING NEWS: Boris's disgraced Deputy faces new accusations...
Tonight's London Standard reveals that Boris Johnson's disgraced Deputy Mayor Ray Lewis faces new accusations of sexual misconduct.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Boris's Deputy: How the Standard tone changed as story unravelled...
After my moan earlier Friday that the London Standard hadn't splashed the big story of the allegations against Boris Johnson's Deputy on their first edition, it's only fair that I show you the front page of their final West End edition which I picked up as I headed for home this evening.And I have to say that the billboards matched the change in tone as the story unravelled.
Unfortunately, Ray Lewis's resignation came too late to hit the Standard's news-stands.
Too early yet to see a hard copy of Saturday's Daily Mail, but Newsnight showed the early front page which I recall is headlined: Boris: the wheels are coming off already.I guess we'll have to wait patiently for the Sunday papers to see how much of the damage from the Ray Lewis scandal sticks to either Boris Johnson or David Cameron...
UPDATE: Here's the Daily Mail front page, courtesy of the Sky site.
UPDATE 2: And here's the Indy which devotes its entire front page to the story...(or rather what's left after all the promos). The Indy story and analysis is well worth a read.
Enjoy.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Keeping up the Standards...
Interesting coverage on the allegations of financial and sexual impropriety against Boris Johnson's Deputy which broke yesterday. Most of today's national newspapers ran a page lead, but London's evening paper chose not to put the story on its front page.
While other media is highlighting the potential damage to Boris Johnson - and David Cameron - the headline on the Standard's inside story makes it clear that Boris was ‘in dark over deputy sleaze claims’
Just a couple of months ago the same Standard ran relentless splashes and damning billboards all across the capital night-after-night against Ken Livingstone which helped ensure Boris Johnson was elected.
The Standard's pro-Boris campaign was led by Andrew Gilligan - whose old boss at The Economist was, er, Boris.
Perhaps no surprise that today, Mr Gilligan concludes that the Ray Lewis allegations are:
First, the Church of England apparently 'struck off' Mr Lewis. Did they do that for no reason?
Second, elsewhere in tonight's Standard, an elderly woman claims she lent Ray Lewis £29,000 and all he gave her was an IOU. She claims the money was paid back only after she went to the police. Yesterday, you may recall, Mr Lewis categorically denied ever borrowing money from a parishioner.
For good measure, elsewhere in the Standard, there's a smear story on
the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev John Gladwin, who prompted the investigation into Ray Lewis.
The Standard diary accuses him of supporting 'Left-wing' think-tanks including the Labour-supporting IPPR and of working with Ken Livingstone.
And after Boris's comments yesterday that Ray Lewis should be left alone to get on with his work without 'persecution', no prizes for guessing the outcome of the independent inquiry, which is to be headed by Ray Lewis's old boss at the Prison Service!
While other media is highlighting the potential damage to Boris Johnson - and David Cameron - the headline on the Standard's inside story makes it clear that Boris was ‘in dark over deputy sleaze claims’
Just a couple of months ago the same Standard ran relentless splashes and damning billboards all across the capital night-after-night against Ken Livingstone which helped ensure Boris Johnson was elected.
The Standard's pro-Boris campaign was led by Andrew Gilligan - whose old boss at The Economist was, er, Boris.
Perhaps no surprise that today, Mr Gilligan concludes that the Ray Lewis allegations are:
'not that serious, even if true...'And The Standard's editorial comment tonight says the allegations may be groundless - I hope they are right, but surely a curious comment...
First, the Church of England apparently 'struck off' Mr Lewis. Did they do that for no reason?
Second, elsewhere in tonight's Standard, an elderly woman claims she lent Ray Lewis £29,000 and all he gave her was an IOU. She claims the money was paid back only after she went to the police. Yesterday, you may recall, Mr Lewis categorically denied ever borrowing money from a parishioner.
For good measure, elsewhere in the Standard, there's a smear story on
the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev John Gladwin, who prompted the investigation into Ray Lewis.
The Standard diary accuses him of supporting 'Left-wing' think-tanks including the Labour-supporting IPPR and of working with Ken Livingstone.
And after Boris's comments yesterday that Ray Lewis should be left alone to get on with his work without 'persecution', no prizes for guessing the outcome of the independent inquiry, which is to be headed by Ray Lewis's old boss at the Prison Service!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The real difference between Ken and Boris...
In the Mayoral elections in 2000, Ken Livingstone turned down a donation of free campaign offices from a wealthy businessman to avoid a potential conflict of interest in any future planning application, in which the Mayor might have to make a ruling.
But The Guardian revealed last month that Boris Johnson, the Tory candidate in the current election, accepted a similar offer from the same Japanese businessman.
It's a story which starkly illustrates the real difference between Labour's Ken Livingstone and Tory Boris Johnson.
Following the headlines, Boris has apparently now agreed to pay rent on the offices which he is using as his campaign HQ.
I look forward to seeing a follow-up by the London Standard hack Andrew Gilligan who is running a nasty campaign to get his mate Boris elected Mayor of London...but I won't hold my breath...
But The Guardian revealed last month that Boris Johnson, the Tory candidate in the current election, accepted a similar offer from the same Japanese businessman.
It's a story which starkly illustrates the real difference between Labour's Ken Livingstone and Tory Boris Johnson.
Following the headlines, Boris has apparently now agreed to pay rent on the offices which he is using as his campaign HQ.
I look forward to seeing a follow-up by the London Standard hack Andrew Gilligan who is running a nasty campaign to get his mate Boris elected Mayor of London...but I won't hold my breath...
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
More bile from Bojo's best mate...
Evening Standard hack Andrew Gilligan launches yet attempt tonight to damage Ken Livingstone and promote his mate Boris Johnson to be Mayor of London.
Gilligan's latest bile targets a range of individuals and organisations who support Ken: from Doreen Lawrence OBE, the mother of murdered schoolboy Stephen Lawrence to Greenpeace and the New Nation newspaper.
Gilligan claims none of them declare their 'interests' in backing Ken for Mayor.
True to form given Gilligan's agenda, tonight's front page fails to mention his own interests in promoting Conservative candidate Boris Johnson.
Gilligan fails to mention that when he was under fire at the BBC for dodgy reporting, it was The Spectator, that staged a 'Save Andrew Gilligan'
dinner at top restaurant Luigi's stuffed with prominent Tories.
And who was The Spectator's editor at the time?
Step forward Boris Johnson.
Andrew Gilligan also fails to mention that after he was forced to resign from the BBC, he was even given a job by The Spectator: where his editor was Boris.
Now he's on The Standard, it's not surprising that Andrew Gilligan is so keen to return the favours and campaign for his old mucker.
Any self-respecting journalist would wish to declare such a clear interest in promoting a particular candidate...but not Gilligan who seems incapable of understanding why Londoners back Ken Livingstone.
It's hardly surprising that decent people feel they have an 'interest' in stopping a Tory who wrote about African people as
'piccaninnies'.
No wonder Doreen Lawrence OBE gave her opinion that Boris Johnson is 'not an appropriate person to run a multi-cultural city like London' and that if elected Mayor he would destroy London's unity.
Like decent people everywhere, Mrs Lawrence was shocked by the 'piccaninnies' revelation. And of course, it was not the first time the Lawrences had cause to feel offended by Boris Johnson...I'm sure they've not forgotten Boris's attack on some of the Macpherson Inquiry recommendations as 'born of political correctness'.
And remember, the Macpherson Inquiry was set up by Labour after the 1997 General Election: for years the Tory Government denied the Lawrences an inquiry into the racist murder of their son.
It's no surprise either that environmental organisations like Greenpeace fear a Boris nightmare.
You only have to look at Ken's vision for a Low Carbon London...
Or his light bulb amnesty, which offered a free energy-saver for every Londoner.
Or his bold plan to increase the congestion charge for Chelsea tractors and the biggest gas-guzzling sports cars - a sensible move described as 'bonkers' by Boris Johnson.
Last week, Greenpeace understandably welcomed Ken Livingstone's Climate Change Action Plan for London.
John Sauven, director of Greenpeace said no other leader was on the same page as Ken Livingstone in showing how the largest city in Europe can combat climate change.
Other environmental pressure groups spoke warmly of Ken's climate change plan.
The Green Party'sPrincipal Speaker welcomed it. And Friends of the Earth's Director Tony Juniper went on record saying: 'Hats off to Ken Livingstone for continuing to show political leadership on tackling climate change...'
Like Greenpeace, their 'interest' is surely returning a Mayor who regularly demonstrates that he is prepared to take the tough action needed to protect London -unlike Boris Johnson, who even opposed the Kyoto Treaty.
But you're not likely to read that in the London Standard...
Gilligan's latest bile targets a range of individuals and organisations who support Ken: from Doreen Lawrence OBE, the mother of murdered schoolboy Stephen Lawrence to Greenpeace and the New Nation newspaper.
Gilligan claims none of them declare their 'interests' in backing Ken for Mayor.
True to form given Gilligan's agenda, tonight's front page fails to mention his own interests in promoting Conservative candidate Boris Johnson.
Gilligan fails to mention that when he was under fire at the BBC for dodgy reporting, it was The Spectator, that staged a 'Save Andrew Gilligan'
dinner at top restaurant Luigi's stuffed with prominent Tories.
And who was The Spectator's editor at the time?
Step forward Boris Johnson.
Andrew Gilligan also fails to mention that after he was forced to resign from the BBC, he was even given a job by The Spectator: where his editor was Boris.
Now he's on The Standard, it's not surprising that Andrew Gilligan is so keen to return the favours and campaign for his old mucker.
Any self-respecting journalist would wish to declare such a clear interest in promoting a particular candidate...but not Gilligan who seems incapable of understanding why Londoners back Ken Livingstone.
It's hardly surprising that decent people feel they have an 'interest' in stopping a Tory who wrote about African people as
'piccaninnies'.
No wonder Doreen Lawrence OBE gave her opinion that Boris Johnson is 'not an appropriate person to run a multi-cultural city like London' and that if elected Mayor he would destroy London's unity.
Like decent people everywhere, Mrs Lawrence was shocked by the 'piccaninnies' revelation. And of course, it was not the first time the Lawrences had cause to feel offended by Boris Johnson...I'm sure they've not forgotten Boris's attack on some of the Macpherson Inquiry recommendations as 'born of political correctness'.
And remember, the Macpherson Inquiry was set up by Labour after the 1997 General Election: for years the Tory Government denied the Lawrences an inquiry into the racist murder of their son.
It's no surprise either that environmental organisations like Greenpeace fear a Boris nightmare.
You only have to look at Ken's vision for a Low Carbon London...
Or his light bulb amnesty, which offered a free energy-saver for every Londoner.
Or his bold plan to increase the congestion charge for Chelsea tractors and the biggest gas-guzzling sports cars - a sensible move described as 'bonkers' by Boris Johnson.
Last week, Greenpeace understandably welcomed Ken Livingstone's Climate Change Action Plan for London.
John Sauven, director of Greenpeace said no other leader was on the same page as Ken Livingstone in showing how the largest city in Europe can combat climate change.
Other environmental pressure groups spoke warmly of Ken's climate change plan.
The Green Party'sPrincipal Speaker welcomed it. And Friends of the Earth's Director Tony Juniper went on record saying: 'Hats off to Ken Livingstone for continuing to show political leadership on tackling climate change...'
Like Greenpeace, their 'interest' is surely returning a Mayor who regularly demonstrates that he is prepared to take the tough action needed to protect London -unlike Boris Johnson, who even opposed the Kyoto Treaty.
But you're not likely to read that in the London Standard...
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Boris faces conflict charges as Ken opens poll lead...
Despite this week's disgraceful Dispatches hatchet-job and the never-ending daily bile spat out by the London Standard, Ken Livingstone has opened up a poll lead over Boris Johnson in the campaign to be Mayor of London.
And Saturday's Guardian turns the spotlight on Boris Johnson who faces a conflict of interest charge and interesting revelations about who's paying for his campaign HQ...
The latest YouGov/ITV London poll was taken after the Dispatches programme this week and puts Labour's Ken on 44 per cent, Tory Boris Johnson on 40 per cent and LibDem Brian Paddick on eight per cent.
Good to see Londoners standing up to the barrage of outrageous attacks on their Mayor. Londoners know Ken and trust him to do what's best for London.
It's already the dirtiest campaign ever mounted against Ken Livingstone - and I expect the daily venom against him which oozes from the London Standard to intensify as the campaign hots up.
But Londoners have come to expect outrageous personal and political attacks on Ken's integrity and they see straight through them.
I hope Londoners will go on rejecting the lies and unsubstantiated allegations. If Ken is judged on the real issues such as what he has delivered on transport, crime, affordable housing, the environment and community relations, he'll win hands down on May the First.
* Meanwhile, Boris was on the campaign trail today - but not in London.
The Tory chancer's visit to his constituency in Oxfordshire serves to highlight how close Boris is to London issues.
So close in fact, that he didn't bother to turn up once for the crucial House of Commons on the £16 billion Crossrail line which has been given the go-ahead by the Labour Government.
And Saturday's Guardian turns the spotlight on Boris Johnson who faces a conflict of interest charge and interesting revelations about who's paying for his campaign HQ...
The latest YouGov/ITV London poll was taken after the Dispatches programme this week and puts Labour's Ken on 44 per cent, Tory Boris Johnson on 40 per cent and LibDem Brian Paddick on eight per cent.
Good to see Londoners standing up to the barrage of outrageous attacks on their Mayor. Londoners know Ken and trust him to do what's best for London.
It's already the dirtiest campaign ever mounted against Ken Livingstone - and I expect the daily venom against him which oozes from the London Standard to intensify as the campaign hots up.
But Londoners have come to expect outrageous personal and political attacks on Ken's integrity and they see straight through them.
I hope Londoners will go on rejecting the lies and unsubstantiated allegations. If Ken is judged on the real issues such as what he has delivered on transport, crime, affordable housing, the environment and community relations, he'll win hands down on May the First.
* Meanwhile, Boris was on the campaign trail today - but not in London.
The Tory chancer's visit to his constituency in Oxfordshire serves to highlight how close Boris is to London issues.
So close in fact, that he didn't bother to turn up once for the crucial House of Commons on the £16 billion Crossrail line which has been given the go-ahead by the Labour Government.
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