Boris Johnson: community leaders statements need "pinch of salt"

boriswatch Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 09:12:24 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Muslim community leaders backed Ken's re-election this morning.  Boris Johnson has reacted with knee-jerk attack on all community leaders



A broad range of Muslim leaders in London published a statement supporting Ken Livingstone's re-election in May today. They have an open letter HERE and it's reported by the Guardian HERE.

What BorisWatch looked out for in this story was Boris Johnson's reaction.  As ever he failed to impress.  

Rather than telling London's Muslims what he'd do for their community as Mayor, rather than set out a pithy positive plan, he decided to have a pop at what he said were "so-called" community leaders.

In reaction Boris is quoted saying: “When anything is signed by so-called community leaders I take it with a big pinch of salt.” 

It's no wonder Johnson's commitment to London's multiculturalism has been continually questioned.


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Boris Johnson: community leaders statements need "pinch of salt" | 6 comments (6 topical)

Re: Boris Johnson on community leaders (#1)

by Limony on Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 09:38:52 PM GMT

He's right. There are lots of unelected, self-appointed 'community' leaders out there and it is not clear who they represent.

Besides, why should Ken have separate policies for people of different religions? Don't we use the same buses?

Politics is all about negotiation and Ken knows this well. But the trouble with the demands of organised religion, as opposed to those of other interest groups like political parties, is that the latter's positions are non-negotiable because of their divine origin. 

 Go Boris!


Re: Boris Johnson on community leaders (#2)

by NorthernMonkey on Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 02:16:27 AM GMT

Don't make out that Boris Johnson is some sort of man of all people. He goes out of his way to alienate people of particular minorities and I'm pretty certain that these 'community leaders' in this case certainly do represent the Muslim community's views on this matter.

Boris would be a disaster for London and he won't get elected.


[ Parent ]

Re: Boris Johnson on community leaders (#3)

by swatantra on Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 09:42:54 AM GMT

Just imagine if Nero Boris were ever to be elected: fiddling while London burned. Johnson has no conception of the diverse multicultural communities that make up London. Ken has; ever since the days of the GLA, Ken has opened up London Democracy by policies of inclusion; Johnson would close down all these avenues in engaging communities and dictate from top to bottom. A completely different approach that would alienate many communities.


[ Parent ]

Re: Boris Johnson on community leaders (#4)

by Limony on Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 05:56:53 PM GMT

The alternatives are a multicultural society in which governments promote secular human rights and don't privilege religious or ethnic groups; or one in which individuals and group interests are consulted but only through elected representatives; or one in which the key unit of political involvement is the individual through parties. 

We have a pluralistic system which has grown higgeldy-piggledy like the rest of our constitution. We may find ourselves in the future with a second chamber which has no religious entities sitting as of right but still consult religious groups on certain policy matters.

By the way, if these community leaders are indeed representative then we may as well go home now. What would be the point of political parties when individuals can be adequately represented by unelected people (generally men) who speak on our behalf on the basis of shared supernatural beliefs or ethnicity?


Re: Boris Johnson: community leaders (#5)

by Limony on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 01:31:13 AM GMT

More on this malarky here: http://hurryupharry.bloghouse.net/

It seems some of the signers are charities and should not be aligning themselves with candidates.  


Re: Boris Johnson: community leaders (#6)

by Limony on Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 01:33:11 AM GMT

More on this malarky here: http://hurryupharry.bloghouse.net/

It seems some of the signers are charities and should not be aligning themselves with candidates.  


Boris Johnson: community leaders statements need "pinch of salt" | 6 comments (6 topical)