Media: Issues and Ideology or Ken and Boris

Josh FG Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 11:46:34 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

The press regularly use as an excuse for the derisory level of political coverage in this country the claim (which may often be true) that you can not get a fag paper between the main political protagonists on policy.  However if this is the case how do they explain the coverage of the mayoral election?




The framing of the election as Ken V Boris alone shows how much we have descended to the level of Celebrity Big Brother in our news coverage when at its heart this election should be about real issues and the prize at stake is the position with the third greatest direct electoral mandate in Europe. This is a problem in the main because ‘Boris’ is funny but on policy Livingstone wins hands down.

On the environment, Livingstone has real policies encouraging use of public transport and dissuading people from using high polluting cars, Johnson opposes these policies while his own figures don’t add up.

On social housing something that matters to young low waged Londoners Livingstone has set the 50% target while Johnson hopes the market will sort it out.

On the issue of youth crime Livingstone favours an approach of increasing opportunity and investment in places for young people to go alongside more police while Johnson as far as I can understand favours a return to racist stop and search policing of old which was so unsuccessful before (or at least that is how I read his criticism of “politically correct policing” in a recent campaign leaflet).

 Finally and most of all in this election we need to ask who should lead this city in a crisis. if we are to compare the Islamophobia demonstrated by Johnson in his magazine and Livingstone’s unrivalled record on uniting all London communities and put our self in a situation in where the worst happens and we faced another terrorist attack who you would like leading this city?

Joshua Fenton-Glynn

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Media: Issues and Ideology or Ken and Boris | 3 comments (3 topical)

Re: Media: Issues and Ideology or Ken and Boris (#1)

by jkitleft on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 11:23:55 PM GMT

Despite my hatred for Ken's apologism for demagoguery, i.e. radical mullahs, who appease beating and raping of Muslim woman (by the way, I cannot help but note, there is no such thing as Islamophobia), or Marxist-Leninists, and surrounding himself with people from the far-left, needless administrative costs, and when one of those advisors resigned, after Ken inviting radical clerics, after 52 people lay dead in Tube stations and on a Bus, accused her of being dismissed because she was a threat to 'national security, I am supporting Ken.

I'm not sure Ken is handling youth crime particuarly well, but Boris will do no better, and London youth crime is not the worst in the UK: on average, Leeds was the worst area last year for youth crime.


While I doubt the complete effectiveness of Kens environmental policy, he has tried convincingly to lower pollution. He has probably succeeded in lowering pollution, despite my misgivings.


Social housing. Ken vs Boris? Hmmm. That question doesn't even need to be answered


What buisness does Boris have taking part in a London election, when his constituency is nowhere near the Greater London area? Boris is stupid, will be as popular as Bush is stupid jokes. I think he is a buffoon. I don't think he is as stupid as he looks, he just has visceral reactions. By concentrating on this, his campaign can be dissected much more easily.


Re: Media: Issues and Ideology or Ken and Boris (#2)

by Josh FG on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 10:56:46 AM GMT

"by the way, I cannot help but note, there is no such thing as Islamophobia"

How would you define holding those of the Muslim faith to higher standards and greater criticism than one would to people of other faiths.

Furthermore their is a difference between legitimate religious criticism and debate and comments likely to insight hatred and violence against people.


[ Parent ]

Re: Media: Issues and Ideology or Ken and Boris (#3)

by jkitleft on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 07:05:51 PM GMT

Hi Josh
Well, first of all, Islamophobia, would literally mean: fear of Islam. Not hatred of Islam.

I am extremely critical of other religions, especially the other two monotheisms. But the disgusting content within the other two holy books, are almost obsolete. Many abhorrent statements in the Quran are still being enforced, across the globe. I would, out of the three religions I am most critical of, hold Islam to a higher level of criticism, because of how the teaching of the Quran are being more enforced, especially the subjugation of women, than from the other religions.

Islam is simply a set of beliefs, it is not a race. Those who see it as a race, are racist. It was the hallmark or the Milosevics and Mladics, who commited a genocide against the Muslims of the Balkans. I greatly admire those, who want to see much of their holy texts become obsolete, despite my passionate dislike (to put it mildly) of religion. People like Irshad Manji. It is interesting to note that although I could write a book criticising statements in the Quran, the Quran only forbids the drinking of wine, not alcohol, so there are many Islamic scholars who get high on Johnny Walker Blue (but not Johnny Walker Black or Red, as that would be a downgrade). 

Muslimphobia is different by definition to Islamophobia. Again, I do not believe there is Muslimphobia, but the far worse hatred against Muslims, enforced as an ethnic issue, as we all know the stories of Sikhs and Hindus murdered by religious fanatics and Nazis, because people think they're Muslims. I hate those who enforce hatred of Muslims. Muslims are adherents, their moderate beliefs can be appealed to. In the last 20 years, we all know the religious/ethnic cleansing enforced by Christain extremists in the Balkans against Muslims. I have Muslim friends, but I express my distaste, in a tactful way, about the ideology. It is an ideology, that on a level playing field, should be open to criticism.


Masquerading religious belief as an ethnic identity is done every day, by those of all political beliefs. Note those who for instance class Kurds as a seperate entity in Iraq, despite how they are nearly all Sunnis. It is also  worryingly done by racists who think that all those who have brown-skin are Muslims.


[ Parent ]

Media: Issues and Ideology or Ken and Boris | 3 comments (3 topical)