![Black vote to decide London Mayor? [1.5217391304348]](http://www.obv.org.uk/sites/default/files/imagecache/350x230/images/boris ken.jpg)
Black vote to decide London Mayor?
The Black and minority ethnic (BME) vote is most powerful in London. Why? It’s a numbers game. Nearly half of all BME communities in the UK live in Greater London. Literally millions of us. Over 2.5 million and in the tightest Mayoral race we have ever witnessed since the London Mayoral institution was formed just over a decade ago, a two or three percentage point here or there could be the difference between the two front runners Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson.
At the moment a recent YouGov poll shows Labour’s Livingstone leading by two points. The race couldn’t be tighter.
In the next few weeks, OBV will announce its public debate with all the Mayoral candidates. We will also request live interviews with them all in which you will put the questions to them.
What’s most important about the elections on May is that they will set the agenda for the National elections in 2015.
For our communities, with unprecedented power to sway the result, we must ensure we are first registered to vote and ready to set a race equality agenda for the next Mayor to deliver.
Make sure you’re ready to for the London Mayoral Elections.
Simon Woolley
Comments
"The Black and minority
"The Black and minority ethnic (BME) vote is most powerful in London"
I don't think you understand, Simon, that all votes are of identical worth in terms of individuals and only through unionisation and collectivisation can the value of votes be considered a fluctuating currency.
Is anti-individualism really the way to go? Should we be use the Reality Distortion Field of charisma an be suggesting that votes can change in value?
Probably not.
Water Melon Mayor.
Come the moment to vote, I hope all minority ethnic citizens remember the following:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23471866-boris-says-sorry-over-blacks-have-lower-iqs-article-in-the-spectator.do#addComment
Picaninnies (a word used by Enoch Powell back in the nineteen sixties) and water melon smiles by Africans when meeting foreign visitors. These were offensive terms very much etched in the head of Boris Johnson in the new millenium.
This same Mayor made it clear that he was not going to appoint an Equality Advisor because it disadvantaged some people. Racism has been on the increase since; the most notable being the race riots which was triggered off by the racist attitude of senior police officers within the Metropolitan Police.
This is the same Mayor who wouldn't return back to London from his holidays during the last race riots in August 2011 and left it in the hands of the Metropolitan Police. A clear case of a mayor who simply has no genuine thoughts or care for Londoners or their interests nor well-being.
This same Mayor has not done anything convincing since the last race riots to assure Londoners that there wouldn't be a repeat of the last riots.
Before you cast your votes, ask yourselves. Do I want another dose of this? Boris Johnson has not got the best interests of London or its residents at heart.
A vote for Boris is a wasted vote.
I see Josh' ignorance has only grown with time...
Josh falls prey to an old cliche, because he has no roots or connection to greater whole he doesn't value those that do. The fact is that BME people do in London do experience and are keenly aware of a commonality of experience. When mobilised this can have staggering affects on our political system as history has repeatedly shown us. Our communities have an awesome power which they can wield in - perhaps - one of the most significant elections in recent memory.
As Simon rightly points out, what we Londoners decide will set the tone and the agenda for the decision our country will make in just a few short years. We can make a difference but we must stand up and be counted, register to vote and get out and vote come election day. Too much depends on our action, too much will be lost by our lack of it.
The ignorant naysayers like Josh will not stop our long march to the promised land of equality of opportunity and representation for all!
To The Undecided.
For all those who are still not convinced that Boris Johnson is not the right Mayor for Multi-Racial London, I am attaching this link as a reminder to Boris's position on racism and the damage it can do to a person. http://www.metro.co.uk/news/524113-boris-backs-axed-thatcher-over-golliwog-comment
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