I do wish people would stop using perceived personal characteristics to inform their voting. I fervently hope everyone on SG.org will vote Ken, but I somehow doubt they will. Judging by the amount of money some people here spend on eating and drinking out, they will not be feeling the pinch in the way that many of the familes I know on the two big estates near me do. Higher education will be out of the question soon, for their children, so Ken's promise to bring back the Educational Maintenance Allowance is vital. Equally important for most people: lower fares, and some sort of control over the greedy bastards who are stealing a third or even a half of a tenant's income in rent.

Come on folks - we've got to get rid of Boris, and Ken is the only possibility, whatever you think of him personally.

I agree. Depressing . I may not even vote. See Simon Jenkins in Standard tonight. Same old ppl from 2008, no change. KL has wasted Labour lead in London cos he is incapable of moving beyond his narrow tribe. BJ manages this, is brighter, younger, but as cynical as they come. Padick is dull - ok for Manchester but London needs a star. On balance I will have to vote for Brian, given the other two are so discredited and tribal . Chang

@Rainbow Carnage 'Not because he went to Eton (only a moron blames a person for where his parents sent him to school)'

That is the most accurate and common sense statement I've ever heard on the ridiculous too posh to be a proper leader argument that has become all too prevalent in destroying any sensible argument about politics in this country.

I'll be borrowing that myself in future.

This has never really been about the parties, it's about the people and sadly that's Boris or Ken mostly. Most of us know that half of what they say is crap so who do you like more?

If it was someone other than Ken I think Labour would win, every time I see him I can't help thinking spitting image.

With Boris you know if needed he would be up a tree rescuing a Kitten

Mentioning Spitting Image  - I keep thinking images of Nick Clegg  in Daves  jacket   top  pocket  just like  David Steele and David Owen !

[Coneheads]Correct![/Coneheads] No-one is discussing issues, this is an election, they are no longer about issues, it's all about the personality. Whether it be party leaders at a General Election or individual candidates at this Mayoral Election.

For anyone actually interested in the issues rather than personalities, including prioritising policies that affect us all over a candidate's ability to shin up trees to rescue animals, then spend 5 minutes here: http://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/vm-ldn-share - It will find the candidate closest to your own views.

Personality, or at least how it expresses itself in a candidate's politics, is an issue.  I think Ken's brand of demagoguery is dangerously divisive (and alliterative) for a city like London. The platforms he's been happy to share, and the views he's been happy to tacitly espouse aren't trivial or irrelevant.

The mayoral election could've been a walkover for Labour if they'd bothered to field a credible candidate. They didn't, but are still urging people to hold their noses and vote for Ken, treating it like a referendum on coalition policies. Patronising bullshit even their party members aren't buying this time round.

I've done the Vote Match thing and it reckons I should plump for BNP candidate. But I won't, because personality - values, theirs and mine - does matter.

Did votematch, ticked that I'd consider voting for all to see what it brought up, got the BNP first and UKIP second - two candidates I would not vote for. Paddick beat Boris for me and Ken came last.

Beyond the fact that I would never endorse the poison of the BNP, I think that the Mayoral elections should be voted for on a non-party political basis.

At the end of the day it doesn't matter: Ken sucked up to the City when he was in charge more than Boris has - both stood up to their parties.

It would actually be good if all candidates were independent and it was totally non-partisan - that would make it interesting.

@rainbow carnage Parking's not just about if you drive

Look at the top concern of what is hurting their business of almost all small independent shopkeepers when asked - parking and over zealous money-grabbing councils in hock with private firms.

I did vote match and got 1.Benita, 2. Bojo, 3. Paddick which is almost, but not quite, right.

I agree with Rainbow, nothing would make me vote for Livingstone even if wanted to vote Labour. He is a self serving, lying, slimeball.

So. Off to vote, with heavy heart, almost knowing (see my last post in the religious debate) that Ken has lost. Out in the street yesterday I deliberately engaged with as many people as I could find, in Tesco's, in the cafe, outside the pub, everywhere. Most people agreed with me. We have reservations about Ken's character, but his programme is the only hope for people on low incomes. The much better off SG.org voters seem to have decided to disregard issues, and that the poor can go fuck themselves. Have a heart, you lot! The families I know desperately need to get rid of Boris, and that can only be done by voting Labour - albeit with gritted teeth!

@checkski, is there any evidence that Ken would be a better mayor for London's poor, or do you just blindly believe that?

As I said in a previous post, I used to work for the living wage campaign. We were fighting for better pay and working conditions for cleaners and other low-paid workers. Ken refused to support the campaign. He didn't give a damn about people working 60 hours a week, who still couldn't buy new shoes for their kids. We held a rally to embarrass encourage him. It didn't look good for Ken to have a bunch of cleaners, students, trade union leaders, priests, nuns and even an imam standing outside his office, chanting. Eventually, he relented.

In contrast, Boris has supported the campaign since before he was elected. He has since supported subsequent increases.

I'm not naive enough to believe that Boris has my best interests at heart, but I sure as hell know that Ken doesn't.

Rainbow.  It is probbably worth mentioning that the London living wage was introduced in 2005.  Ken was in charge  at that time so you obviuosly had encourgaed him to take this up.  One good thing that was done at that time was to introduce that in any GLA procurement a sucessfuly supplier has to sign up to it.

Looking at the Tory history on minimum wage would suggets that if Boris had been in in 2005 I am  not sure how far you would have got ?.

I would think the fare cut is an important amount of money been given back to the poor who have to travel as it is significant amount of money. Transport is far too expensive in this city.

The current rate is £8.30.I hope all the people on her  who have servant cleaners  are paying at least this amount ?

Going rate for domestic cleaners is £10-11 ph. Love Boris or hate him, his views are not always in line with the party, and he has shown a willingness to challenge the Tories on several issues.