It sickens me to read that…. 

" a formidable coalition of businessmen, politicians, religious leaders and community workers will pledge their support tonight for an amnesty for illegal immigrants who have been resident in the UK for several years and can pass strict tests to prove their contribution to British society. All four of London’s main mayoral candidates – including, against the official policy of his party, the Tory candidate Boris Johnson – will back the campaign to offer undocumented workers the chance to be integrated into mainstream society and obtain papers allowing them to work and pay taxes legally. In an unprecedented move that will exert even more pressure on the Government to heed calls for an amnesty, they will be joined by an array of influential figures from outside the political world, including Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, leader of the Muslim Council of Britain and Stephen O’Brien, one of the City’s leading businessmen."

Well, I say shame on them all for condoning these law-breakers! The Mayoral candidates are clearly pandering to London’s large numbers of illegal immigrants and sending a signal that it doesn’t matter of you break the law today because a few years later there is always the prospect of amnesty. You do not engender lawful behavior by condoning unlawful behavior, except in the minds of leftists.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor has absolutely no excuse for joining in this immoral jamboree and should be singularly criticised for his folly.

Did you see that the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has admitted that he  has five children by three different women?  As well as two children with his partner, Emma Beal, Mr Livingstone has three other children from two previous relationships. He has two daughters with one previous partner and a son with a third woman. Their identities have not been revealed. He was said last night to be an "involved father" who was in regular touch with all his children. Yes, I bet. Now then, Livingstone says that his private life is his business and has no relevance to the imminent Mayoral election however it  strikes me that what Ken appears to enjoy doing in his private life is exactly the same as he has been doing to London foe years.

There is a Channel 4 ‘Dispatches’ documentary on Monday about Ken Livingstone and his tenure as Mayor. Worth a watch since Ken,as reported by Harrys Place, has sent a letter to the chief executive of Channel 4, Andy Duncan, claiming that the programme is, in effect, a party political broadcast on behalf of Boris Johnson. 

This is my city, it’s our grand Capital, i love it and it deserves better than gang culture, vile rape stories and slimy fascist loving mediabug Ken. I couldn’t care less for personalities and media hype when it comes to these elections, though Ill concede his whiny twang and surly face make me reach for the remote every time he appears. It should be fought on policy. 

This is Boris’s new website.  Since he won the primarys he has been rather quiet. He intends to run City Hall in 4 months time and this is a series of posts about the policies on the agenda and a bit about London from someone who loves this place.  This is a long one because its my bugbear. The rest will be shorter!

On his website Boris suggests that his new site will be "the chance to share what you love and loathe about the borough you live in…" Well, I already know what i really love (a LOT) and i know what i truly loathe about the borough I live in – and it all falls into the areas he is tackling.

Safety, gang culture, thuggery, knife crime.

Boris launched his strategy for tackling the growing problem of gang violence in London with a hard-hitting advert in the Evening Standard.  In an accompanying article he outlined the key themes of this strategy: "using the direct involvement of community groups and mentoring schemes across London to counter gang culture", and "toughening up policing in the capital to make streets safer" "Use mobile scanners in hot spots around London at tube stations, festivals, etc" To "Drive out political correctness" but before you get excited he means that it is not about one section of the community in London: The knife is colour blind and does not discriminate. "Get more police on the streets". "Sports Funding: Ring-fence a part of the LDA budget to invest specifically in community sports projects around London". "Housing: Make designing out crime a key priority in the London Plan so we don’t make the mistakes of the past". "Transport: Make public transport safer by running a live CCTV trial on buses".

There are a number of issues in there. Ill take a couple. For Boris it’s about working with the police and communities to prevent young Londoners becoming victims of gang violence and investing in more full-time officers, whose numbers are in decline. Here’s what i think.

Yes we need more police, freed up from paperwork with a proper ‘remit’ to arrest criminals and for them to know the thugs they arrest will see a court and go through a legal process that doesn’t see them back out on the streets having had a light slap on the wrist.

We need tougher looking MALE police officers! I don’t care about race and religion but officers seem to be shrinking in more ways than one. I walked past 3 this evening who were employed for their gender and race and who looked about as menacing as me. They were shorter than me – by some way.  It’s not rocket science that police officers should command authority and inspire confidence.  And that it isn’t all about carrying firearms. I’m talking about beat officers – not the ones that race around in cars all day or S019.  It’s beat officers we need in droves.

Maybe we could have SO19 stationed permanently in some travel and key areas? They used to be stationed in the City at checkpoints. We need more of them too. Although I’m not sure about this little plan either.  (Contrary to what some may think I’ve never been that keen on female officers or for that matter female soldiers on the front line).

But this is the killer:

• We must strengthen neighbourhood policing and beef up the powers of community support officers so that they can take action to protect Londoners.

Community officers?? Give me a break. They’re crap. I direct about 14 tourists a day to the British Museum and noone pays me.

In an interesting write up on gang culture relating to the points above he summarised:-

• To make our streets safer, we must of course begin with the police. It’s not just a question of ensuring a more visible police presence, and cutting the paperwork that keeps so many officers in the back room. We need a clear signal – from the top of the Met – that tackling the gangs is a priority. We need to do far more to end the prevalence of knives and guns on the streets and on public transport, and it is time we at least considered the use of remote hand-held scanners that can detect weapons at a distance. The idea has been promoted by Lord Stevens, the former Commissioner, and it has the advantage of allowing officers to "search" without stopping, and without being seen to victimise some communities. We need to prevent the teenage gangs from treating the buses as getaway cars, and intimidating other passengers (correct!). That’s why I have proposed a trial of live CCTV on some routes, so that the police can see the violence taking place as soon as they are alerted to it by the bus driver – and immediately go to the scene".

Mobile scanners and the latest CCTV all sound good if there is a response to it that works when needed. I’ve seen the live CCTV try outs on our buses and its pretty incredible technology, very clear. I’m in two minds about CCTV.  Obviously it was of enormous benefit in 2005 and 2007.  But its pointless unless its reinforced with regular officers, armed officers who can get to you quickly.

And this is where Ken also really screwed up.

Getting rid of the Routemaster.  In taking them off our streets he removed the freedom to get off the bus when you want and the security of a conductor.  You cannot get off the bendy buses in a major hurry. I really hate the way the driver jams the doors shut unless he is at a stop and with the ‘kids’ on the buses forever kicking off at the back it gets frustrating and frightening.

• The Mayor could be doing so much more to encourage competitive sport of all kinds, with all its potential for developing em
  otional maturity and for allowing young males to let off steam. There is so much that could be done with the arts.

What are we talking about: Ballet? Jeez.

Boris writes some good stuff about the culture behind..and reasons for gangs. But if i was in charge these boys would have their welfare stopped and be shipped off to boot camp ‘to let off steam’ rather than focusing on the arts and before the focus on sports.  Welfare may be out of his control but he could bring pressure to bear on London borough councils where it relates back to crime.

Every morning when i leave to go to work, the loony kid opposite is sitting on the wall, a wall attached to what would, on the market, be a £3 million Georgian house but instead is council property. Swinging his legs without a care in the world. Always has ‘something’ to tell me. I’m paying for the little twerp to sit on that wall all day. There is no reason he cannot work. His brothers are the ones who used to tear up and down the street on brand new mopeds c/o my tax money. And naturally the LA and NYC styled gang culture is a BIG draw when you’re bored or should i say lacking in ‘emotional maturity’.

Bottom line. I don’t want to pay anymore towards their ‘emotional maturity’ or lack thereof.  I have no doubt that just stopping welfare won’t stop the styled gang culture that offers them the kudos they feel they need, spoon fed them by every aspect of modern culture.  But before we pay out on any more schemes – we can cut back on a few.  Boris is a Tory. Let’s hope this filters through.

Conservative proposals to force the long term unemployed to work for their benefits were drawn up after studying the experience of similar schemes in the US, in places such as the state of Wisconsin..

Overall Boris gets: 7/10 on crime and safety proposals.

I note that Ken Livingstone – the repugnant pro-Jihad Mayor of London has been winning the backing of "prominent Muslim organisations and individuals" – or so the Guardian would have us believe, for the forthcoming Mayoral election.

Phil Taylor has a most insightful post here on the precise nature of the wackos and extremists that are backing Red Ken fascinating to see the links with the Muslim Brotherhood and Mosques harboring extremist literature.

Ken Livingstone’s presence as Mayor is a blight on London. I really DO hope that the conservative opponent – Boris Johnson – does beat him. Boris may act the fool but Ken is something much more deadly, corrosive, degenerate.

Hat-tip to Ross at Unenlightened Commentary!

The team at Top Gear tries to determine which is the best form of transport during rush hour in London. They race each other through the capital using public transport (a mix of bus, tube and DLR), a car (with satnav, the police and the CC to contend with), a bike (rather him than me) and a boat. Brilliantly edited, a nice snapshot of life in the capital, topical and full of humour. Really good fun. In 3 short parts. I won’t tell you the result

part 2
part 3

Following on from the triumphant release of last week’s report into "Islamophobia" in the media (cost to the taxpayer: £30-50,000; written by a team including such impartial analysts as the Muslim Council of Britain’s Inayat Bunglawala), Ken Livingstone has now found another, equally excellent, way to spend public money.

To be specific, he has initiated a survey enquiring into the "experience of Muslim students in further and higher education in London". As well as asking Muslim students to give their views on the extent to which "homophobia" and sexism (as well as, of course, "racism", and the cardinal sin of "Islamophobia") are tolerated or confronted at the institutions they attend, respondents are also asked for their views on "what needs to be done to effectively tackle Islamophobia against students in London". Now, this question would seem to imply that there is widespread "Islamophobia" occurring in London’s universities. And since Red Ken and Co apparently already know this to be the case, one has to wonder what the point of the whole survey is! But leaving this aside, my answer to the question, were I eligible to take part in the survey, might well include such points as:

Muslims should stop demanding preferential treatment at every available juncture.

Or:

Muslims should stop crying "Islamophobia" given the slightest (or indeed, in the absence of any) excuse.

But then, I’m not a Muslim student, so I’m not eligible to take the survey. However, Livingstone is very keen for as many Muslims as possible to give their responses, so I would urge all ATW’s numerous Muslim readers to go ahead and respond. Of course, it would be very bad of any infidels who may be reading this to take the survey, and I trust that you will all refrain from doing so. Good dhimmis, know your place.

Hat-tip: Harry’s Place

Or any time of year London frankly. I adore it. Well… someone has to stick up for the place around here!  I’m recycling some pictures I took last October, since we have had similarly gorgeous autumnal weather today. Pictures of the Thames taken from the Houses of Parliament, some taken of the gardens in St James Park and in and around Westminster. Most were taken on the Westminster London Walk. For not much more than a fiver, a guide walks you around our Capital filling you in on its history and pointing out its hidden treasures, including the more modern ones like the war shelter sign below.  On one of the Walks along the Thames, went home with several clay pipes, bits of Roman roof tiles, an Elizabethan bottle top, and fragments of china from the many ships that used the river – fragments of history wash up every day on the banks of the River. And when they dig foundations in the City they uncover even more. The ruins of a pagan Roman temple were unearthed in the heart of our congested financial district in 2004.

Well done to Harrys Place for yesterdays Al Quds counter demo in London. From the Jerusalem Post:

The counterprotest was organized by the popular British blog "Harry’s Place‚" under the banner "Oppose the Government of Iran, support the people of Iran." It included a variety of individuals, Jewish and non-Jewish, from all along the political spectrum: Iranian dissident groups and individuals stood with human rights campaigners, socialist groups like the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty and anarchist group Class War.

 

"We wanted to see if we could pull together people from across the political spectrum, from communists to liberals, who support democracy and human rights in Iran and oppose the current murderous regime," Dave T., the proprietor of "Harry’s Place" and organizer of the counter-demo, told The Jerusalem Post.

They also report on Ahmadinejad’s solution to the Israel Problem, from his 2007 Al Quds Day speech….

Ethnic cleansing:

 

Millions of Iranians once again held annual International Qods Day rallies on Friday, with a call by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for Israel to be relocated, away the Middle East and the Islamic world.

 

"Canada and Alaska have vast lands, why don’t you relocate them (Israel) over there and keep helping them over there with (aid of) 30 to 40 billion dollars per year for building a new existence over there," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a speech.

Speaking of swiping, which is pretty much everywhere and for everything these days, the combined Oyster card, Barclaycard and "errr, lunchtime snack, booze, book & paper" card, acc. to London Underground blog, launched last week. The Onepulse card combines an Oyster card which we use on London Transport, with a credit card and a cashless way of paying for items under ten quid. These currently include Books Etc, Chop’d, Coffee Republic, EAT, Krispy Kreme, Threshers and YO! Sushi. So you’ll be able to swipe the one card at the aforementioned shops to pay for your food and drinks.

A cab driver told me Ken was thinking of asking cabs to have swipe pads installed so that people could also pay for cab rides with their Lobster. Sean Gardner, chief executive of a price comparison service site, said it was another step towards a cashless society. He enthusiastically called it  "a genuine advance in the credit card industry and looks set to cause a real stir in London. Experts have been predicting the end of cash for years and this looks set to be another step in that direction."

Some of this seems like a great idea. But not all of it.  I dont like being card dependent, cash is sometimes faster and easier for transport and Im not at all keen on having money ‘banked’ in this system. What say you?

Another August Bank Holiday has passed, which must mean another episode of media coverage of London’s Notting Hill Carnival is under way.  I’ve never been to this spectacle, nor would I wish to go.  To see the horror of the sheer scale of alien immigration in modern London encapsulated in a few streets is not something that gladdens my heart.  If people want to throw themselves into a pit of liberal-loving ethnic abandon, so be it.  I prefer parades pledging loyalty to this country, not to everywhere BUT this country.

Contrasts in media exposure of the Notting Hill Carnival and the Orange parades in Ulster during the Twelfth always amuses me.  One is a display of black culture; the other of Protestant culture.  One is a mass street parade; the other is a mass street parade.  One has seen its fair share of violence perpetrated by unwelcome minorities; the other has seen its fair share of violence perpetrated by unwelcome minorities – be they ‘friend’ or enemy.  In essence there is little difference between the two in terms of how they symbolise cultural expression.

However, whilst the media loves to regard Notting Hill as a positive symbol of multi-ethnic urban Britain, it also likes to portray the devotion and loyalty of Protestant Orangemen as some nihilistic evocation of another era.  Media coverage paraphrases Napoleon Pig: black expression good; Orange expression bad.  There is always something subliminally condescending about the metropolitan media and their stance towards the Twelfth – an event which attracts a greater proportion of spectators in ratio to the overall population of Northern Ireland than Notting Hill does of London.  It says something about the priorities of our liberal rulers and opinion formers when they can see something pledging fealty to this country as inferior to something else pledging cultural fealty to anything except this country.