Was Ken Livingston right to do this?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.libdemvoice.org/red-ken-rejects-whi te-men-for-london-fire-authority-908.html

[Neilzulu1]

No, he is wan#er, plain & simple.

[Whickerman]

that is just ridiculous.

[sp1814]

No, but Tim Leunig'as response hits the nail on the head.

Another political own-goal for Kenny.

[jno]

I guess the Tories could spike his guns by putting forward the occasional woman; goodness knows why it hasn't occurred to them?

[anotheoldgit]

I think you will find they did jno.

The Mayor approved all five Labour nominations, as well as one Tory woman and the sole Green and One London party representatives.
(Taken from the posted article)

It seems it is only white men he has trouble with.

[jno]

did you read the last post on that article, oldgit?

You could always stand for mayor at the next election, you know. The Tories are desperate to find an opponent to face Ken. Nobody wants the job because they think he's going to be a shoo-in yet again. He's a canny operator, and Londoners like him. (Talking to people who live there, I get the impression they liked the way he said he'd sort out the traffic and did it even though it looked like making a fool of him... which it didn't. He's not like Blair, dropping his policies the moment some focus group tells him to.) As it happens, the only for-sale London newspaper hates him, but its circulation is in decline, possibly because it's out of touch with its readership.

[anotheoldgit]

Is this is the post jno?

The Mayor made short term appointments (till August 31st) of the Tory, male, nominees from the London boroughs but has insisted that the Tories appiont their London Assembly group leader Angie Bray to the Authority, replacing Bob Blackman. The Tories have accepted this.

What will happen after August 31st? Didn't think Bob Blackman would be replaced though.

[jno]

well, that's a start. He's now turned the attention of the world to the make-up of the fire authority. I can't see any reason why it should be made up of middle-aged white males, which in no way reflects London's diversity (in fact I hereby nominate sp), but if somebody doesn't make a fuss about it then nothing will ever change.

[sp1814]

jno

I hereby accept your nomination.

Anything which involves me spending time with firemen is a very good thing

[jno]

you might even get to slide down their poles occasionally, sp1814 - if so, remember Bridget Jones and don't overdo the big knickers.

[sp1814]

jno

Wow - it took you just four minutes to do the 'fireman's pole' joke.

Well done sir.

But seriously - back to the original question...unless Kenny can proffer equally or better qualified candidates, I think he's on a hiding to nothing.

Also, there's the question as to whether the London Fire Authority needs to be representative of the community it supports.

Not sure at this point whether it does.

Wonder why the Tories weren't able to find a single woman though...???

[jno]

well, in theory most committees don't need to represent their community. In practice, if they aren't made to, they end up all middle-aged white males, which is sort of the British default position. The downside risk is that capable white males are replaced by incompetent black lesbians in the name of diversity. But really, I can't believe the Tories couldn't find able people outside their narrow demographic if they tried.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814 Read the post again the Tories did appoint a Female, Angie Bray apparently replacing a Blackman.

jno, if they aren't made to, they end up all middle-aged white males, which is sort of the British default position.

i found your statement to be rather racist, although having thought about it, then everyone knows (or should do) that middle-aged British white males are always going to be the best choice no matter what.