Yesterday in Camden, campaigning for Boris. I approached the bloke on the right of this picture.
“Have a Back Boris badge!”
“Boris Johnson?”
“Yes.”
“He’s here?”
“Yes.”
“I like Boris. But I wouldn’t vote for him. He’s a… bit of a clown, isn’t he?”
“Would you like to meet him?”
“No, it’s all right…”
“Go on,” I said, backed up by a friendly councillor. “Why don’t you meet him?”
So they met. Boris turned out to be a good listener, the stallholder - I bet - saw far beyond the clowning. They talked quite like old friends: I was impressed.
Still, if you do want a laugh there are plenty more photos of the day here.
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The conversations/images I would have liked to see that would never happen are:
Boris talks to the punks on Camden Bridge to understand their disaffection.
Boris takes a walk down the Canal to understand how casual the attitude towards drugs are in the area.
Boris takes a walk down the high street (when it’s actually busy) towards Camden Town station to understand why it would benefit from some element of pedestrianisation at high volume peaks.
Boris goes to a pub like The Enterprise and speaks to London’s youth to see what they have to say…
Odd you should mention some of those.
As it happens…
Boris walked from Camden Tube Station, through the chaos of Camden High Street and up to the market. He was mobbed by friendly people all the way up.
He stopped and had a long chat with a pair of punks, one of whom was swigging a can of Strongbow, and both of whom were delighted to meet him.
We went to the Enterprise afterwards (where else?) and had a few pints. Boris of course didn’t join us, but everyone - bar one middle aged nutter - was perfectly tolerant of the fact we were drinking in there - Boris paraphernalia notwithstanding.
Fair enough - he didn’t walk down the canal, but you’d be surprised how well he was received. The only people who looked as though they’d trod in something were middle class. On the strength of it, I think he’s going to win.
Confidence there, Mr Locker. I don’t think you can say it’s sealed until Boris manages to sow up the canalside community’s votes. Why not volunteer for the role of wino outreach officer?
Bill - did I forget to mention I turned up early, and for a reason….?
Well stone the crows! Boris and some Punks is the picture I think London, nay the nation, is holding out for! In terms of maintaining public order, surely Boris should have challenged the cider-swilling youngster for being in breach of public decency or some such infringement? Brian Paddick would never of stood for that! haha
As for the “he was mobbed by friendly people all the way up”, on past experience, approximately 3% of the Camden drag is what I would classify as “friendly” so I guess it depends how you define mobbed…I think the very experience of walking down the high street is tantamount to being mobbed whether you’re Boris or otherwise! :p
Nice to see the race/banter is starting to gain some momentum…
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