Boris Johnson has decided not to appear at our Mayoral hustings tonight at the University of London. As The Guardian picked up on today, this isn’t the only time that the Conservative candidate’s campaign team have hustled him out of the limelight. Could it be that they’re so nervous about the gaffe prone candidate that they’re not even allowing him to speak to the public?
Author Archive for Campaignmanager
It’s not been an easy ride for our team of Time Out journalists and volunteers, but after four weeks we’ve done it: successfully raised the £10,000 minimum required to stand for Mayor of London. We’ve also collected the 330 signatures of registered voters from 33 boroughs (ten per borough) every candidate must supply. Great, lets stand for Mayor of London then…
Well, actually, let’s not. This campaign was never just about Michael Hodges becoming Mayor, it was about putting your concerns on the Mayoral agenda and fighting an electoral system that is inherently unfair and undemocratic. That’s why we opened up the pages of Time Out, and this website, so you could help us shape what is truly a people’s manifesto. Your manifesto. To be honest, we were staggered by how much passion, verve and imagination you mustered for this particular cause. We also learned that you don’t necessarily want grand or radical policies but the small and simple things which, if implemented, would improve life in this city immensely.
Every turn of this campaign seemed to reveal uncomfortable truths about London democracy. Gathering the required signatures was hard enough for us, a well-staffed weekly magazine, but for ordinary Londoners wishing to stand as independent candidates, it’s almost impossible. Political parties get access to the electoral rolls for every London borough. They also have teams of party workers who are paid to go out and chase the signatures. Is this any way to run a genuinely democratic city?
We are proposing an early day motion in the House of Commons, which will call for an end to discriminatory barriers that prevent Londoners like you contributing to the running of your own city. So, although we have qualified to enter the race, we are withdrawing from the official election, but fighting on against the system that’s let you – and London – down.
The Time Out Mayoral campaign stops but the people’s manifesto lives on. And to ensure it does, we will be putting its key demands to each of the main candidates over the coming weeks.
We hope they listen to you. To find out more, and to get involved, visit the Time Out site.
Gordon Thomson, editor of Time Out, and Michael Hodges, Time Out Mayoral candidate
Here at the throbbing centre of the Time Out mayoral campaign donations continue to come in but, more importantly, so do your ideas.
Remember – the other candidates, whatever their politics, are telling Londoners what they need, but we are asking Londoners what they want.
This is a truly democratic campaign because you get to write the manifesto. So please, keep your ideas for the London you want to see coming in. Every suggestion, like every pound you pledge, makes our city better.
To help shape our manifesto, go here.
Michael Hodges
Candidate for Mayor of London
Support for Hodges’ campaign for Mayor has come from all over London – and with nearly £3000 raised, we’re well on our way to seeing him stand as an official candidate. You can read Hodges’ policies and help shape our manifesto here, but remember that his main policy is to abolish the extortionate £10,000 deposit that all candidates must put forward – a fee that keeps London’s democratic processes in the hands of the fat cats.
Ironically, under current rules we’ll still need to raise that amount in order to scrap it.
You can pledge to donate as little as £1 by clicking here.
Or if you want to donate a larger amount, email us here
Good news, three days into the Hodges mayoral campaign and things are happening. The Greyhound in Sydenham, one of the under threat London pubs we championed in our manifesto – and it is just one of hundreds across London that are in danger – looks like it might be saved yet.
I’m not taking credit for this. It’s down to the hard work of CAMRA and especially the local website – a model of community websites in London, even if they are rude about me – Sydenham Town Forum.
Click here for the good news and proof that Londoners can look after their city – which is exactly what our Mayoral campaign is all about. And where were you Ken when the place was under threat?
Michael Hodges
Candidate for Mayor of London
Well, the first public appearance of my campaign was at Speaker’s Corner this afternoon – and no fighting, drunkenness or bad feeling resulted. Instead 47 Londoners and a Jordanian television crew came together in a generally encouraging mood, someone even cheered, and all were keen to support our bid for power in London.
This may not be many people given the population of our city but every mass movement must start somewhere and with someone and today it started at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park. Thanks for turning up – there’s more to come.
The biggest cheer, by the way, came for our campaign slogan, ‘Saving London from politicians’
Michael Hodges
Candidate for Mayor of London
Michael Hodges’ Mayoral campaign was picked up in Tuesday’s Evening Standard.
Hodges told them: ‘I’m very serious about this. I felt that the votes of young Londoners were being taken for granted and I would love to shake up a system that is letting Londoners down.’
‘Under Ken Livingstone we have seen pubs, clubs and theatres closed at an unprecedented level and I want to save the soul of the city.’
To read the full story, click here.
Latest Comments
RSS