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My manifesto so far

Published
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admin
on March 3, 2008
in Campaign update and New stuff
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We want you, the capital’s sharpest citizens, to shape Time Out’s manifesto. That way we will be representing real Londoners rather than well-financed interest groups. Tell us what you think here and help shape London’s future with Time Out.

Here are some of the ideas we’ve already received:

‘Bring in FREE wi-fi across London. The internet is the greatest tool of knowledge – it should be free for everyone, not just coffee shop dwellers.
Bring down the price of cab hire – it’s a rip-off.
Change all traffic light bulbs to LED ones – huge savings can be made. Good for the environment too.’ Rumpleproofskin

‘Make recycling fun. And profitable. Create effigies of Boris Johnson, Red Ken and the other one. Place them in a roped-off area in the local tip. Charge £1 to be able to fling bottles at our target hate figure. Then sweep the glass up. Put the shards into a windmill. And grind them into builders sand, using windpower. It would raise funds and the gaiety of the capital.’ Nick Booth

Continue reading ‘My manifesto so far’

Hodges at On The Up - Video + Photo Gallery

Published
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on March 3, 2008
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It might have been the large brandy I took to keep out the cold but as I stepped on stage at the Carling Academy last night - half way through Time Out’s On The Up gig - I felt a definite rush of enthusiasm from a large and vociferous crowd that had come to see three new bands rather than a bloke with a ‘vote for me’ sticker. There was cheering and clapping even, especially when I brought up our key manifesto commitment to keep London’s venues open. Other candidates talk about London’s vital financial sector but Time Out readers know that London’s cultural endeavours are just as important.

Click on the thumbnails and up pops a larger version of me in full flow or watch my, erm, flattering video below.

Photo credit: David Axelbank

Cake challenge video

Published
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admin
on February 29, 2008
in Campaign update and Get involved
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Here it is! The hotly-anticipated lo-fi film of the Time Out Cake Challenge which brought chaos to Oxford Street and gave a huge boost to the Hodge’s campaign. We raised some money, made some new friends and most importantly spread our message to the people who really matter - ordinary Londoners. Watch the footage of us doing what we do best - saving the city from politicians and handing out free cake.

Press Gazette publicises campaign

Published
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on February 29, 2008
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Well, it seems all the major press are getting word of my campaign. Respected industry magazine, Press Gazette ran a feature on my Mayoral activities, and in particular my stance against the litter-causing London freesheets. Read Press Gazette article

They have yet to come out fully in support of my candidacy but seem to be getting behind the cause and there’s also an article on their breaking news blog, The Wire which includes a handy link to help you part with your all hard-earned pennies and make a donation. With your help we can reach the magical £10,000 mark. Read more here

Hear Hodges at On The Up

Published
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admin
on February 28, 2008
in Events and New stuff
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Tonight our campaign gets significantly louder as I have to shout to be heard above three sensational bands at Time Out’s On the Up gig at Bar Academy (16 Parkfield St, N1 Centre. Nearest tube Angel). Time Out campaign staff will be there to take any donations you are able to make and any ideas you have for our ‘peoples’ manifesto. I’ll be the tall bloke on stage at 8.30 going ‘vote for me’.

Cake challenge results

Published
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admin
on February 28, 2008
in Campaign update and Events
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The Time Out Mayor of London cake challenge took to the streets of the capital today and a large crowd gathered at Oxford Circus as we offered them the opportunity to vote with their mouths.

The choices of cake flavour were as follows: Brian Paddick Orange sponge, Ken Livingstone nut cake, Boris Johnson toffee cake and me, Michael Hodges, your Time Out candidate for Mayor of London, chocolate cake. And would you believe it, the overwhelmingly favourite flavour amongst Londoners was the chocolate cake.

Proof then that there is a groundswell behind our campaign and London is ready for change. We also signed up new supporters and filled several buckets with loose change. Consequently our Blue Peter-style donation thermometer is edging up towards the magic £10,000 mark that will put our campaign on the official voting register in May (which is why every pound pledged matters). Thanks to all that came and remember you, the people of London, are writing our manifesto.

We need your ideas

Published
by
Campaignmanager
on February 27, 2008
in Campaign update and Get involved
. 8 Comments

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

Hodges takes time off the campaign trail to answer your questions

Published
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on February 26, 2008
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Q. Boris Johnson’s ‘five-point plan’ in your ‘Trident On Trial’ piece (TO 1957) is evidence enough why he should not be in Parliament, let alone a Mayoral candidate. Without pointing out the irrelevance of scanners at stations to the gun crime problem, his proposed solution of building sports academies is insulting. Not all young black men are 100-metre hurdlers. Why stop there? You could also build dancing schools and a libido museum. Education, careers and aspiration is an alternative to crime. A simple increased investment in teachers and schools would do more good than perpetuating the stereotype that we are all sportsmen. Fullen Bless, by email

A. Hear! hear! Though the Mayor has no direct control over education he can influence the course it takes. Unlike Ken we are campaigning for a city-based income tax that would divert money to facilities and educational projects in London’s poorer areas. And these wouldn’t just be sporting and musical, though these are obvious ways to reach disenfranchised youth, white or black, in London.

Q. When opinion polls are on a knife-edge, is it really that difficult to make a decision between Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson? Ken champions London’s multiculturalism and action on climate change, while Boris Johnson was critical of Nelson Mandela’s victory over apartheid in 1994 and welcomed George Bush’s ’scrumpling up’ of the Kyoto Treaty. This is the real choice. Is Time Out scared to take on the Evening Standard? Ben Folley, N17

Q. It is clear that in the run-up to the Mayoral election that there are only two obvious choices: Ken or Boris. For Time Out to launch a campaign for its own candidate in light of this is not only an ego-driven waste of time, but it shouts of a lack of courage to back a real politician. Ken Livingstone, no matter what you personally feel about him, is an accountable politician who stands up for his views and isn’t afraid of being unpopular. He celebrates multiculturalism in London and stands up for the poor. Boris Johnson knows that if he really stood up for his views in public (these include not only the well-documented racist comments, but also opposition to the Kyoto Treaty, minimum wage and affordable housing), he would be very unpopular, and instead woos voters with lies. He tolerates multiculturalism in London and would be a disaster for the poor. Is it a difficult choice? Sarah Joyce, by email

A. Time Out’s purpose is not to be an automatic supporter of Ken Livingstone, but the voice of creative London. This campaign is based in large part on a democratic canvas of our readers and many of them, unlike Ben and Sarah, are unhappy with Ken’s regime. Why, in a democracy, should we stifle that voice?

Continue reading ‘Hodges takes time off the campaign trail to answer your questions’

Coverage continues…

Published
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admin
on February 25, 2008
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London, it seems, really is ready for an independent candidate to enter the mayoral fray. Whether or not they’re ready to actually elect me remains to be seen. Press coverage continues with the story of my candidacy spreading across the world wide web. Read what Mayoral pundit Andrew Stevens had to say on his respected City Mayors site and get the latest report from South London news hub, News Shopper.

Donations flood in!

Published
by
Campaignmanager
on February 25, 2008
in Campaign update
. 0 Comments

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