The Anonymous Widower

Siobhan Benita: An Independent for Mayor for London

I read last night in the Standard, that Siobhan Benita, is running as an Independent for London Mayor.  Here’s her web site.

So as far as I’m concerned what has she got that appeals to me.

She certainly looks better than the three main candidates; Ken Livingston, Boris Johnson and Brian Paddick, but that is really irrelevant. On the other hand, I lived next to a woman MP for some years and know the difficulty of mixing family and politics from talking to her.  My friend had brought up three children as an MP and it didn’t help her marriage, which eventually broke.  But I don’t think she ever let those who voted for her down. But things are different now, in that nannies and other help are much more affordable.  And judging by the time you see Boris on the box doing things unrelated to his job as mayor, it is a high profile job, but you can find time for family and other things.

Like me Siobhan is a London mongrel, who has spent a fair proportion of her life in the city.

The fact that she is an Independent appeals too.  I grew up in the old Borough of Southgate, which like some of the other old London boroughs had an independent council. When the large London boroughs like Enfield was created we ended up with a Labour Council, who did the things that their party masters wanted. There was a lot of grand projects and services deteoriated. My father said it was just the same when Wood Green was merged into Haringey. And they were both Labour councils! Those with local connections were sidelined for the greater good of the party.

But she will win if her policies appeal. Or not as the case may be! I shall comment on these and what I would do if I was Mayor over the  next few days.

I think her biggest problem will be getting the media to take her seriously and also to give her the coverage she needs.

January 21, 2012 - Posted by AnonW | News | London Mayor