Ken Livingstone's pickpocket poster plays into Mayor Johnson's hands
The problem with portraying Boris Johnson as a cartoon caricature is that his entire political strategy is to be a cartoon caricature.
The dishevelled hair, the ill-tied tie, the portly silhouette – this is an image carefully cultivated by the Mayor and the Livingstone campaign is reinforcing it.
The message this image conveys is: “Fares are up, but don’t worry it’s only that lovable scamp Boris up to one of his japes.”
The “Borisstoppers” line falls into the same trap. It trivialises the man and the office of Mayor. Ken Livingstone shouldn’t be campaigning against “Boris”, the lovable airhead who bumbled into power. He should be campaigning against Mayor Johnson, the cynical, calculating politician with command of large budgets and considerable executive authority, whose relentless focus on his personal image has driven his Mayoralty at the expense of governing in the interest of his citizens.
This poster is frivolous, and if the Mayoral election is to be fought on frivolity then there’s only one winner.
11 Jan 2012
London agenda for Wednesday 11 January 2012
1. View film, theatre, music, illustration and literature from the London Short Film Festival [Run Riot]
2. Look at the paintings of John Keane at Flowers Centra [Flavorpill]
3. Go to to ICA’s cinema to see Sean Conway, A Fucking Genius [Don’t Panic]
4. Walk backwards in the wind to the London Mime Festival [Time Out]
5. Ask the Met Commissioner some questions [Ian Visits]
6. Explore Sailortown [Tired of London]
London Agenda is Snipe’s daily compilation of what to do in London as suggested by everyone else. Send additions to listings@snipelondon.com
11 Jan 2012
So Far Away by A Place To Bury Strangers
A deliciously gloomy slice of guitar driven melodrama today, taken from the new EP by the murderously intentioned, A Place To Bury Strangers. So Far Away is taken from their debut EP on Dead Oceans, Onwards To the Wall, released February 6th.
10 Jan 2012
Spiked Online says football fans aren't racist, they just use racist language
— Brendan O’Neill, editor of Spiked Online, hilariously explaining his theory that taking on racism in football is class warfare.
(H/T Peter Watts)
10 Jan 2012
This is the news on Tuesday 10 January
News cycle
Fitzrovia News has an excellent report on last night’s cycling protest which stopped traffic in King’s Cross. Check out their videos, audio interview with a protester, and a picture of Mayoral candidate Jenny Jones wearing a really very fetching green scarf. Tfl boss Peter Hendy called the protest “stupid”, so in the impossible unlikely event she wins the Mayoralty that will be an interesting working relationship. The Guardian has a photo gallery here.
Shower Hamlets
Ted Jeory flags up Shelina Akhtar, a Tower Hamlets Councillor who has pleaded guilty to benefit fraud. It doesn’t reflect well on local mayor Luftur Rahman. Read Ted’s post for why.
Imperial Ambitions
The Shepherd’s Bush Blog reports that Imperial College wants the BBC’s White City site. They have a pic of the draft plans. Check it.
Below the line
Darryl slams the website masquerading as his local paper for letting online commenters spread lies about Stephen Lawrence.
10 Jan 2012
London agenda for Tuesday 10 January 2012
1. Jump onto a canal boat and let Alice lead the way [Run Riot]
2. Watch the Olympic test event in gymnastics? Whatever, Time Out [Time Out]
3. Hear about Harry Price, the most controversial and famous psychic researcher ever to live. Sarah Sparkes does the speaking. [Ian Visits]
4. See Stevenson’s Rocket [Tired of London]
10 Jan 2012
Brainlove Mixtape 2011
Hello all, this is your music editor speaking. Seeing as we saved our end-of-year palava until the actual end of the year when everyone was away / drunk / farting on the sofa watching Only Fools & Horses, I thought I’d belatedly share this best-of mixtape. The tracks were selected by the artists on Brainlove Records – there’s a song by each band, and a song they picked as their favourite of the year. The tracklist is to be found here, or you can alternatively stream it on Mixcloud if you are a Mixcloudologist. Enjoy!
09 Jan 2012
High Priestess (CFCF Remix) by Active Child
You Are All I See by Active Child was one of our favourite albums of 2011 here at Snipe, High Priestess one of the standout tracks. Now the flame haired harp manipulator otherwise known as Pat Grossi has been given a glorious going over by CFCF, himself no stranger to these pages. Download for free below.
09 Jan 2012
Mayor Johnson's big fat incumbency boost
Ah, the joys of incumbency. @MOLpresents is promoting summer in the city with the above video. In it we see the London we all know and love – a city of stilt walkers, happy looking pedestrians and smiling men in vans. It’s quite uncanny.
Given that there’s a Mayoral election in May, it’s worth noting the image boost these promotions afford the incumbent. Who wouldn\t want to vote for a guy who’s arranging a citywide party this summer to which everyone’s invited?
I don’t think there’s anything particularly wrong with this. It’s not fair, it’s politics. But it underlines the inbuilt advantage Mayor Johnson has over his challengers as the race begins.
In the same vein, Diamond Geezer reports on a new TFL leaflet summarising recent service improvements which he feels oversteps the line:
“As I say, TfL have every right to crow about all the improvements they’re making on our behalf. But why release a convenient potted summary now, reminding us how great the last three years have been, and how many more great things are due in the first half of 2012? With TfL’s Chairman’s up for re-election at the ballot box in May, I have to say, this campaign smacks of using public money for covert electioneering.”
Diamond Geezer – Every journey matters
MOLpresents – website
09 Jan 2012
Stupid Olympic hype watch: Government edition
“The cabinet is due to meet later at the London Olympics site, to mark 200 days until the start of the Games.”
Don’t worry everyone, there’s only 200 days of this mindless shite left before we can get on with the running and jumping. It’ll fly by.
09 Jan 2012
Snipe Highlights
Some popular articles from past years
- Number of people using Thames cable car plunges
- The five best places in London to have an epiphany
- Nice Interactive timeline lets you follow Londoners' historic fight against racism
- Only 16 commuters touch in to Emirates Air Line, figures reveal
- London has chosen its mayor, but why can’t it choose its own media?
- Nice map of London's fruit trees shows you where to pick free food
- A unique collection of photos of Edwardian Londoners
- Silencing the Brick Lane curry touts could be fatal for the city's self-esteem
- Margaret Thatcher statue rejected by public
- The five spookiest abandoned London hospitals
© 2009-2026 Snipe London.