For all his faults, Ken's your man in a crisis

During Monday's televised debate, Ken was calm and assured as he outlined his achievements while Boris blustered about "new ideas" and "fresh thinking". Boris didn't look like a leader as he struggled to define what his vision for London actually is.

Light on policy, Boris's boring, low-key campaign has been marked by his new gaffe-preventing reserve and his insistence that he's great at delegating, ie hiring better people to do the job for him. You wouldn't hire someone to run a kebab stall on such a premise. His greatest achievements so far are being selected as an MP for Henley-on-Thames and editing a Tory fanzine. Supporters say he deserves a chance despite being "unproven". The truth is, he's a thoroughly proven Right-wing provincial mediocrity.

Ken's an egomaniac who has played divisive politics with race, cosied up to property developers and handed out grants without scrutiny. But Boris has used race to court notoriety too, and as a lifelong Thatcherite will suck up to big business even more. Given that his supporters say his attention to detail is slack, why should he be trusted to keep tabs on public money? He shares Ken's worst traits while holding a flimsier CV.

For all Ken has done wrong, he's also done some things right. Would bumbling Boris and his illconsidered rhetoric on race have helped win us the Olympics? Would he have helped to calm London and keep it united after 7/7? In both cases, the answer is: no. In a crisis, Boris is the last man I want in charge.

Unlike Boris, Ken doesn't pretend to be anyone but himself. He was campaigning for gays, women, ethnic minorities and the poor when Boris was throwing himself into a Tory party that treated them with contempt. I dislike how Ken plays politics with people's identities but I trust where his heart is. Boris's proclaimed multiculturalism and desire to be a "human bridge" between rich and poor sound hollow to me. He showed no interest in London and its people until he decided to run for Mayor.

Congestion, extortionate housing and the fear of crime make life in London frustrating. But London still works and is the only place I want to call home. Yes, Ken could have done better, but I say don't give Boris the chance to make things a whole lot worse.