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How the London Assembly could change
Evening Standard02.05.08
Some key faces are set to join the Assembly - and some of its biggest personalities will leave, according to the London Communications Agency.
It predicts the new members elected to "super-seat" constituencies and through the top-up list system, which gives London-wide seats to parties according to share of vote.
Most controversially, the BNP is predicted to pass the five per cent share of the city-wide vote to gain a seat.
ON THEIR WAY IN
Richard Barnbrook (BNP):Also party's mayoral candidate, Mr Barnbrook directed a gay porn film, HMS Discovery. He is engaged to ballet dancer Simone Clarke.
James Cleverly (C): Potentially Tories' first black Assembly member, the magazine publisher and A-list Tory parliamentary candidate - he stood in Lewisham in 2005 - also has good chance of becoming Boris Johnson race adviser if he wins.
Kit Malthouse (C): Former deputy leader of Westminster has been chosen to succeed Angie Bray who is running for MP. Praised for scrutinising homes-for-votes scandal and recovered £12.3 million of taxpayers' money.
Caroline Pidgeon (LD): Currently Southwark council, she is expected to lose out on a seat in the " superconstituency" of Lambeth and Southwark but get a top-up seat.
ON THEIR WAY OUT
Bob Neil (C): Has become an MP. Mr Neil came under constant fire while an Assembly members for his taxi bills - last year topping £4,000.
Damian Hockney (One London): Elected as a member of Ukip, but founded One London in 2005. Stood as mayoral candidate before withdrawing.
Sally Hamwee (LD): Former chair of Assembly, Baroness Hamwee played crucial part in scrutiny of Livingstone in regard to Lee Jasper allegations. Retiring to concentrate on seat in Lords.
Andrew Pelling (C): Tory MP's career ruined by allegations of wife beating. Has since been treated for depression.
Reader views (1)
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Radio 4s Good Morning programme were right, the London mayoral elections have affected the whole mainland. I have hoped & prayed that Livinstone would be "dropped in the Thames" (pity it wasn't during the great stink !). The point being that although I don't support any of the "gravy trainers", change is absolutely necessary. The 'Tories therefore will be no worse than new(improved) Labour and I trust that their wins in the mayoral and local council elections, will be a mirror image in the forthcoming general election. Oh to see those arrogant Labour swines on the opposition benches. While I am at it, can I also pray that the elevated sheetmetal worker speaker also gets the axe..
- Harry Horner, Campbeltown Argyll Scotland
