Why Does Britain's First Directly Elected Asian Mayor Wish To Silence Legitimate Debate?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/an-investigation-is-not-islamophobia-9256552.html

/// We noted, for example, how he has given about £50,000 in grants to the Bengali media and a further £50,000 a year for "community media advice" to the chief correspondent of the most popular Bengali TV channel. That same channel has three times breached Ofcom impartiality rules by its blatantly biased coverage of the mayor. He counters that the relationship the two have is "professional". ///

There is something worrying when a Mayor of a mainly ethnic minority borough of London, not only tries to stop a BBC 'Panorama' report, but also channels public money toward self interest sources.

[sp1814]

emmie

Funnily enough, I know Walworth/East Lane very well (I spent my first 38 years there). In fact, I worked on the market for a short time, and could hear it from my mum's house on a Saturday morning. Possibly the best market I've ever been to (Borough is great too, but way too expensive).

However, London is a very big place. I am not interested in visiting many of the boroughs. The places I have already mentioned are good enough for me. I don't need to trek all over the place, because there's absolutely no need.

[emmie]

since when did need come into it. I have no need to step outside the door, but i do, otherwise i won't eat, shop, or do anything. so in essence you confine yourself to certain areas, what if there is good theatre, club, pub, in the East End, after all Brick lane isn't just full of curry houses.

[emmie]

perhaps you haven't been to East Street in a while the market has gone to the dogs.

[sp1814]

emmie

Okay - I don't want to.

There's only so many hours in the day.

There are hundreds of boroughs and high streets in London, most of which I can't be arsed to visit.

And it's not 'confining' myself. I'm lucky to live in Islington, near the Northern Line, so I can get to Camden Lock, Oxford Street, Leicester Square, Hoxton, Shoreditch, Upper Street, Borough, Spitalfields, Farringdon, Soho etc etc.

If a mate of mine said, "Hey...do you want to go to Tower Hamlets?" my first reaction would be "Why?"

It would be like going to Tooting Bec, Fulham or Park Royal. There would have to be a really good reason to go there.

[sp1814]

divebuddy

I'd forgotten all about Derek Hatton.

Didn't he blame Kinnock for his downfall?

[emmie]

sp, so you have been to TH
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitalfields

[sp1814]

emmie

Indeed I have!

You win.

(Although in my defence, it was dark and I was very drunk).

[emmie]

more like Mrs T, another case of champagne socialism at work

[emmie]

then stay sober and talk a ride over, 205 goes to Bow church and onto 25 into Stratford, Mile End is still interesting, with a number of pubs worth a visit, but much of the area doesn't look like the London i remember,
and pretty sure Naomi could back me up on that

[naomi24]

I've lost track with all this tit for tat arguing about why AOG has asked the question. He has asked it and it's a reasonable question.

[emmie]

i didn't ask why, i know why

[naomi24]

I didn't mean you, Emmie - and yes I can back you up on that.

[sp1814]

emmie

I really don't want to go to East London for a night out. It's simply too much of a hassle to get to, but especially because so many of my mates live around the Kentish Town / Islington / Old Street triangle, as to make a trek out eastwards as being a really weird thing to do.

When I lived in Walworth, my nights out meant Camberwell / Clapham / Streatham. I would never dream of going to, say, Mile End or Islington, because there was no need.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// You have made a mistake. I will show you where. ///

That's rich coming from someone who doesn't know where he has been.

[sp1814]

emmie

Another point - when I say I know London well, which I do...it doesn't mean that I've personally visited *all* of London.

I think you can know your city well without being some kind of superannuated estate agent.

[sp1814]

AOG

Terrible bit of deflection.

Do you agree with my summary of the mistake you made?

Or are you going to 'do a Peter Beardsley style' swerve?

[emmie]

having lived and mostly worked in most of its myriad parts, i can say hand on heart i know it pretty well. From Deptford, to the Angel, to Borough market, Stratford and any port in between.

[sp1814]

You know what...

I have absolutely no idea how we got to this juncture.