Simon Jenkins takes on Boris the Demagogue

[non sociopath skin]

I don't always agree with Jenkins by any means but this seems to be a model of moderation and good sense to me.

I'm experiencing some pleasing schadenfreude at the coalition's implosion, but Johnson is a dangerous man.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/11/spent-money-olympics-glory-other-purposes

The Skin

[T_i_B]

1. Politicians will always jump on bandwagons

Politicians on all sides always have and always will jump on whatever bandwagon's convenient. To be honest I'm more likely to remember Boris getting stuck on a zip wire and making annoying tannoy announcements on the tube then any tub-thumping at the victory parade.

As to the Olympics, yes it's nice that we won quite a few gold medals, but that doesn't change the fact that the event remains the ultimate public sector white elephant project and that it remains a colossal waste of taxpayers money.

[non sociopath skin]

2. However ....

http://yougov.co.uk/news/2012/09/12/boriss-gold-medal-bounce/

.... Johnson's demagoguery seems to be paying at least short term dividends.

Of course, you'd probably get similar results if you pitted Cheryl Cole, David Beckham or Andy Murray against the Big Three.

The Skin