Mason Edward Goodchild, Clockwork Liveryman Jani Levanen, Plastic Man Gerard O’Sullivan & Barrister David Williams Stand In Farringdon Within City Council By-Election

On the same day as the national election in the UK on 4 July 2024, there is a local council by-election in the City of London’s Farringdon Within ward. Below we provide a rundown of the four candidates – Edward Goodchild, Jani Levanen, Gerard O’Sullivan and David Williams. All are standing as ‘independents’. There is […]

The Financial Times Calls The City Of London Council Undemocratic: This Local Authority Will Remain That Way Until Westminster Passes Legislation To Abolish Its Business Vote

The City operates an idiosyncratic system of “corporate democracy”. At best it is flawed, at worst a recipe for abuse. A connected problem is the scant choice of candidates. For every councillor position, there are just 1.3 candidates on average, radically fewer than in London’s 32 local boroughs. The aldermanic voting system is particularly open to manipulation. An old acquaintance and former Lord Mayor once told me that one explanation for the City’s sometimes reactionary instincts is a “shadow hanging over the whole structure” of the corporation’s supposedly democratic governance, Freemasonry. Close to a third of councillors are declared masons, including the chairs of nearly all the major committees. Three-quarters of Lord Mayors over the past century have been masons.

Sue Pearson Retires As Cripplegate Alder & Endorses Liz King To Succeed Her

Sue Pearson will stand down as the alder of Cripplegate ward in the City of London in early July 2024 due to reaching the mandatory retirement age. She is endorsing her friend and colleague, councillor Liz King, to succeed her. In this piece we pay tribute to what Sue has achieved in her seven years on the City council.

City Of London Council Caught Using Anti-Democratic Tricks To Force The Demolition Of Bastion House & The Museum Of London Through Planning

There were points in the meeting at which Joshi seemed to know in advance what was about to happen. When Brian Mooney raised his hand on a point of order to propose, for the first time, that the committee move directly to a vote, Joshi asked him (at 3:25:56) whether he wanted to rise on a point of order. But how did Joshi know that was what Mooney wanted to do, as opposed to just asking a question? Was Mooney the fall guy selected by the establishment to do its dirty work of preventing a debate, which he initially bungled by raising a point of order before questions asked by another member could be answered? Joshi then seemed to guide Mooney on timing by suggesting that he raise the point after questions. Joshi showed no surprise at all that this anti-democratic proposal had been made, or any inclination to exercise his discretion under standing orders to disallow it.

Councillor Christopher Boden, Alder Emma Edhem & Draining The Political Swamp Of The City Of London Council

For Christopher Boden and a number of other City of London councillors, City politics is a game. Unlike City residents, they don’t have to live with the consequences of their bad decisions and misdirected spending. None of what they do affects rural Cambridgeshire, where Boden lives. Abolishing the City’s bogus business voting system would have the desirable consequence of clearing out recreational politicians like him. The City council is a swamp that needs to be drained. Another case in point is Alder Emma Edhem whose record of supporting Erdogan’s repressive regime ought to preclude her from becoming Sheriff and Lord Mayor, which are offices she plainly covets.

National Press Puts City Of London Council’s Inability To Manage Reputational Risk In The Spotlight

Even by bureaucratic standards the response from the City council as recorded in yesterday’s Daily Mail’s to enquires about how Just Stop Oil came to be holding an event at the Golden Lane Community Centre – that this was a “private hire booking” – was obtuse. The City council is somewhat inconsistent about taking money from the many disreputable organisations it hosts. Some masonic lodges are allowed to use its premises for free, while others get reduced rates – and these lodges have had a fundamental influence on our local authority. The City of London Corporation has also hosted the likes of the repressive Turkish government.

Bullying By Peter Estlin, Emma Edhem’s Support For The Erdogan Regime & Other Senior City Of London Councillor Scandals

Just two consecutive meetings of the alders of the City council have produced: a reminder of past bullying by former Alder Ian Luder; a further illustration of the sham nature of the prevalent business vote in the City; bullying by Alder Peter Estlin; a decision to discuss a matter of fundamental public interest in private; further overstaying in office as an alder by the last Lord Mayor Nick Lyons, after his conventional term expired three months ago; and Alder Emma Edhem standing for re-election while being a keen supporter of the Erdogan regime in Turkey, which has a dismal human rights record.

City Elections: Jacqui Webster Wins Cripplegate For Labour, ‘Independent’ Simon Pryke Becomes Senior Councillor For Langbourn

Langbourn winner Simon Pryke is totally networked into the Guildhall establishment. While there appears to be a huge gulf between Pryke’s political views and those of the small team who run this blog, we trust he will live up to his campaign rhetoric and do something about the many issues faced by Leadenhall Market traders. Given that many of their problems stem from having the City of London Corporation as a landlord, we invite him to pleasantly surprise us and to join the dots about how residents on the City’s housing estates have to deal with many of the same issues as those in Leadenhall Market. A good start would be for Pryke to talk to some of his colleagues at the council who represent the residential wards that take in the Middlesex Street, Golden Lane and Barbican estates, about the issues of maintenance and repairs.

At Least 2 Conservatives Among The 9 Standing As ‘Independents’ In The Langbourn Aldermanic Election On 2 November 2023

Elections in the City of London often appear ridiculous due to the tiny electorate. There are 9 contenders in the upcoming aldermanic election in Langbourn, so there around 70 voters per candidate. We suspect that most, if not all, the Langbourn candidates are more interested in becoming lord mayor – an office that should be abolished – than strengthening public services or playing a role in democratically reforming the last rotten borough. Nonetheless, below we provide a run down of the 9 ‘independent’ candidates in Langbourn. The aldermanic post is available because David Wootton isn’t standing for re-election – we’re glad to see him go! That said, his replacement may be no better….

On The Candidates Standing In The Cripplegate By-Election On 2 November 2023

Beyond the fact that Arne Mielken (Independent) is an Islington and not a City resident, his campaign literature contains a clear red flag. In the only election leaflet we’ve seen from Mielken, there is a recent picture of him being presented with a Freedom of the City of London award by Lord Mayor elect Michael Mainelli. Lord Mayor’s don’t turn up to hand out Freedoms unless the recipient is either high profile and considered important or there is a personal connection. Mielken isn’t high profile but there are plenty of online indications he is both networked into and sympathetic towards the Guildhall’s political establishment. Residents need councillors who will stand up to the Guildhall establishment members – including Michael Mainelli – on issues like London Wall West, not representatives who are mates with them. The other candidates – Adam Hogg (Independent), Jacqui Roberts Webster (Labour) and Jan-Marc Petroschka (Independent) – are all residents of the City of London Cripplegate ward in which they are standing.

RECLAIM EC1

No To Business Votes, Yes To Democracy!

Cripplegate