I wrote about Boris vs. Ken, likeability and perception of winner status several weeks ago.
It looks likely that Boris will win today. And that makes me happy. For London and for Londoners and for the UK as a whole too.
If he does win, it will be because of him being more liked, more trusted, more “genuine and real” and the Boris team getting the votes identified and out on the day.
But if he wins and people who vote for Boris do not vote for their local London Conservative Assembly member – what does that mean? Are they sending a message to the government? Or is the local guy or girl not enough of a personality? Not known and seen enough?
I am a political geek – but I am not 100% sure what ward I live in in Bexhill and I have never seen my councillor. I think he is a Lib Dem – but to be fair I think the last election result was very close and I didn’t see the Conservative or Labour candidates either.
Perceptions are reality. Working hard is not enough. Boris understands perceptions more than most. He understands the media. He understands that the product needs to be sold.
Read what Gus O’Donnell the former Cabinet Secretary aka GOD aka Lord O’Donnell said in a recent interview with The House Magazine.
“I think in a world where you have got 24/7 media and actually in a vibrant democracy it’s incumbent on governments to explain their policies. And presentation matters a lot. Suddenly there are a massive number of channels through which you have to present. I think the old days, the civil servants would sort out the policy and then they’d hand it on to someone very junior to sort out presentation, I think that can lead to some massive policy mistakes. Because actually what you need as you’re thinking about policy is ‘how are we going to present this?’ If there isn’t a sensible presentation of the policy, I would suggest there is something wrong with the policy. So I think the interaction is really important.”
How many local councillors have websites, (regularly updated) blogs, mailing lists, regular andwell advertised surgeries? I have been an Association Chairman, Vice Chairman and more – I understand that there are national cycles that impact on local politics. But good basic campaigning on the ground is important and helps buck national trends.
Having a well known and likeable personality and a reputation for getting stuff done helps too.
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By World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland – Ken Livingstone – World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2008, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46136885
By Boris_Johnson_-opening_bell_at_NASDAQ-14Sept2009-3c.jpg: *Boris Johnson -opening bell at NASDAQ-14Sept2009.jpg: Think Londonderivative work: Snowmanradio (talk)derivative work: Off2riorob (talk) – Boris_Johnson_-opening_bell_at_NASDAQ-14Sept2009-3c.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11617662