Mayor's Question Time

Today my journalism class went to the London Assembly to watch Mayor's Questions. Let's say it was very interesting.

Other than getting to see Boris Johnson and watching the assembly members rip into him trying to their questions answered. The other highlight was the two interruptions of the meeting.

Protesters were able to gain access to the public gallery, and interrupted the proceedings to air their views on Johnson's promise to give underground cleaners a proper living wage.


The protesters were taking the mayor to task for not fulfilling his promise.

They started shouting and holding up their banners, calling the mayor a liar.


While Boris promptly got out his phone and started talking, looking quite amused by the whole affair, while the chair of the committee shouted for security, and the protesters were escorted out.

Then just when we thought all the fun was over, another set of protesters stood up. This time accusing the mayor of having a slave labour on the underground.


Again Boris looked bored but amused, and this protester put up quite a fight and had to be dragged from the public gallery.

So for a day that was seeming quite tedious, it turned out to be a somewhat enjoyable day.

Sorry Computer Problems

Sorry guys I've been having computer problems so I've been unable to post anything.

Well tomorrow I'm off to the London Assembly to watch the London Mayor's question time, so hopefully I'll be able to get some good things to talk about.

I'm hoping Boris Johnson will talk about how effective his stop and search policy is going. Whether it is really getting some good results or is it just widening the gap between the police and the youth.

Already teenagers are very weary and distrustful of the police, so to give the police powers to randomly stop and search people at will will not build confidence.


The police instead needs to think of a way to instill confindence in people insted of giving them more reason not to want to co-operate with them.

Therefore if Boris can prove that his methods are having some effect and he can show that it is in fact reducing crime, then I will be convinvced.

Tomorrow we shall see.

Racism In The Police Not A Big Surprise

Today, Boris Johnson announced that the Metropolitan Police was ready for a new start. Following the resignation of it's chief, Sir Ian Blair and the many racist allegations that are now coming out of the wood work.

Also with the airing of the Panorama show 'The Secret Policeman, Part 2,' and the warning from The Black Police Association for Black and Minority Ethnic people not join the Police force, it seems racism has become the hottest topic of the week.

What I find hard to believe, is the shock that the idea of racism in the Metropolitan Police has generated in the public.


People of Black and Ethnic Minorities have known that racism is rife in the police. However, it seems that everyone else has been none the wiser.

It is sad to think that after all this time, and with the many changes that has been made, that it can all be set back by a few ignorant people.

It is a known fact that people from a Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds need to work harder to achieve their goals.


While I can understand why the Black Police Association issued their warning, I think that we should not bow out of the industry because of the ignorance of others.


I think that we should always strive to achieve our goals and overcome the many hurdles that it may entail. At the end of the fight, it just makes it all the sweeter.

However, I do think that society needs to wake up a take a good look at the many institutions that are supposed to govern our lives.


Realising that things are not always what they seem, just because something does not affect you, it does not mean that the problem is not there.

Wake Up People!