Ellee Seymour

The reason I like Boris Johnson is because he is obviously very intelligent (and I have a weakness for brainy men), and the way he tends to smile and charm his way through life, through his various gaffes. At the end of the day, we know he is not perfect, but then who is? Ken Livingstone, perhaps?

If Boris wins the Tory nomination for London Mayor, the campaign will be electric, it will be about the personalities behind the politics, as well the topical issues facing Londoners. Let ’s hope Boris’ wit and aptitude to speak his mind shines through. We need a strong character to stand up to Ken, and hopefully one that will make the contest colourful and sparky too.

Very cleverly, Boris has instantly felled critics who might have wanted to use his privileged Eton background against him, accusing him of being out of touch, by making the following statement:

I suppose I will be pilloried for being a “toff”, for representing a small section of society, and all I can say is, be my guest. I have in my 16 great-grandparents Muslims, Jews, and all manner of Christians, and speaking as a one-man melting-pot, I am convinced that in 100 years we will look back at the racism of our age and wonder, “what the hell was that all about?” just as we find it hard to understand the mindset of those who used to put “No Irish” on boarding-house doors.

Being an avid cyclist and runner, he has seen a different side to London than many politicians, though his sentiments are shared by countless others, and this is one reason why he wants to represent Londoners:

It is a woeful fact that you are more likely to be mugged on the streets of London than in New York. Almost every day I go for a run down the bemerded pavements of North London - down a stretch of road that has more CCTV cameras than anywhere else on the planet - and yet almost every day there seems to be a new giant yellow sign pleading with the public for information about the latest stabbing. No wonder people are fearful of crime, even in areas that are comparatively crime-free.

I’m hoping that as Boris was the first Tory MP to write a blog, that he will start some online interaction with Londoners, that he will spearhead one gigantic two-way conversation in London.

Would Boris win your vote too?

David Cameron has launched an innovative online Stand Up Speak Up campaign to help Conservatives shape their future policy by “engaging and involving” the public, asking for their views which will then be considered by the Shadow Cabinet.

In order to work, it means admitting when past decisions were wrong, agreeing to re-think the issue of grammar schools, for example, if David Cameron means what he says, that the “we know best” attitude of politicians is at an end.

You are given the opportunity to learn more about their concept of “pioneer schools”, as well discuss the thorny subject of benefits, outlined below:

 ”People who can work should do so – including disabled people (as assessed by an independent doctor) who can work. Lone parents would be encouraged to work part-time when their youngest child is 5, and full-time when their youngest child reaches 11.”

One comment raised the dilemma of unemployment for those in their 50s who are desperate to find work after losing for job for various reasons, I think that is an area where more support could be given:

“The figures bandied about ceaselessly by Blair and brown these last ten years are lies yet Cameron never goes for the throat when questioning them.
The true figure is 7 million unemployed in this country and I am one of them.
Aged 53 I was medically retired from the prison Service having been assaulted by an illegal immigrant related to a labour member of parliament!!
I am not eligible for any benefits despite being so retired and having paid in since 1964.
That said I am expected to survive whilst paying the same bills as before.
When I have attempted to get work I am refused the services at Job centres so as not to be on the figures.
I cannot be retrained for the same reasons ie not on the numbers.
Whilst this goes on migrants come here by the busload to do jobs ‘we’ will not do.
having the chance would be a good thing.
I find Cameron lacks the charisma a leader needs to oppose the Govt especially as he was an adviser to major in the financial debacle that lost this country 27 billions.
Deal with migrants first and our people can get on.”

While I am delighted the government has been recommended to re-think its fortnightly bin collections, I just wonder why it has taken so long when Labour ignored previous warnings about the potential health risks this involved.

According to a government committee, plans to encourage householders to recycle more rubbish are too timid, too complicated and unlikely to work.

It concludes that more research should be done into the health impacts of fortnightly collections, incentives of £50 or more per year are needed to encourage people to recycle and that fortnightly collections are best-suited to rural and suburban areas.

As far as householders are concerned, they already pay taxes for this collection and do not feel it is fair to be charged more, to operate by a “carrots or sticks” system.

My suggestion would be make it easy for them to participate. I would suggest providing recycling facilities for glass, paper and cans in all public places, from parks and theatres to bus stops and football grounds. This could be made mandatory, it would divert all these recyclables from being dumped in the nearest bins and ending up at landfill.

I would like to see brief explanations given at these recycling points about what happens to the stuff they are dumping, to explain that it is a resource than can go on to be used again and again, and describe in what way. Just short, sharp points of facts to engage the public and arouse their interest, rather than being punitive.

I would like recycling to be more flexible and geared towards meeting the needs of householders, so that pensioners and single people will be given smaller recycling boxes than a family of six. I would like to see all housing estates have their own recycling centre, every neighbourhood and community too, as well as local collection points for unwanted furniture or other bulky items.

I would also like us to consider collecting our recyclables co-mingled, that is mixed together, to make it easier for householders. You can read my article here about how this method is successfully used in New York state which has a recycling rate of 32%. In London, figures published last year showed our capital city recycled 17.7% of its waste.

And during peak recycling times, like Christmas, let’s ensure there are extra glass collections for the empty bottles; from memory, its usage goes up tenfold this time of the year, there is nothing more annoying than seeing the bottles scattered around the ground because the container is overflowing.

And yes, of course householders will resort to fly-tipping if they are going to be charged extra for their waste collection. Let’s avoid that by engaging them more now, explaining and educating, and learning how to meet their needs too to show that the UK can recycle as well as other parts of Europe and the States.

Do you have any tips which would encourage more people to recycle?

Sarah Morales Hernandez, 14, went missing Las Palmas on July 30 last year after arranging to meet a friend in a shopping centre. According to her friend, the teenager never arrived and CCTV cameras have no footage of her ever entering the centre.

Thorough and extensive searches of the island were carried out, as well as many newspaper appeals and posters being issued. Her case remains a mystery, along with the heartbreaking disappearance of Yeremi Vargas from the same popular holiday island of Gran Canaria in March this year..

In memory of those who are still missing.