Sean Fear on next year's borough elections:
Merton will provide an extremely tight contest, with the Conservatives dominant in Wimbledon, and Labour in Mitcham & Morden. In a polarised contest, I would expect the Conservatives to win the one ward that is held by Residents, Merton Park, and take control
So Boris wasn't quite on home territory yesterday, though the presence of a reporter from the Wimbledon Guardian should ensure some useful coverage further south. Labour, meanwhile, launched a premptive blog raid. This was Councillor Martin Whelton who represents the ward containing Pollards Hill library - the second place Boris visited yesterday after sealing that time capsule.
Later on today, the new library in Pollards Hill will be opened by The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. This is despite the fact that the Greater London Authority has provided no funding at all for the library, clearly Boris seems to be spending his time opening facilties of which the GLA have no link with and has made no financial contribution at all.
It was same thing with the "intergenrational centre" visit I wrote about yesterday. As Martin at Mayorwatch reported, the LDA contribution to that had been made under Ken Livingstone. Still, this bit of the job is Boris's forte. It was quite sweet to see him moving among the books and balloons, and joining in with the children singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. As a crowd gathered round he joked that the only thing wrong with this excellent library was that it contianed no books by him.
"Yes it does!" someone cried, and soon a copy of Seventy-Two Virgins was borne triumphantly on high. Then Boris posed for photos next to a man with a pony tail. I was watching from behind, and for a second his face turned a little my way. He was a picture of happiness. Have a good weekend.
