DID YOU VOTE? ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE ?
Brian Paddick, Liberal Democrat: Will review the way the Tube is managed and allow unlimited bus journeys within an hour for the price of one Oyster card journey. A cab driver to have a seat on the Transport for London board.Paddick was the centre of national media attention as the Metropolitan Police Borough Commander in Lambeth, where he pioneered a radical approach to policing drug-use.
His profile was further raised, when lurid allegations appeared in a national newspaper focussing on revelations that a former boyfriend smoked marijuana in their home, and a posting on a local website where the senior ranking police officer said that he sympathised with anarchism.
All served to establish him as the best known policeman in the capital.
Sian Berry, Green: Will cut all bus and off-peak Tube fares.The Green party - its London election manifesto - promising to make the capital a "greener and more affordable" place to live and work by cutting bus and off-peak tube fares by 20p, offering free insulation and bringing in realistic rents for small businesses.
Boris Johnson, Conservative-Bendy buses to be replaced with a modern-day Routemaster. Congestion charge to be reformed. Freedom pass to be retaine
Ken Livingstone, a one-time socialist firebrand seeking a third four-year term as mayor, Over-60s and the disabled to be allowed to use the freedom pass, allowing free travel on London public transport 24 hours a day, instead of just after 9am. Congestion charge likely to rise to £25 a day for heavily polluting 4x4s. No increase in fares in 2008 for single journeys on buses and the Tube.
The ballot papers
The Tanzania President meets the leader of the opposition in Zimbabwe.Does that mean any thing? Lets see the Definition of acknowledge -verb [T] to accept, admit or recognize something, or the truth or existence of something
Making An Impact: The Commonwealth In Parliament And The Constituencies
A half-day conference at the Houses of Parliament
1. Opening Plenary: The Commonwealth and the UK
a) Chair: Baroness Prashar CBE
With some 55 delegates in attendance, Baroness Prashar opened the conference by stressing that, although she considered the Commonwealth to be a wonderful organisation, it is currently undervalued and falling short of realising its full potential. There is an enormous amount of ignorance about the Commonwealth among the general public – a recent survey found that one in ten young people believed that George Bush was its head. Furthermore, successive governments have neglected the organisation, with the current government investing just 18 pence per capita on the Commonwealth, compared to ten pounds a head on the UN.
The Baroness set out the key questions for the conference: Can Parliament play a bigger role in the Commonwealth? How can Commonwealth groups engage with a wider audience and take better advantage of the media? And, how can Commonwealth agenda issues be addressed, given the great diversity of the organisation?
b) Panellist: Rt. Hon. Lord Howell of Guilford, Conservative Foreign Affairs Spokesman
Furthering several of Baroness Prashar's introductory points, the message from Lord Howell was clear: 'it is time to bring the Commonwealth back into the centre of British policy'. The Commonwealth is miserably underfunded and – tellingly – entirely absent from the latest Foreign and Commonwealth Office leaflet on policy goals (except, of course, in its heading). Whilst the UK is, and should be, loyal to Europe, it has overlooked the crucial relevance of the Commonwealth today. As Asia races ahead, pioneering scientific advances and IT innovations, failure to take advantage of the UK's Commonwealth network will be at its own cost. Historic circumstance means that the UK is linked to an array of nations, stretching across continents and faiths, encompassing rich and poor, as well as thirteen of the world's fastest growing economies. In today's 'information age', trade routes will increasingly be outside Europe and the Atlantic, and instead with the oil-producing nations and booming Asian powers (not least India, the world's largest democracy). Yet the UK does not exploit its Commonwealth network or forward the interests of these partners in EU forums (unlike France, Spain and Portugal who nurture relationships with their former colonies).
Over a decade ago, Lord Howell spearheaded a House of Commons report entitled The Future Role of the Commonwealth, which recognised the institution as a tremendous resource for its members and the world, and highlighted its potential to strengthen 'the Commonwealth within' – the diverse diaspora community in the UK itself. Few of the report's many recommendations were implemented and misguided policies have since allowed Commonwealth identity and loyalty to drain away.
The UK should take advantage of its fantastic network of governmental linkages in the Commonwealth, and appreciate too the fruitfulness of its informal and non-governmental associations. To give UK foreign policy a real and much-needed edge, it must make both the EU and the Commonwealth central, and allow the two institutions to reinforce one another.
c) Panellist: Richard Bourne OBE, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit
Mr Bourne congratulated Lord Luce and Baroness Prashar, whose 'unsentimental review' of the Commonwealth proposed last July for the 60th anniversary, he felt deserved urgent follow up. Much of what is thought of the Commonwealth is, the speaker argued, out-of-date. In order to move forward, we must get over our postcolonial 'castration complex' and hang-ups that the Commonwealth is marginal, dead, or an opportunity for the UK to continue its overseas influence by other means.
In keeping with declarations made at the Kampala CHOGM, the Commonwealth can play an important role in the overhaul of the global economy. For example, the membership of many island states made the Commonwealth key in combating the crash in fish stocks.
Yet the Commonwealth does not stop at the Secretariat, which is financially constrained. Like Lord Howell, Mr Bourne stressed that we must look at the interaction of official and unofficial organisations in the Commonwealth and recognise the important role of non-governmental bodies. As a result of these networks, the Commonwealth is 'more than the sum of its parts'.
As we enter a new world and see countries like India roaring ahead, we must ask: What is the role of the UK in the Commonwealth? The speaker predicted that the UK will continue to have a special role in the organisation (and raised the point that 60% of its funding currently comes from the country). However Members of Parliament and Ministers of the Crown must be aware of rapidly changing dynamics within the Commonwealth.
Although not a 'whole-hearted optimist' like Lord Howell, Mr Bourne also believed the Commonwealth to be 'full of possibility' and was keen to take further the issues raised in this conference.
d) Discussion
In response to a comment from the floor about the feeling of successive governments and the FCO that the UK should remain in 'the backroom' of the Commonwealth, Lord Howell referred to a process of 'Easternisation', in which countries like India were racing ahead, turning the tables on the West. Given this development, Lord Howell continued, it is likely that terrorism and other world problems will be solved by the great minds of the East, such that the UK should look after its own interests and recognise that the Commonwealth can help us. Mr Bourne offered a parallel example from the world of sport – although cricket was developed in this country, the international game is being transformed by the Indian Cricket Authorities.
Stuart Mole, Director-General of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) explored the tension between expanding membership of the Commonwealth and keeping to the organisation's core attributes and historical linkages. How, for example, could the Commonwealth engage with Brazil, China and Japan? Could there be a new category of association beyond formal membership – 'dialogue partners'? On this note, Lord Howell spoke of the huge interest of counties such as Poland and Estonia in developing formal or informal ties with the Commonwealth and suggested that such international linkages be fostered wherever possible. One must admit, Lord Howell went on, that China and India will play a huge role in the environmental issue – if they do not generate energy in a green way, the global impact will be huge. The Commonwealth should exploit its links with Singapore and India to engage with countries like China on such crucial issues. Mr Bourne reflected on the conservative response from Uganda about the possibilities of expanding membership, but noted that other bodies (such as the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association) were already engaging partners beyond the Commonwealth. He cited Sonny Ramphal on this point: 'the Commonwealth cannot negotiate for the world, but it can help the world to negotiate'.
Other points from the floor stemmed from Lord Howell's notion of the 'Commonwealth within'. How has the growth of Diaspora communities in the UK affected perception of the Commonwealth and how can we better engage these communities – including the tens of thousands of international students – in our causes? Richard Bourne added that he felt awareness of the Commonwealth among Diaspora communities (and even Commonwealth scholars) was remarkably low.
In summing up the session, Baroness Prashar, mentioned the significance of engaging the media and changing mindsets (including in Commonwealth NGOs themselves).
2. Group Session: The Commonwealth in the Constituencies
a) Chair: Lord Steel of Aikwood KT KBE DL
Lord Steel highlighted that it was rare to find Commonwealth issues coming up at election time in the UK. He pointed out, however, that in certain constituencies, Commonwealth issues, for example in Jamaica and India, may have an effect on voting. Lord Steel turned to the two panellists to explore this matter at the level of the constituencies.
b) Panellist: Valerie Davey, Executive Chairperson of the Council for Commonwealth Education
As a former MP, Valerie Davey stressed that we are all constituents and used her home city of Bristol as a case study to assess the relevance of the Commonwealth at the local level. Although disappointed not to have seen a single Commonwealth Day poster in her area, there were several Commonwealth-related events in Bristol. The local RCS branch (with a membership of 83) celebrated Commonwealth Week with a dinner. The Empire and Commonwealth Museum was, as usual, full of young people and teachers engaging with the theme 'Commonwealth and Us' (and, with the museum set to move to London, Bristol's loss will soon be the UK's gain). 17 schools in the region were involved with international exchanges, linking with Ugandan schools online; while others marked Fairtrade fortnight. Yet among young people at the schools, the Commonwealth connection was not made as issues were packaged differently. The speaker praised the Youth CHOGM programmes but argued that they should be expanded and supported by MPs.
As constituents, we all have a role to play and can, at the least, write to our MPs to raise awareness of Commonwealth issues. In a cosmopolitan region like Bristol, with a huge number of international workers and students, there is the potential for cross-Commonwealth networking and some groups have already forged global connections at their own initiative – for example one trade union is allied with a South African partner.
Overall, the Bristol case study implies that, although there is a wealth of Commonwealth-related activity, we are falling short of uniting all these various aspects. NGOs could seize the opportunity to get things moving. Good will to the Commonwealth exists at the local level, but much more can be done to raise initiatives at a national and international level.
c) Panellist: Peter Kellner, Political analyst and President of YouGov
The speaker reflected that he usually chooses to open an address with hard figures, yet could not find Commonwealth statistics to draw upon – indicative, perhaps, of the fact that views of the Commonwealth are broadly positive but ultimately shallow. The fact is, Mr Kellner claimed, Commonwealth issues will not cost MPs votes.
The Commonwealth does not fit the mould of other institutions. Yet is very virtue is that it isn't mandatory. In an era when ideas rule the world, the Commonwealth's great strength is that is a voluntary body, dealing in ideas and not interests, idealism and not formal powers. The Commonwealth does not, and should not, deal in deals, but is rather there to spark ideas and discussion across people of different creeds and colours. As such, it is a unique vehicle to tackle vital world issues pertaining to conflict resolution, development, security, human rights, the environment and so on.
If the Commonwealth can get people – especially young people – engaged in the Commonweath's informal networks then they will soon become involved in big world issues. Rather than acting as a lobbying body, the Commonwealth should take advantage of its spirit of voluntarism and idealism.
d) Discussion
After a comment from the floor about the value of professional groups (such as nurses who kept in touch with their home countries), Lord Steel stressed the value of extending the 'Twinning Movement' beyond Europe.
A representative of the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council highlighted two problems with engaging young people on the Commonwealth. Firstly, the unique spirit of the Commonwealth can be difficult to relay to some audiences. Secondly, because the Commonwealth is not a power-broking organisation, although it does exciting work, it can be difficult to attract the resource support it deserves – finances in the UK have been static for the past 40 years. Others also emphasised that funding is a big issue – although the FCO provide some support, the contribution from DIFID is minimal.
Lack of information for teachers was also mentioned as a limiting factor, although there were reports of extremely successful youth events, such a young people's Parliament centred on the environment, and the high profile Commonwealth Day discussions at Stormont.
One attendee felt that, because the Commonwealth is in danger of fading in the minds of school students, the Museum of Empire will be a fantastic tool, offering resources for teachers nationally, electronically and in London.
Another speaker made the well-received comment that the onus is on us to make the Commonwealth relevant. When we explain that engaging with booming states like India will provide a means to address the environment, that the Commonwealth provides the ideal framework for engaging with conflict resolution, with terrorism, and so on, then funding will follow. If the Commonwealth shows itself able to tackle big issues, then resources for youth projects will follow.
Speaking in opposition to Mr Kellner's thesis, a Jamaican student of law argued that lobbying groups at the grassroots are important as they help to get Parliamentarians engaged with the issues.
Valerie Davey agreed with Mr Kellner's idealism, but felt that it was also important to offer some pragmatism, as, practically speaking, lobbying is the hook onto which we can hang the big issues, she claimed. Other points raised related to the importance of networking at the local level and with civil society bodies, and the possibility of forging online links between cross-Commonwealth groups .
3. Group Session: Lobbying on Commonwealth Issues
a) Chair: James Robbins, BBC Diplomatic Correspondent
Mr Robbins introduced the key questions for this session: Why is the Commonwealth not as high profile as it might like, and how can it 'get the story out there' more effectively? The fact is, although the Commonwealth has a lot of good stories to tell, it often fails to tell them. Although the Commonwealth is a fantastic brand, it seems reticent about trumpeting its core values and successes, such the irreversible shift towards good governance. The recent example of Kenya is a case in point – Commonwealth observers of the contentious elections were slow to denounce them publicly, allowing the EU to steel the limelight. In short, the Commonwealth missed a trick here. If the Commonwealth is successful in selling its story, it will not only raise its profile, but attract private funding, making it less dependant on limited public resources.
b) Panellist: Patrick Orr, Raitt Orr Associates
Since he considered the discussion to have been relatively UK-centric, Mr Orr widened the scope of his discussion to the Commonwealth as a whole.
As an example of loosening ties to the Commonwealth, the speaker mentioned the decision to offer preference to junior doctors who are UK passport holders – preposterous given the NHS's reliance on doctors from the Indian subcontinent. In the current climate, the Commonwealth will lose out to the EU.
The speaker mentioned the Kenya case again. Despite recognising that the elections fell short of international standards, the Commonwealth's 20 person observer group missed the opportunity to get their organisation recognised. In the future, the Commonwealth must take a more robust and newsworthy angle.
Mr Orr went on to discuss the distinct lack of community broadcasting in Commonwealth nations, maintaining that many journalists work with limited or no training. The media offers fantastic potential to raise the profile of local issues – for example phone-in shows on local radio can be a form of community advocacy. The speaker reiterated a comment of those before him: young people have a key role to play in the Commonwealth. Journalism training schemes such as those run by the BBC World Trust would help Commonwealth citizens participate more actively.
New media offers tremendous potential in this regard – online social networking sites unite people across large distances, mobile phone texts can be used to motivate people to action and viral marketing campaigns have proved to be incredibly successful. If the youth of the Commonwealth can seize such new media technologies they will be given a voice.
There is optimism for the future, and we must exploit and extend the existing initiatives (such as the Youth CHOGMs and the Commonwealth Media Development Fund) to take the Commonwealth further. The PR impact would be positive, and with this kind of 'drip, drip, drip' approach, publicity could increase over time.
The speaker put forward a concrete plan – selected Commonwealth journalists between the age of 21 and 30 could be granted a visa and funds to allow them to work with fellow professionals in a different Commonwealth state for a period of time. Not only would the scheme give the journalists valuable international exposure, the journalists would doubtless feel positive about the Commonwealth, filtering this sentiment into their work and allowing the Commonwealth to gain momentum over time.
c) Discussion
In response to a question about how to fund such a training programme, Mr Orr suggested that the media itself may well fund initiatives. If wealthy corporations such as Reuters could form a foundation to endow a whole school at Oxford, money must be out there. Commonwealth organisations could also look at, for example, taking the air miles of wealthy supporters.
Thanking the speaker for raising the critical point that the Commonwealth must move away from sentimentalism to redefine itself, one commentator stressed again the need to redefine the contemporary Commonwealth and make it more relevant.
Cheryl Dorall suggested that the Commonwealth means different things to different people, making it difficult to grasp which elements to profile.
The example of the Kenyan elections was again raised by David Steel – because the Commonwealth spokesperson was African, a quick condemnation of the elections would have carried more weight. In the future, the organisation must take risks and be more outspoken.
d) Panellist: Cheryl Dorall, The Commonwealth Association
Cheryl Dorall brought attention back to the 'nitty gritty issues' of Parliament. She felt that lobbying on Commonwealth issues does occur, be it a Nurses' Federation campaigning for migrant health workers, or the Commonwealth Press Union applying pressure on freedom of speech issues. However, these are sector people talking on sector issues. What is there to say of the Commonwealth as a whole? The Secretariat already works closely with individual ministries, yet is limited by funding.
Given its perceived marginalisation, should the Commonwealth lobby for itself? Because its profile is so low within British government, perhaps the Commonwealth as a whole should stand up and say 'I am here, no longer an imperial body, but doing good work'.
Let us think back to the time of Apartheid South Africa. When the Commonwealth was trading blows with government it was perhaps in its prime. More recently, the Commonwealth got considerable attention when rebelling on the issue of Zimbabwe. Yet if we pursue such a stance, is the Commonwealth 'biting the hand that feeds it'? And if so, does it matter? Parliamentarians should be lobbied on matters of international development and the limited funding it receives. It also has important points to make when it comes to the economic issues faced by small states.
As an alternative to lobbying, Ms Dorall discussed the possibility of 'wooing and winning', the kind of 'drip, drip, drip' approach that had already been mentioned. Or perhaps, the speaker mused, a combination of these tactics is what is required.
In concluding, the speaker stressed that she had no answers, but wanted to raise these big questions. She also felt that better use should be made of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association – the Commonwealth's inbuilt, established lobbying group.
e) Discussion
A speaker from the floor felt that UK-centric views had dominated in the discussion. If India and other states were interested in the Commonwealth, then the UK certainly would be too, meaning that broader Commonwealth problems would be addressed, and we could move towards greater interest in, and ownership of, the Commonwealth.
A representative from Tearfund, stressed that NGOs are extremely active in lobbying government, citing the 'Make Poverty History' campaign as an example. To make this action more effective, NGOs should reach out to the Commonwealth more, but the Commonwealth should also seek to work more closely with NGOs.
Several people, including Ms Dorall, mentioned that the CPA and the RCS hoped to liaise more in the future, meeting much more regularly. One speaker from the floor cautioned that lobbying may take time.
In concluding the discussion, Mr Orr stressed again the importance of grassroots organisations and youth and new media opportunities, and also pointed to the blogs of David Miliband, now followed by many officials – perhaps key Commonwealth figures, such as the new Secretary-General, should follow this lead and seize every opportunity to publish.
4. Closing Plenary: Raising the Commonwealth's Parliamentary Profile
a) Chair: Right Hon Lord Luce GCVO DL
Lord Luce remembered working alongside the Head of the Commonwealth, and the Queen's face lighting up whenever Commonwealth issues were raised. Yet, he warned, we should not take it for granted that others are as enthusiastic about the Commonwealth as those present at the conference. Nevertheless, although more is to be done, the Chair said that he had never before heard such a positive and concrete discussion of the issues.
b) Panellist: Lord Anderson of Swansea DL, Labour Peer
Able to offer a unique bridging relationship on matters such as migration and terrorism, the Commonwealth has a very special relevance in today's world, Lord Anderson contended. In times gone by, overseas experience and firsthand dealings with Empire gave the Commonwealth obvious relevance for MPs. Nowadays MPs are more parochial and burdened with constituency pressures, meaning that we must shout louder to raise the importance of Commonwealth issues.
Parliament provides a platform that can be useful for the Commonwealth as a whole, the speaker stressed. The UK can instigate change by acting as an advocate for its Commonwealth allies in Brussels.
Lord Anderson spoke of the success of a fellowship scheme which twinned schools in London with Sierra Leonean schools. Ultimately, he argued, all politics is local. Taking advantage of the local media and the community spirit of Diaspora groups should be encouraged.
c) Panellist: Stephen Crabb MP, Conservative MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire
Having come to political consciousness in the 1980s, Mr Crabb reflected on his once thin understanding of the Commonwealth. Yet, he continued, when thinking about big international issues that are right at the top of the parliamentary agenda, the Commonwealth has an important role to play. For example, on the matter of trade with India, there has been input from the Commonwealth Business Council. On human rights issues too, there is a key role for the Commonwealth to play, offering as it does a unique, all-embracing approach to global affairs.
Looking to the future, there is no question that young people around 18 to 25 years are more globalist in their outlook, particularly in urban areas where immigration has its greatest impact. Working with schools to promote awareness of what the Commonwealth is and does would be extremely beneficial.
We should not propose the Commonwealth as an alternative to the EU – it can be very much more than that. Mr Crabb concluded by emphasising that he is optimistic and excited about the Commonwealth and raising its profile in Parliament.
d) Panellist: Baroness Northover, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on International Development
Baroness Northover felt that the Commonwealth was 'below the radar' all too often, especially in the UK, and particularly amongst young people who, despite travelling far and wide, are all too often unfamiliar with the organisation.
The Commonwealth is a very important group, offering unique links to countries and peoples who – despite being quite different – share elements of our history and approach. More should be done to nurture these links. As we face the challenges of international development and climate change, the fact that the Commonwealth contains rich and poor nations with distinct perspectives is extremely important. The Commonwealth is very much more than the result of historic accident and we must recognise its value. For example, of the 38.6 million sufferers HIV/AIDs globally, some 24 million live in Commonwealth countries. It is striking, too, that countries want to join the Commonwealth.
On recent visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Baroness was struck by the commonalities between this country and the UK – not only is British law used, issues such as the ending of hereditary political representation and increasing female representation in Parliament are shared.
Concluding her speech, the Baroness stressed the importance of improving knowledge of the Commonwealth within Parliament; of encouraging international visits and entertaining those visiting from Commonwealth countries; and of stimulating young people to understand and learn from the UK's special international links.
e) Discussion
Lord Luce underlined the need to take advantage of Commonwealth networks and put flesh on plans to make the Commonwealth more relevant to Parliament.
Stephen Crabb questioned the effectiveness of lobbying groups focused on countries and not issues (the Conservative Friends of India, for example). Yet Lord Anderson stressed that the current trend was a move away from geographical generalism, pointing to recent issue-based forums on governance and climate change which were well attended by parliamentarians. Baroness Northover welcomed this development and felt it important to make more people aware of the CPA.
A member of the audience reflected on a conversation with his dentist who, despite having strong views on the EU, had no comments to make on the Commonwealth, which seemed distant and irrelevant to him.
Members of the audience highlighted a gap that should be filled by a stronger Commonwealth perspective and the strongly felt view that the Commonwealth should avoid allowing its historic links wither away.
Lord Anderson stressed that there was no question of the Commonwealth withering, referencing the CPA's UK branch, who had organised excellent seminars on highly relevant issues.
When asked about the Commonwealth agenda, Lord Anderson clarified that the organisation did not have a single agenda as this was set by the individual CPA branches – even the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament had distinct interests.
f) Conclusion: Right Hon Lord Luce GCVO DL
Lord Luce thanked the speakers and RCS and the CPA for organising the event, and expressed a desire to see proactive follow up. He recommended that the two organisations form a working party to help move matters forward.
In conclusion, he said that the Commonwealth is a multi-lateral, amorphous body with great potential – it requires encouragement and lubrication rather than direction.
g) Concluding Vote of Thanks: Stuart Mole, Director-General of the Royal Commonwealth Society
As well as adding his own thanks, Mr Mole contributed a word of defence for the FCO, who had been much criticised during the day but who often help behind the scenes with, for example, youth activities and the Commonwealth Day Observance. The RCS Director-General expressed his commitment to take the challenges laid down seriously and expressed his intention to work more closely with the CPA in the future and follow up on this conference. However he urged all attendees to take up the challenge themselves.
His profile was further raised, when lurid allegations appeared in a national newspaper focussing on revelations that a former boyfriend smoked marijuana in their home, and a posting on a local website where the senior ranking police officer said that he sympathised with anarchism.
All served to establish him as the best known policeman in the capital.
Sian Berry, Green: Will cut all bus and off-peak Tube fares.The Green party - its London election manifesto - promising to make the capital a "greener and more affordable" place to live and work by cutting bus and off-peak tube fares by 20p, offering free insulation and bringing in realistic rents for small businesses.
Boris Johnson, Conservative-Bendy buses to be replaced with a modern-day Routemaster. Congestion charge to be reformed. Freedom pass to be retaine
Ken Livingstone, a one-time socialist firebrand seeking a third four-year term as mayor, Over-60s and the disabled to be allowed to use the freedom pass, allowing free travel on London public transport 24 hours a day, instead of just after 9am. Congestion charge likely to rise to £25 a day for heavily polluting 4x4s. No increase in fares in 2008 for single journeys on buses and the Tube.
The ballot papers
On 1 May 2008 Londoners elected both the Mayor of London and the 25 members of the London Assembly. All British, Commonwealth or EU citizens aged 18 or over and living in London are eligible to vote, as long as they are on the electoral register.
Who gets London's top job? How to vote in the Mayoral election
The ballot paper for the election of the Mayor is pink.
You have two votes in the Mayoral election - a first and second choice.
Vote for your first choice candidate by marking a cross (X) in column one.
Vote for your second choice candidate by marking a cross (X) in column two.
If you only mark a first choice, your vote will be counted - you do not have to cast your second choice vote. But making a second choice cannot reduce the chance of your first choice candidate being successful.
If you only mark a second choice vote and not a first choice vote, no vote will be counted.
If you vote for the same candidate for first and second choice, only one vote will be counted. You cannot improve the chances of your chosen candidate by giving them your first and second choice votes.
Find out how the Mayor is elected after the votes have been counted
Are you registered?
Only people on the electoral register can vote in the London elections. The registration deadline for the London elections has now passed but you can still add yourself to the register for future elections. Visit http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/ for more information.
How do I vote?
Follow our quick guides to find out how to vote in the London elections
What happens to my vote?
Watch our videos to see how your votes are added to the votes from around London to get the results
Listen to Sir Trevor McDonald explain how the votes will be counted
Factsheets
Factsheet 3: Registering to vote and casting your vote
Factsheet 4: The ballot papers
Voting for the London Assembly
How the London Assembly is elected
How the Mayor is elected
The ballot papers
Ways to vote
Vipi muafaka?
The ballot paper for the election of the Mayor is pink.
You have two votes in the Mayoral election - a first and second choice.
Vote for your first choice candidate by marking a cross (X) in column one.
Vote for your second choice candidate by marking a cross (X) in column two.
If you only mark a first choice, your vote will be counted - you do not have to cast your second choice vote. But making a second choice cannot reduce the chance of your first choice candidate being successful.
If you only mark a second choice vote and not a first choice vote, no vote will be counted.
If you vote for the same candidate for first and second choice, only one vote will be counted. You cannot improve the chances of your chosen candidate by giving them your first and second choice votes.
Find out how the Mayor is elected after the votes have been counted
Are you registered?
Only people on the electoral register can vote in the London elections. The registration deadline for the London elections has now passed but you can still add yourself to the register for future elections. Visit http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/ for more information.
How do I vote?
Follow our quick guides to find out how to vote in the London elections
What happens to my vote?
Watch our videos to see how your votes are added to the votes from around London to get the results
Listen to Sir Trevor McDonald explain how the votes will be counted
Factsheets
Factsheet 3: Registering to vote and casting your vote
Factsheet 4: The ballot papers
Voting for the London Assembly
How the London Assembly is elected
How the Mayor is elected
The ballot papers
Ways to vote
Vipi muafaka? The Tanzania President meets the leader of the opposition in Zimbabwe.Does that mean any thing? Lets see the Definition of acknowledge -verb [T] to accept, admit or recognize something, or the truth or existence of somethingMaking An Impact: The Commonwealth In Parliament And The Constituencies
A half-day conference at the Houses of Parliament
1. Opening Plenary: The Commonwealth and the UK
a) Chair: Baroness Prashar CBE
With some 55 delegates in attendance, Baroness Prashar opened the conference by stressing that, although she considered the Commonwealth to be a wonderful organisation, it is currently undervalued and falling short of realising its full potential. There is an enormous amount of ignorance about the Commonwealth among the general public – a recent survey found that one in ten young people believed that George Bush was its head. Furthermore, successive governments have neglected the organisation, with the current government investing just 18 pence per capita on the Commonwealth, compared to ten pounds a head on the UN.
The Baroness set out the key questions for the conference: Can Parliament play a bigger role in the Commonwealth? How can Commonwealth groups engage with a wider audience and take better advantage of the media? And, how can Commonwealth agenda issues be addressed, given the great diversity of the organisation?
b) Panellist: Rt. Hon. Lord Howell of Guilford, Conservative Foreign Affairs Spokesman
Furthering several of Baroness Prashar's introductory points, the message from Lord Howell was clear: 'it is time to bring the Commonwealth back into the centre of British policy'. The Commonwealth is miserably underfunded and – tellingly – entirely absent from the latest Foreign and Commonwealth Office leaflet on policy goals (except, of course, in its heading). Whilst the UK is, and should be, loyal to Europe, it has overlooked the crucial relevance of the Commonwealth today. As Asia races ahead, pioneering scientific advances and IT innovations, failure to take advantage of the UK's Commonwealth network will be at its own cost. Historic circumstance means that the UK is linked to an array of nations, stretching across continents and faiths, encompassing rich and poor, as well as thirteen of the world's fastest growing economies. In today's 'information age', trade routes will increasingly be outside Europe and the Atlantic, and instead with the oil-producing nations and booming Asian powers (not least India, the world's largest democracy). Yet the UK does not exploit its Commonwealth network or forward the interests of these partners in EU forums (unlike France, Spain and Portugal who nurture relationships with their former colonies).
Over a decade ago, Lord Howell spearheaded a House of Commons report entitled The Future Role of the Commonwealth, which recognised the institution as a tremendous resource for its members and the world, and highlighted its potential to strengthen 'the Commonwealth within' – the diverse diaspora community in the UK itself. Few of the report's many recommendations were implemented and misguided policies have since allowed Commonwealth identity and loyalty to drain away.
The UK should take advantage of its fantastic network of governmental linkages in the Commonwealth, and appreciate too the fruitfulness of its informal and non-governmental associations. To give UK foreign policy a real and much-needed edge, it must make both the EU and the Commonwealth central, and allow the two institutions to reinforce one another.
c) Panellist: Richard Bourne OBE, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit
Mr Bourne congratulated Lord Luce and Baroness Prashar, whose 'unsentimental review' of the Commonwealth proposed last July for the 60th anniversary, he felt deserved urgent follow up. Much of what is thought of the Commonwealth is, the speaker argued, out-of-date. In order to move forward, we must get over our postcolonial 'castration complex' and hang-ups that the Commonwealth is marginal, dead, or an opportunity for the UK to continue its overseas influence by other means.
In keeping with declarations made at the Kampala CHOGM, the Commonwealth can play an important role in the overhaul of the global economy. For example, the membership of many island states made the Commonwealth key in combating the crash in fish stocks.
Yet the Commonwealth does not stop at the Secretariat, which is financially constrained. Like Lord Howell, Mr Bourne stressed that we must look at the interaction of official and unofficial organisations in the Commonwealth and recognise the important role of non-governmental bodies. As a result of these networks, the Commonwealth is 'more than the sum of its parts'.
As we enter a new world and see countries like India roaring ahead, we must ask: What is the role of the UK in the Commonwealth? The speaker predicted that the UK will continue to have a special role in the organisation (and raised the point that 60% of its funding currently comes from the country). However Members of Parliament and Ministers of the Crown must be aware of rapidly changing dynamics within the Commonwealth.
Although not a 'whole-hearted optimist' like Lord Howell, Mr Bourne also believed the Commonwealth to be 'full of possibility' and was keen to take further the issues raised in this conference.
d) Discussion
In response to a comment from the floor about the feeling of successive governments and the FCO that the UK should remain in 'the backroom' of the Commonwealth, Lord Howell referred to a process of 'Easternisation', in which countries like India were racing ahead, turning the tables on the West. Given this development, Lord Howell continued, it is likely that terrorism and other world problems will be solved by the great minds of the East, such that the UK should look after its own interests and recognise that the Commonwealth can help us. Mr Bourne offered a parallel example from the world of sport – although cricket was developed in this country, the international game is being transformed by the Indian Cricket Authorities.
Stuart Mole, Director-General of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) explored the tension between expanding membership of the Commonwealth and keeping to the organisation's core attributes and historical linkages. How, for example, could the Commonwealth engage with Brazil, China and Japan? Could there be a new category of association beyond formal membership – 'dialogue partners'? On this note, Lord Howell spoke of the huge interest of counties such as Poland and Estonia in developing formal or informal ties with the Commonwealth and suggested that such international linkages be fostered wherever possible. One must admit, Lord Howell went on, that China and India will play a huge role in the environmental issue – if they do not generate energy in a green way, the global impact will be huge. The Commonwealth should exploit its links with Singapore and India to engage with countries like China on such crucial issues. Mr Bourne reflected on the conservative response from Uganda about the possibilities of expanding membership, but noted that other bodies (such as the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association) were already engaging partners beyond the Commonwealth. He cited Sonny Ramphal on this point: 'the Commonwealth cannot negotiate for the world, but it can help the world to negotiate'.
Other points from the floor stemmed from Lord Howell's notion of the 'Commonwealth within'. How has the growth of Diaspora communities in the UK affected perception of the Commonwealth and how can we better engage these communities – including the tens of thousands of international students – in our causes? Richard Bourne added that he felt awareness of the Commonwealth among Diaspora communities (and even Commonwealth scholars) was remarkably low.
In summing up the session, Baroness Prashar, mentioned the significance of engaging the media and changing mindsets (including in Commonwealth NGOs themselves).
2. Group Session: The Commonwealth in the Constituencies
a) Chair: Lord Steel of Aikwood KT KBE DL
Lord Steel highlighted that it was rare to find Commonwealth issues coming up at election time in the UK. He pointed out, however, that in certain constituencies, Commonwealth issues, for example in Jamaica and India, may have an effect on voting. Lord Steel turned to the two panellists to explore this matter at the level of the constituencies.
b) Panellist: Valerie Davey, Executive Chairperson of the Council for Commonwealth Education
As a former MP, Valerie Davey stressed that we are all constituents and used her home city of Bristol as a case study to assess the relevance of the Commonwealth at the local level. Although disappointed not to have seen a single Commonwealth Day poster in her area, there were several Commonwealth-related events in Bristol. The local RCS branch (with a membership of 83) celebrated Commonwealth Week with a dinner. The Empire and Commonwealth Museum was, as usual, full of young people and teachers engaging with the theme 'Commonwealth and Us' (and, with the museum set to move to London, Bristol's loss will soon be the UK's gain). 17 schools in the region were involved with international exchanges, linking with Ugandan schools online; while others marked Fairtrade fortnight. Yet among young people at the schools, the Commonwealth connection was not made as issues were packaged differently. The speaker praised the Youth CHOGM programmes but argued that they should be expanded and supported by MPs.
As constituents, we all have a role to play and can, at the least, write to our MPs to raise awareness of Commonwealth issues. In a cosmopolitan region like Bristol, with a huge number of international workers and students, there is the potential for cross-Commonwealth networking and some groups have already forged global connections at their own initiative – for example one trade union is allied with a South African partner.
Overall, the Bristol case study implies that, although there is a wealth of Commonwealth-related activity, we are falling short of uniting all these various aspects. NGOs could seize the opportunity to get things moving. Good will to the Commonwealth exists at the local level, but much more can be done to raise initiatives at a national and international level.
c) Panellist: Peter Kellner, Political analyst and President of YouGov
The speaker reflected that he usually chooses to open an address with hard figures, yet could not find Commonwealth statistics to draw upon – indicative, perhaps, of the fact that views of the Commonwealth are broadly positive but ultimately shallow. The fact is, Mr Kellner claimed, Commonwealth issues will not cost MPs votes.
The Commonwealth does not fit the mould of other institutions. Yet is very virtue is that it isn't mandatory. In an era when ideas rule the world, the Commonwealth's great strength is that is a voluntary body, dealing in ideas and not interests, idealism and not formal powers. The Commonwealth does not, and should not, deal in deals, but is rather there to spark ideas and discussion across people of different creeds and colours. As such, it is a unique vehicle to tackle vital world issues pertaining to conflict resolution, development, security, human rights, the environment and so on.
If the Commonwealth can get people – especially young people – engaged in the Commonweath's informal networks then they will soon become involved in big world issues. Rather than acting as a lobbying body, the Commonwealth should take advantage of its spirit of voluntarism and idealism.
d) Discussion
After a comment from the floor about the value of professional groups (such as nurses who kept in touch with their home countries), Lord Steel stressed the value of extending the 'Twinning Movement' beyond Europe.
A representative of the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council highlighted two problems with engaging young people on the Commonwealth. Firstly, the unique spirit of the Commonwealth can be difficult to relay to some audiences. Secondly, because the Commonwealth is not a power-broking organisation, although it does exciting work, it can be difficult to attract the resource support it deserves – finances in the UK have been static for the past 40 years. Others also emphasised that funding is a big issue – although the FCO provide some support, the contribution from DIFID is minimal.
Lack of information for teachers was also mentioned as a limiting factor, although there were reports of extremely successful youth events, such a young people's Parliament centred on the environment, and the high profile Commonwealth Day discussions at Stormont.
One attendee felt that, because the Commonwealth is in danger of fading in the minds of school students, the Museum of Empire will be a fantastic tool, offering resources for teachers nationally, electronically and in London.
Another speaker made the well-received comment that the onus is on us to make the Commonwealth relevant. When we explain that engaging with booming states like India will provide a means to address the environment, that the Commonwealth provides the ideal framework for engaging with conflict resolution, with terrorism, and so on, then funding will follow. If the Commonwealth shows itself able to tackle big issues, then resources for youth projects will follow.
Speaking in opposition to Mr Kellner's thesis, a Jamaican student of law argued that lobbying groups at the grassroots are important as they help to get Parliamentarians engaged with the issues.
Valerie Davey agreed with Mr Kellner's idealism, but felt that it was also important to offer some pragmatism, as, practically speaking, lobbying is the hook onto which we can hang the big issues, she claimed. Other points raised related to the importance of networking at the local level and with civil society bodies, and the possibility of forging online links between cross-Commonwealth groups .
3. Group Session: Lobbying on Commonwealth Issues
a) Chair: James Robbins, BBC Diplomatic Correspondent
Mr Robbins introduced the key questions for this session: Why is the Commonwealth not as high profile as it might like, and how can it 'get the story out there' more effectively? The fact is, although the Commonwealth has a lot of good stories to tell, it often fails to tell them. Although the Commonwealth is a fantastic brand, it seems reticent about trumpeting its core values and successes, such the irreversible shift towards good governance. The recent example of Kenya is a case in point – Commonwealth observers of the contentious elections were slow to denounce them publicly, allowing the EU to steel the limelight. In short, the Commonwealth missed a trick here. If the Commonwealth is successful in selling its story, it will not only raise its profile, but attract private funding, making it less dependant on limited public resources.
b) Panellist: Patrick Orr, Raitt Orr Associates
Since he considered the discussion to have been relatively UK-centric, Mr Orr widened the scope of his discussion to the Commonwealth as a whole.
As an example of loosening ties to the Commonwealth, the speaker mentioned the decision to offer preference to junior doctors who are UK passport holders – preposterous given the NHS's reliance on doctors from the Indian subcontinent. In the current climate, the Commonwealth will lose out to the EU.
The speaker mentioned the Kenya case again. Despite recognising that the elections fell short of international standards, the Commonwealth's 20 person observer group missed the opportunity to get their organisation recognised. In the future, the Commonwealth must take a more robust and newsworthy angle.
Mr Orr went on to discuss the distinct lack of community broadcasting in Commonwealth nations, maintaining that many journalists work with limited or no training. The media offers fantastic potential to raise the profile of local issues – for example phone-in shows on local radio can be a form of community advocacy. The speaker reiterated a comment of those before him: young people have a key role to play in the Commonwealth. Journalism training schemes such as those run by the BBC World Trust would help Commonwealth citizens participate more actively.
New media offers tremendous potential in this regard – online social networking sites unite people across large distances, mobile phone texts can be used to motivate people to action and viral marketing campaigns have proved to be incredibly successful. If the youth of the Commonwealth can seize such new media technologies they will be given a voice.
There is optimism for the future, and we must exploit and extend the existing initiatives (such as the Youth CHOGMs and the Commonwealth Media Development Fund) to take the Commonwealth further. The PR impact would be positive, and with this kind of 'drip, drip, drip' approach, publicity could increase over time.
The speaker put forward a concrete plan – selected Commonwealth journalists between the age of 21 and 30 could be granted a visa and funds to allow them to work with fellow professionals in a different Commonwealth state for a period of time. Not only would the scheme give the journalists valuable international exposure, the journalists would doubtless feel positive about the Commonwealth, filtering this sentiment into their work and allowing the Commonwealth to gain momentum over time.
c) Discussion
In response to a question about how to fund such a training programme, Mr Orr suggested that the media itself may well fund initiatives. If wealthy corporations such as Reuters could form a foundation to endow a whole school at Oxford, money must be out there. Commonwealth organisations could also look at, for example, taking the air miles of wealthy supporters.
Thanking the speaker for raising the critical point that the Commonwealth must move away from sentimentalism to redefine itself, one commentator stressed again the need to redefine the contemporary Commonwealth and make it more relevant.
Cheryl Dorall suggested that the Commonwealth means different things to different people, making it difficult to grasp which elements to profile.
The example of the Kenyan elections was again raised by David Steel – because the Commonwealth spokesperson was African, a quick condemnation of the elections would have carried more weight. In the future, the organisation must take risks and be more outspoken.
d) Panellist: Cheryl Dorall, The Commonwealth Association
Cheryl Dorall brought attention back to the 'nitty gritty issues' of Parliament. She felt that lobbying on Commonwealth issues does occur, be it a Nurses' Federation campaigning for migrant health workers, or the Commonwealth Press Union applying pressure on freedom of speech issues. However, these are sector people talking on sector issues. What is there to say of the Commonwealth as a whole? The Secretariat already works closely with individual ministries, yet is limited by funding.
Given its perceived marginalisation, should the Commonwealth lobby for itself? Because its profile is so low within British government, perhaps the Commonwealth as a whole should stand up and say 'I am here, no longer an imperial body, but doing good work'.
Let us think back to the time of Apartheid South Africa. When the Commonwealth was trading blows with government it was perhaps in its prime. More recently, the Commonwealth got considerable attention when rebelling on the issue of Zimbabwe. Yet if we pursue such a stance, is the Commonwealth 'biting the hand that feeds it'? And if so, does it matter? Parliamentarians should be lobbied on matters of international development and the limited funding it receives. It also has important points to make when it comes to the economic issues faced by small states.
As an alternative to lobbying, Ms Dorall discussed the possibility of 'wooing and winning', the kind of 'drip, drip, drip' approach that had already been mentioned. Or perhaps, the speaker mused, a combination of these tactics is what is required.
In concluding, the speaker stressed that she had no answers, but wanted to raise these big questions. She also felt that better use should be made of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association – the Commonwealth's inbuilt, established lobbying group.
e) Discussion
A speaker from the floor felt that UK-centric views had dominated in the discussion. If India and other states were interested in the Commonwealth, then the UK certainly would be too, meaning that broader Commonwealth problems would be addressed, and we could move towards greater interest in, and ownership of, the Commonwealth.
A representative from Tearfund, stressed that NGOs are extremely active in lobbying government, citing the 'Make Poverty History' campaign as an example. To make this action more effective, NGOs should reach out to the Commonwealth more, but the Commonwealth should also seek to work more closely with NGOs.
Several people, including Ms Dorall, mentioned that the CPA and the RCS hoped to liaise more in the future, meeting much more regularly. One speaker from the floor cautioned that lobbying may take time.
In concluding the discussion, Mr Orr stressed again the importance of grassroots organisations and youth and new media opportunities, and also pointed to the blogs of David Miliband, now followed by many officials – perhaps key Commonwealth figures, such as the new Secretary-General, should follow this lead and seize every opportunity to publish.
4. Closing Plenary: Raising the Commonwealth's Parliamentary Profile
a) Chair: Right Hon Lord Luce GCVO DL
Lord Luce remembered working alongside the Head of the Commonwealth, and the Queen's face lighting up whenever Commonwealth issues were raised. Yet, he warned, we should not take it for granted that others are as enthusiastic about the Commonwealth as those present at the conference. Nevertheless, although more is to be done, the Chair said that he had never before heard such a positive and concrete discussion of the issues.
b) Panellist: Lord Anderson of Swansea DL, Labour Peer
Able to offer a unique bridging relationship on matters such as migration and terrorism, the Commonwealth has a very special relevance in today's world, Lord Anderson contended. In times gone by, overseas experience and firsthand dealings with Empire gave the Commonwealth obvious relevance for MPs. Nowadays MPs are more parochial and burdened with constituency pressures, meaning that we must shout louder to raise the importance of Commonwealth issues.
Parliament provides a platform that can be useful for the Commonwealth as a whole, the speaker stressed. The UK can instigate change by acting as an advocate for its Commonwealth allies in Brussels.
Lord Anderson spoke of the success of a fellowship scheme which twinned schools in London with Sierra Leonean schools. Ultimately, he argued, all politics is local. Taking advantage of the local media and the community spirit of Diaspora groups should be encouraged.
c) Panellist: Stephen Crabb MP, Conservative MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire
Having come to political consciousness in the 1980s, Mr Crabb reflected on his once thin understanding of the Commonwealth. Yet, he continued, when thinking about big international issues that are right at the top of the parliamentary agenda, the Commonwealth has an important role to play. For example, on the matter of trade with India, there has been input from the Commonwealth Business Council. On human rights issues too, there is a key role for the Commonwealth to play, offering as it does a unique, all-embracing approach to global affairs.
Looking to the future, there is no question that young people around 18 to 25 years are more globalist in their outlook, particularly in urban areas where immigration has its greatest impact. Working with schools to promote awareness of what the Commonwealth is and does would be extremely beneficial.
We should not propose the Commonwealth as an alternative to the EU – it can be very much more than that. Mr Crabb concluded by emphasising that he is optimistic and excited about the Commonwealth and raising its profile in Parliament.
d) Panellist: Baroness Northover, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on International Development
Baroness Northover felt that the Commonwealth was 'below the radar' all too often, especially in the UK, and particularly amongst young people who, despite travelling far and wide, are all too often unfamiliar with the organisation.
The Commonwealth is a very important group, offering unique links to countries and peoples who – despite being quite different – share elements of our history and approach. More should be done to nurture these links. As we face the challenges of international development and climate change, the fact that the Commonwealth contains rich and poor nations with distinct perspectives is extremely important. The Commonwealth is very much more than the result of historic accident and we must recognise its value. For example, of the 38.6 million sufferers HIV/AIDs globally, some 24 million live in Commonwealth countries. It is striking, too, that countries want to join the Commonwealth.
On recent visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Baroness was struck by the commonalities between this country and the UK – not only is British law used, issues such as the ending of hereditary political representation and increasing female representation in Parliament are shared.
Concluding her speech, the Baroness stressed the importance of improving knowledge of the Commonwealth within Parliament; of encouraging international visits and entertaining those visiting from Commonwealth countries; and of stimulating young people to understand and learn from the UK's special international links.
e) Discussion
Lord Luce underlined the need to take advantage of Commonwealth networks and put flesh on plans to make the Commonwealth more relevant to Parliament.
Stephen Crabb questioned the effectiveness of lobbying groups focused on countries and not issues (the Conservative Friends of India, for example). Yet Lord Anderson stressed that the current trend was a move away from geographical generalism, pointing to recent issue-based forums on governance and climate change which were well attended by parliamentarians. Baroness Northover welcomed this development and felt it important to make more people aware of the CPA.
A member of the audience reflected on a conversation with his dentist who, despite having strong views on the EU, had no comments to make on the Commonwealth, which seemed distant and irrelevant to him.
Members of the audience highlighted a gap that should be filled by a stronger Commonwealth perspective and the strongly felt view that the Commonwealth should avoid allowing its historic links wither away.
Lord Anderson stressed that there was no question of the Commonwealth withering, referencing the CPA's UK branch, who had organised excellent seminars on highly relevant issues.
When asked about the Commonwealth agenda, Lord Anderson clarified that the organisation did not have a single agenda as this was set by the individual CPA branches – even the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament had distinct interests.
f) Conclusion: Right Hon Lord Luce GCVO DL
Lord Luce thanked the speakers and RCS and the CPA for organising the event, and expressed a desire to see proactive follow up. He recommended that the two organisations form a working party to help move matters forward.
In conclusion, he said that the Commonwealth is a multi-lateral, amorphous body with great potential – it requires encouragement and lubrication rather than direction.
g) Concluding Vote of Thanks: Stuart Mole, Director-General of the Royal Commonwealth Society
As well as adding his own thanks, Mr Mole contributed a word of defence for the FCO, who had been much criticised during the day but who often help behind the scenes with, for example, youth activities and the Commonwealth Day Observance. The RCS Director-General expressed his commitment to take the challenges laid down seriously and expressed his intention to work more closely with the CPA in the future and follow up on this conference. However he urged all attendees to take up the challenge themselves.
