News RSS Feed


"The king of bling is back"

12:30pm Saturday 3rd May 2008

comment Comments (29)   Have your say »


Brian Coleman was re-elected for Barnet and Camden by an overwhelming margin of almost 20,000 votes tonight.

And the Conservative launched an angry tirade in his acceptance speech against his Labour opponent, Nicky Gavron, that left her visibly shocked.

The former Deputy Mayor had earlier said that she was only running against Mr Coleman "to stop him resting on his bling".

In a rousing speech that was met with raucous applause from his Tory supporters, Mr Coleman made reference to Ms Gavron's role in the Olympic torch relay in central London last month, and what he perceives as her lack of local nous.

He said: "I say to the Deputy Mayor, whose hands are dripping with the blood of Tibet after handing over that torch, take your A to Z back to Haringey because the people of Barnet and Camden have rejected you.

"You may have said to the press that I rest on my bling, well the king of bling is back."

Mr Coleman left Alexandra Palace, where the results were announced, with his mother just as soon as he had delivered his speech, stopping only to thank and kiss some of his supporters.

Ms Gavron appeared nonplussed by the rant, saying she had had trouble hearing it as she was stood behind Mr Coleman.

Her selection to run for Barnet and Camden was a clear attempt by the Labour party to pit one of their political heavyweights against Mr Coleman, who has held the seat for eight years and has substantial support in Barnet.

The two have been fierce rivals at City Hall and vocal in their criticism of one another, particularly on the subject of their expense claims.

But the election campaign proved to be clean - until last night.

Ms Gavron had admitted before the results were anounced that she knew she was not going to win and implied that she had taken the decision to ruffle some feathers.

After the result was announced she said: "It was always going to be a very, very steep challenge. It was the most un-winnable of all the margins.

"We had a really huge majority to overturn but the swing last time was much bigger than this time."

Ms Gavron looked on as her party suffered defeat, compounded by the overwhelmingly blue colour of votes in Barnet and Camden.

There was a huge turn-out of more than 47 percent across the two boroughs and 81,718 people voted for Boris Johnson as their first preference, to Ken Livingstone's 63,912.

The results capped a good day for the Conservatives in Barnet, which appears to be rapidly becoming a Tory stronghold.

Mr Coleman polled 72,659 of the votes to Ms Gavron's 52,966, while the Liberal Democrat candidate Nicholas Russell came third with 22,213.

Miranda Dunn, of the Green party, was next with 16,782.

Both Mr Russell and Ms Dunn vowed to continue working in Barnet on issues that have been at the heart of their respective election campaigns.

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say YourTimes Series

Reality, Bites says...
11:27am Sat 3 May 08

"The King of Bling is Back" !??

Could this be the man you looks 25 years older than his real age?

Dresses like he was born out of his era?

Knows of everybody and never forgets never forgives opposition?


Report this post »

Mrs Mills, Penninton Street says...
11:14am Sun 4 May 08

I bet he'll 'Never forget, never forgive' you for that comment !


Report this post »

Josh, WHetstone says...
11:31am Sun 4 May 08

" Both Mr Russell and Ms Dunn vowed to continue working in Barnet on issues that have been at the heart of their respective election campaigns. "

Of course, nobody has see or heard from these two since the election and if your wise you won't hold your breath.





Report this post »

Petru Clej, London says...
5:27pm Sun 4 May 08

Thanks God people in this borough don't vote like electors in Lambeth, Hackney, Newcastle, Oldham, Wales or Scotland.

Report this post »

Donald, Finchley says...
10:25pm Sun 4 May 08

Josh, Ms Dunn has actively campaigned on issues, local and national over the past decade, not all are reported in the newspapers, so don’t think Greens just appear at elections, because that's just not true.

Report this post »

Stuart, Barnet says...
10:15am Mon 5 May 08

Re : Donald of Finchley

I suppose that as Ms Dunn is your partner, you would say that, wouldn't you.

Report this post »

Josh, Whetstone says...
10:43am Mon 5 May 08

Who just appears at elections?
- The Conservatives only put out three leaflets in the run up to elections and one a year inbetween, but number their leaflets to suggest otherwise.
- The Labour party managed a partial mailshot at this election, but won't bother to do anything until the next election.
- The Green Party will now disappear off the face of the earth and never bother to put out leaflets anyway, but they will get one story a year into the local newspaper.
- The Lib Dems just can't stop putting leaflets through my door: sometimes I think they are the only ones who bother doing anything around here.

Donald of Finchley should have declared that Ms Dunn is his better half, I guess the Greens are learning some of the dark arts after all....

Report this post »

Rog T, Mill Hill says...
11:56am Mon 5 May 08

Well I'm not married to Miranda Dunn like Donald, in fact I don't know her personally but I can also vouch for the hard work she does all of the time. I'd say she's probably one of the hardest working and most committed green campaigners in Barnet and the comment above is completely unfair. Without the Miranda Dunns of this world, places like Barnet would be significantly worse. I suspect a search on this papers website using her name will confirm this.

Report this post »

Reailty, Bites says...
12:23pm Mon 5 May 08

My postman works really hard too, all of the time as well: doesn't mean he does anything of political consequence.



Report this post »

Fed Up, LBB says...
5:44am Tue 6 May 08

I believe that your postman is responsible for delivering your polling card. This alone has quite a significant impact. However I do feel that if voting changed anything it would probably be made illegal.

Report this post »

Bill, Barnet says...
11:40am Tue 6 May 08

Ho, ho! I am The Toad, the handsome, the popular, the successful Toad!' He got so puffed up with conceit that he made up a song as he walked in praise of himself, and sang it at the top of his voice, though there was no one to hear it but him. It was perhaps the most conceited song that any animal ever composed.

`The world has held great Heroes,
As history-books have showed;
But never a name to go down to fame
Compared with that of Toad!

`The clever men at Oxford
Know all that there is to be knowed.
But they none of them know one half as much
As intelligent Mr. Toad!

`The animals sat in the Ark and cried,
Their tears in torrents flowed.
Who was it said, "There's land ahead?"
Encouraging Mr. Toad!

`The army all saluted
As they marched along the road.
Was it the King? Or Kitchener?
No. It was Mr. Toad.

`The Queen and her Ladies-in-waiting
Sat at the window and sewed.
She cried, "Look! who's that handsome man?"
They answered, "Mr. Toad."'
There was a great deal more of the same sort, but too dreadfully conceited to be written down. These are some of the milder verses.

He sang as he walked, and he walked as he sang, and got more inflated every minute.

Report this post »

Dave, Barnet says...
3:02pm Tue 6 May 08

So Coleman wins in Barnet...

What a surprise!

And by the way Barnet Borough Times - you begin this article by saying Gavron was 'visibly shocked'.

You later quote her as saying she couldn't hear what Coleman said because she was standing behind him.

Doesn't really tally up does it?

So, another glorious term of office for Coleman. We pay through the nose while he hails another cab.

Depressing.

Report this post »

Tom Johnson, Hendon says...
4:49pm Tue 6 May 08

Ms Gavron was visibly shocked by the speech afterwards, although she couldn't properly hear what Brian Coleman was saying, because it was clear that he was angry. If you watch the footage of the speech you'll see how the two aren't mutually exclusive.

Report this post »

Reality, Bites says...
7:09pm Tue 6 May 08

So Brian Coleman was visably angry during his speach: just goes to demonstrate what I was saying about him taking it all too personally.
He needs to remember that's only a game, maybe the great game, but only a game and that poltical opposition is not a personal insult. Some might speculate that he uses Politics to compensate in some way, but that is pure speculation.

Report this post »

Josh, Whetstone says...
9:30pm Tue 6 May 08

Anyone who views the footage can see that Brian Coleman was not particularly angry and that Ms Gavron has no reason to be visably shocked by Coleman's speach .



Report this post »

Josh, Whetstone says...
9:31pm Tue 6 May 08

(Other than being told publicly that her little interlope had been a complete flop).



Report this post »

Fed Up, LBB says...
4:36am Wed 7 May 08

Having watched the footage I'm now sad to see that the we are represented by some form of gloating toddler. I for one am exceptionally proud!

Report this post »

Josh, Whetstone says...
6:56am Wed 7 May 08

The Gloating toddler comment is a fair comment.



Report this post »

Fed Up, LBB says...
9:16am Wed 7 May 08

Thank you Josh, I'm not particularly fond of politicians of any hue, and I appreciate that although you may have your favourites you can see what I can. I just wish that this city/country could get away from football team type politics, and that all the parties could get together and agree on some sort on consensus of what would would be good for everyone. As they say in the trade "Who Cares Who Wins"

Report this post »

Rog T, Mill Hill says...
10:07pm Wed 7 May 08

I have often wondered whether Brian Coleman is really a cruel practical joke played on the people of Barnet by mischievious returning officers. I mean there must be loads of people out there who think he does a great job, but I really don't get it.

I'd really like one of his die hard supporters to come on and explain why they like him so much, just so that the world can make a little sense. I asked Jane Ellison once why he seemed to do well and she said "well he's quite good in committee" That really didn't solve the puzzle????? Tens of thousands of you voted for him, so come on help the heretical believer to enlightenment

Report this post »

Anon, Hendon says...
8:19am Thu 8 May 08

Seeing as mine was one of the votes that voted Brian in - I might get some new windows in my very cold and draughty house!

Report this post »

Fed Up, LBB says...
8:43pm Thu 8 May 08

Rog, read your exchanges with Angela prior to the mayoral election. Most entertaining if I may say. Keep the faith etc. I'm completely in agreement with your theory regarding Mr.Coleman, I think you might have hit the nail on the head there. Cheers.

Report this post »

Reality, Bites says...
10:30pm Thu 8 May 08

Rog, read your exchanges with Reality Bites et al prior to and during the election: I still think you're a dogmatic Labourite.

But I do agree with LBB's assesment of Brian Coleman. (even if I am a Tory)

Report this post »

Marc, Barnet says...
12:33pm Fri 9 May 08

I voted for Mr Coleman, because I think he does a reasonably good job for the borough and I doubt any of the other candidates would do better...
But, I do so wish he would give all the shouting and sweating a rest. It is so unnecessary. Look at how Ken and Boris accepted their victory/defeat with good grace. There is no need for Brian to be so angry and unpleasant all the time.
People will be just as happy with someone who speaks honestly, sensibly, and most of all, calmly.

Report this post »

Flying Frog, Golders Greeeeeen says...
4:34pm Fri 9 May 08

I do believe Brian Coleman is honest. In fact he's brutally honest. But he's not sensible and he'll never be calm. You could say that makes him the opposite of many politicians these days.

Report this post »

Jeremy, Wood Street says...
6:08pm Fri 9 May 08

"King of Bling" ?? more like strutting old queen.

Report this post »

Rog T, Mill Hill says...
6:31pm Fri 9 May 08

So far the reasons for voting for BC are :-

1) To get new windows???
2) He does a reasonably good job and other candidates might not do better.
3) He's not sensible but tells the truth

I am no nearer understanding his hypnotic appeal.

Dear Reality Bites,
You say you think I'm a dogmatic Labourite. Does this mean that after all the banter, debates and insults, you are not sure ?????

Well I'm sure you are a plonker :^}



Report this post »

Gareth, Whetstone says...
2:35pm Sat 10 May 08

I have to say that BC does come across as a horrible, arrogant little man. However, having worked with him over the last few years, I think he is very good at what he does. He tells it straight (a refreshing thing in politics) and you know where he stands on issues, even if you disagree with that particular stance. That has to be applauded.

Report this post »

Rog T, Mill Hill says...
4:11pm Sat 10 May 08

It is clear to me that the likes of Broadcast Quality from Hale do not like people to read responses to his posts. By telling lies and posting long empty entries, he and Reality Bites and the rest of the Klan hope to hide the truth. Well if you got here then you clearly saw through their ploy.

Ask yourself this, why would anyone other than a BNP support seek to besmirch one of their opponents. The tactics used here are classic spoiler campaign tactics.

I'd treat anything they write with a serious health warning. WHY ELSE WOULD THEY DO THIS ??????????

Report this post »

Comments are closed on this article.

Self-proclaimed "king of bling" Brian Coleman, re-elected Conservative GLA member

In this section

Essential links

Sponsored Links



Local Advertisers


Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »