Boris Watch

The Evening Standard started an annual list of the 1000 most ‘influential’ Londoners last October, so today saw the publication of the second list.

I don’t have the full list – that involves paying them money – but I can compare their online coverage of the two lists. Can you detect any changes in tone since last year?

2008:

The Influentials: London’s top fifty

…

Some of the people who are most influential appear in more than one section — and in the case of Boris Johnson, in no fewer than six categories.

…

Boris Johnson, 44
MAYOR OF LONDON
His ousting of Met boss Sir Ian Blair demonstrates the new Mayor has real clout. Beneath the bluster, he is savvy and steely. Recovered from quick-fire departure of two deputy mayors.

A nice impartial summary of Boris’s chaotic few months there. Still, a generally level-headed introduction to the list otherwise.

Now, what was last year’s headline?

2007:

Ken and his cronies top new London power list

The scale of the influence that Ken Livingstone holds over London is revealed today.

An Evening Standard analysis of the top 50 figures in the capital confirms the Mayor in pole position …

But what it also reveals is the extent of the power his aides have grasped on his behalf – with people close to him accounting for half the remaining places.

No mention of Boris’s many ‘deputies’ and Policy Exchange foistings and so forth in this year’s write-up, despite e.g. Sir Simon Milton topping the Property category. Strange that. Particularly given just how much ‘grasping’ has been going on on the eighth floor since Boris took over.

Does anyone have the full list? Is it interesting? Or just a complete waste of time (like most things published by Associated Newspapers)?

Tags:   Evening Standard · spin3 Comments