The national media treated the contest between Ken Livingstone, Boris Johnson and Brian Paddick as a major event.

But as far as the ordinary man in the Pendle street was concerned, it simply did not matter who won.

And Mr Pendle would go so far as to say the only people remotely interested in the outcome were Londoners themselves – and a good percentage of those probably weren't bothered either.

Most people are not even bothered which party runs their local council – the turnout at local government elections regularly shows that.

Thank God Pendle has not gone down the road of having an elected Mayor – something which would result in yet more needless expense for the already cash-strapped council tax payer, who would see no benefits from such a move.

The only thing they would see would be endless photos in the Press of the incumbent posing at dinners, presentations, Town Hall visits, civic receptions and so on – in other words, a duplication of the duties already performed quite adequately by the existing Mayor, thank you very much.


THERE must be some awfully sad people out there. That was Mr Pendle's immediate reaction to the announcement that viewing figures for the news on Channel 5 have increased by more than 70% since Natasha Kaplinsky made her debut as its presenter.

Do people out there really have their "favourite" newsreaders?

Do they really prefer watching Natasha reading the news than, say, someone like Sir Trevor McDonald?

Did they really prefer watching Angela Rippon than Sandy Gall back in the 1970s?

Personally, Mr Pendle could not care less who reads the news for him.
He could not be bothered whether the newsreader is male or female, black or white, attractive or acne-ridden, has an hour glass figure or is hunch-backed, as long as they keep him informed of what is going on in the world.

That is the only reason why he watches television news programmes – and he suspects he is in the majority. The appearance of the newsreader does not come into it.

AND so the cost of London staging the 2012 Olympics has more than doubled in the two years since the city was awarded the Games.

And MPs say the Department of Culture, Media and Sport is guilty of wishful thinking in predicting the private sector would contribute £738m. towards venues and infrastructure.

It's a pity they didn't ask Mr Pendle and his friends first – they could have told them that for free.