2012: Will Sugar say You're Fired to Boris?

Alan Sugar has not ruled out standing for Mayor of London in 2012. The Amstrad chairman and star of The Apprentice speaks to Vanessa Feltz on BBC London 94.9. A Labour Party supporter, he has been called into the office by Gordon Brown on a number of occasions to advise on business issues. Labour’s biggest individual cash donation in 2001 was £200,000 from Sir Alan Sugar.

We know though that he is no advocate for equality with some of the questions that he asks of candidates. Katie Hopkins, was questioned whether she would be able to cope with a job at Amstrad when she had two young children at home in Devon. Hopkins left the show and the TUC said that the Apprentice was sending the wrong signals to employers over the hiring of female staff.

Regardless of what I think about his ethics or his ability to run London, he does have a knack for running a successful business although it is dwindling a bit at the moment. He does have a good team with Margaret and Nick the voices of reason. Boris won not for his politics but the celebrity status and perhaps Alan Sugar would be able to do the same. He is perhaps one of the only suspects who could actually point the finger at Boris and get to say 'You're Fired'.

The fact is that people might say that Alan Sugar is not a serious contender but he has been a life long Labour Party supporter and member and we may start to see another side to him when he gets to discuss real politics. However, with his draconian views on working Mothers and women in the workplace which are bound to be transferred over into the political sphere, I very much doubt he will have my backing.

The Londonist comments. See The Independant 22 March 2008, The Evening Shamstard reports 'Sir Alan Sugar lined up to keep out Ken Livingstone'

UNISON withdraws support from RISE festival

Angry delegates today agreed to withdraw UNISON's financial support from the GLA-organised RISE festival, in protest at Boris Johnson's decision to drop the festival's anti-racist message. RISE was originally established by the TUC, as a dedication to the memory of Stephen Lawrence and other black citizens who have suffered from racism. It has since become the largest anti-racist festival in Europe. Regardless of this, the London mayor has declared that the festival would no longer have an anti-racist political purpose, and was instead "a celebration of music and culture."He has also banned the National Assembly Against Racism and the Cuba Solidarity Campaign from taking part. The BNP's newly-elected GLA member Richard Barnbrook has congratulated Mrt Johnson on the move. Annette Mansell-Green of the NEC told conference that the festival, which was supported in its original purpose by former mayor Ken Livingstone, "has become an important response to the rise of the right, especially the BNP. "The whole point of the festival is to support an anti-racist message and bring together thousands of people in the fight to keep the BNP out of London. This is political censorship, and UNISON will not stand for it." Ms Mansell-Green, joint chair of the general political fund which pays for the union's anti-racism campaigning, added: "No GPF money will go to RISE this year or any other year as long as it's not an anti-racist festival". Gloria Hanson of Greater London region, which has also decided to withhold financial support of the festival, called Mr Johnson "a disgrace", and his decision "an insult to London, an insult to trade unions and most importantly an insult to the memory of Stephen Lawrence." Delegates backed the move by the GPF and the region, urging the NEC to widely publicise their condemnation.

UNITE has also pulled funeding because Johnson refused a platform for the Cuba Solidarity Campaign saying that it was a political campaign group and therefore unacceptable.

Read more: Guardian News. NAAR's Reaction. BNP support Johnson's decision.

Also see Johnson aide quits over race row

I'm glad I don't live in London

May 2 really was St Boris Day who in fact is the patron saint of Bulgaria but definately not the patron saint of London nor a friend of LGBT people although Boris Johnson, the newly elected London Mayor would have you believe he is. Some of us will remember the recent Stonewall hustings when he lost his temper when being questioned over his position on gay rights seeing that sometimes he votes in favour and then writes homophobic banter. He repeatedly said that he did not believe that the state should not intervene in matters such as marriage and what is taught in schools. This is probably an indication that LGBT equality will not be high on his agenda now he is Mayor and it would be interesting to know what else he does not think the state should interfere in.

Dave Prentis, UNISON's General Secretary said to the BBC "The election of Boris Johnson as mayor is a bad day for London, for Londoners and for the capital's public services. In time, Londoners will regret electing this Conservative as their champion. We are particularly worried about the effect that the election of a BNP assembly member will have on race relations and community harmony."

The London Assembly results showed a swing to the Tories with Labour managing to keep hold of some seats but the election of the BNP candidate Richard Barnbrook is a travesty. He denies the BNP is racist. He also says "You can be gay behind closed doors, you can be heterosexual behind closed doors, but you don't bring it onto the streets, demanding more rights for it."

For more comments on the election read Craigs LGBT blog.