Letter: Mayoral travesty

Sir: The activities which surround the process of electing a mayor for London are depressing and alarming.

Of the two main candidates, one is a man for whom the adjective "dodgy" might have been coined, while the other is the most blatant political placeman since the wretched Alun Michael was shoe-horned into the presidency of the Welsh Assembly. The idea, which was being mooted only a year or so ago, that the position might be held by a non-political figure now seems like a far-off dream, a rumour which circulated briefly and then evaporated.

What is so depressing is the overtness of the machinations. The Labour leadership now has such a stranglehold on the democratic process that it no longer bothers to conceal its intentions or its methods. The marginalisation of Ken Livingstone and the handing over of Labour Party membership lists to Frank Dobson are just two examples of the "no holds barred, no expense spared" approach to the electoral process which worked so well in Wales.

The Tories played their part by rejecting their most credible candidate, Steven Norris, in favour of a man whose past record leaves him vulnerable to endless attacks. The result is likely to be another abysmally low poll and a further increase in the cynicism and contempt felt by the public towards their elected representatives.

Over this travesty of democracy our political leaders should hang their heads in shame, though they will not do so, because, as we all know by now, shame, humility and the acceptance of blame are all "unhelpful". Time we all sat down and read Animal Farm again.

COLIN JORDAN

London W4