London Mayor Elections 2016- Get started with our research links.

May 5th is London Mayor election day- try these recommended links for students/ researchers.

London Elects is the programme team that organises Mayor of London and London Assembly elections. Its website has basic guides for voters on the process and candidates.It also has electoral legislation 
 Democratic Dashboard has information for votes and past election results.From Democratic Audit, based in the London School of Economics

News services
Guardian news coverage and analysis
Mayor Watch
LBC london news 
Evening standard  - 
criticism of standard coverage from Media Standards Trust.
Independent 
BBC
Huffington Post 

 
 Academic discussion.
The Conservation has a good introduction to the candidates as well as academic discussion.
LSE Centre for Cities blog discussion.
Dods monitoring analysis of manifestos  
LSE Blogs 
Also LSE public event why I should be mayor tomorrow (28th January 2016)

Submissions/ analysis  from interest groups 
Here now how the environment could impact on the 2016 elections
Alzheimers Society
Family Friendly London
Fawcett society (Womens rights)
Gingerbread - upfront a childcare deposit guarantee 
London Elections - Freight manifesto.
Learning and Work Institute - Close the Gap how the mayor can extend opportunity.
RMT - where do the candidates stand on issues relevant to RMT (transport) union members.
Age Uk
End Violence against women 
NHS Confederation 
Friends of the Earth 

Political blogs
Conservative home
Labour List
Spectator magazine 
New Statesman

What wine reminds you of Boris? - humour in 2012 elections

The Huffington Post has published (courtesty of oddbins) a wine guide to the elections!
For more humour see the Cartoonstock website for examples taken from newspapers.
Paul Owen for the Guardian - gives an animated view of the contest
Little Boris - 'Little Boris follows the adventures of a little London boy who struggles a bit with everyday life.' it is illustrated by Robert Stocks
Finally see some singing and video blunders on Guido Fawkes blog.

London Elections - what do campaign groups think of the candidates

Some influential campaign groups have set up webpages. These contain manifestos and discussion of what they want from the new mayor.

Environmental
Woodland trust
London wildlife trusts
Clean air in London.

Business
Federation of Small Businesses 
CBI  Manifesto for business

London First business campaign

Social policy groups.

Age UK
Mumsnet blog
Citizensuk alliance of civil society groups
Operation black vote
Glas London irish forum
Evangelical alliance
Fawcett society.Womens Rights.
Big issue- homeless
Family friendly London.
Refugee council.
Homes for London.
Centre for cities manifesto
Migrants Rights
Stonewall .
End Violence Against Women

Transport

SUSTRAN
London cycling campaign
RMT Union

Say no to crow.- Boris supporters campaign.

London Mayor elections - what do the polls say?

Polls


UK polling report
Provides a summary of polls from the major newspapers
Ipso mori
TNS
Guardian ICM Polls

London Mayor Elections - key blogs to follow

Here is a short list of key people to follow.
most of the candidates web pages have links to their own followers.

British politics and policy LSE
Comment from academic staff and researchers at the London School of Economics
Left foot forward Leading progressive left wing blog.
Conservativehome
Spectator Coffeehouse blog
Guido fawkes.
Dale & Co.  Iain Dale conservative
Political advertising – Benedict pringle good analysis of adverts.
Labourhome
Liberal conspiracy

London Mayor elections follow the news coverage

In the second posting- here are some news services covering the elections. All have analysis, photos and social media.

BBC news
ITV
Guardian
Data store.
Dave Hill London blog

Independent – uk politics
FT politics and policy (general politics some content protected)
Telegraph
Telegraph blogs
Sun – general politics coverage.
London Standard
LBC radio
Jewish chronicle
Sky news
Mayorwatch independent news
Huffington post
Pink News- LGBT

London Mayor Elections 2012- get started with research

In May the 2012 London Mayor elections will take place. this is the first of our special posts to get you started with academic research.

What does the mayor do?
Try reading this briefing paper from the House of Commons Library
The GLA website has information on decision making and the structure of government in London.
For academic discussion see the Centre for Cities - which has papers on the roles of elected mayors
The Institute for Government has conducted extensive research on the role and impact of elected mayors. see their website for news and reports. The Warwick Commission on Elected Mayors and City Leadership was established by Warwick University. It published a report in April 2012 which contained interviews with over 40 mayors. You can also search the PSA (Political Studies association) proceedings to find some conference papers.

2012 elections.
London Elects  - designed for the voter find out when and how to vote. Includes past election results.


Electoral Commission Includes guidance and resources for returning officers. Search the election reports to get research papers on the conduct of past elections.
 
Candidates
All of the candidates have their own websites. Most with use of social media such as facebook, twitter, blogs. Here are the links.
 
Ken Livingstone (Labour) Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
Main supporters websites United4ken – unite union support

Yourken – for activists need to sign in via facebook or twitter. 
Boris Johnson (Conservative) Back Boris , Facebook, Twitter
Not ken again site from Boris campaign

There are also some Boris watch sites. You decide wehter they support him or not?
Boriswatch
Boris Watch
Sack Boris 2012

Brian Piddick (LibDems) Twitter, YouTube
London Liberal Democrats
LibDem voice - supporters and their blogs.
LibDem blogs portal to a wide range

Jenny Jones (Green party), Facebook, Twitter

Lawrence Webb –(UKIP) Facebook, LinkedIn

Carlos Cortiglia (British National Party) BNP TV

Facebook
 Hope not hate criticism

Siobhan Benita (independent) Twitter pledgebank site