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Mayor blames Thatcher for today's gang violence on our streets
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor11.03.08
Ken Livingstone came under fire from Boris Johnson today after he claimed that Margaret Thatcher was to blame for the levels of yobbery and gang violence in London.
The Mayor told MPs that the former prime minister's tenure in the Eighties had allowed many of today's parents to grow up believing there was no society or communities.
In evidence to Parliament's home affairs committee, Mr Livingstone also complained he could not raise more taxes and said the plight of local government in Britain was "worse than Russia under Stalin".
He insisted that violent crime in London had fallen but said that no matter how many more police he put on the streets there was a real problem with the attitude of some young people.
He said that his parents had reared him in the post-war period with a "basic moral code" - an approach that had been undermined by the "greed is good" culture of the Thatcher era.
"Looking at the generation today, these are children of the kids that grew up in the Eighties, when everyone was talking about getting your snouts in the trough, 'there's no such thing as society', 'greed is good'," said the Mayor.
But Mr Johnson, the Tory mayoral candidate, said while he agreed with Mr Livingstone that many youngsters had a warped sense of morality, it was not down to the former premier.
"We can't just throw our hands up in the air and say this is all the fault of Margaret Thatcher," he said.
Mr Johnson said the rise in bus crime, particularly in the afternoons after school leaving time, was the "number one issue" for many Londoners. He said he would take away free travel rights from children found to have been involved in crime on buses.
Mr Johnson said he did not share fellow Conservatives' fears that police community safety officers were "plastic police".
Mr Livingstone, bemoaning his inability to raise more funds rather than rely on Whitehall, called for business rates to be handed over to City Hall.
Reader views (7)
Ken's remark about Mrs Thatcher is the blame for violence what a load of rubbish this country was run so much better when she was in power this country would not be as it is today. The problem got worse when Labour opened the gates and ruined out country. The police do their best but the violence in this country is a major concern. To stop this I think these youngsters should be put in the army they will soon learn what real violence is about it may also teach them a good lesson in respect.
- Amanda Handley, East London
This is a joke right?
Labour took away adult rights when they came to power.
Human rights? This government is a joke.
I have never voted for this man and never will, he is a liar and a aggressive dictator who thinks London belongs to him. He has made many thousands miserable, his mission - make money from Londoners and then make excuses that the Londoners money is well funded. I blame the LABOUR for the violence, at least Thatcher stood up for Londoner's.
- Michael, London, UK
Some cheek blaming the 80s for the yobs of today when one needs only look at the Mayor's office for starters, to see examples of "greed is good" and "snouts in the trough". Then we can move on to Tony Blair and his lot.
When even the Speaker of the house is drowning in his own greed and dishonesty, Livingstone should start apportioning blame to where it really lies.
As for crime on our buses - the reason they are now having to be patrolled by police is as a direct result of Livingstone's dreadful decision to give school kids free travel. As an example of the law of unintended consequences, this is a classic case!
Sorry Ken - you are wrong (as usual) on everything you utter.
- D Simmonds, London, London, UK
Good old Ken; the man can always be relied upon to attempt to deflect attention. He must be desperate if he’s played the Thatcher card so soon in the game.
Instead of hearing someone we pay to fix things bleat on like a cowboy builder about how it’s all someone else’s fault, I’d like to hear his ideas about how he’s going to put things right. Unfortunately, I think it’s fair to say that this diatribe rather proves that Ken has actually run out of ideas to improve London.
Also, I wouldn’t mind an explanation as to why, during his 8 years in charge of our money, things have actually got worse but I suppose there’s as much chance of that as there is of London becoming a better place to live under Red Ken.
- St, London, UK
This story really smacks of desperation. Perhaps we should start blaming it all on the GLC - and who led that?
- Richard Tracey, Wandsworth, England
gGow up Livingstone, stop blaming Thatcher on everything!
- Jonnie Of Brixton, Brixton, England
It is good to see Boris agrees with Ken re: childrens morals.
However I fail to see Ken completely blaming Thatcher. Ken is blaming the values of the 80s, a society which was headed via the government of Mrs Thatcher. Of course she was the figurehead but I know Ken realises that there were many other subsidary forces which helped reinforce greed is good.
The main crux of the matter is, that ideology, that divine belief in the primacy of the individual is wrong. It seems from this, Boris agrees.
It doesn't matter if you put Thatcher's name to it, Reagan's name to it or even Hayek's. What does matter is realising communities are key and fighting against the alienation and atomisation of individuals. Losing positive communities helps foster dangerous subcultures such as gangs, so this is a key issue and I hope all candidates address it with the seriousness it deserves.
- Sam Cullen, London, UK
