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Greens and Ken strike poll deal to beat Boris
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor19.03.08
The Green Party have joined forces with Ken Livingstone in a bid to stop Boris Johnson becoming Mayor of London.
In a surprise move that could alter the dynamics of the race, the Greens urged their supporters to give their second preferences to Mr Livingstone to prevent the Tory candidate taking City Hall.
Green mayoral candidate Sian Berry appeared alongside the Mayor at a nature reserve in Camden to declare that they had a "common cause" in attacking Mr Johnson's environmental credentials. In the previous mayoral election, the Greens told their supporters not to back any other candidate with second preferences.
But with Mr Johnson ahead in the polls, the London Green party decided at a meeting late on Monday night that backing Mr Livingstone was the best way of keeping the Tories out.
Ms Berry urged her backers to vote "Sian 1, Ken 2" on the ballot paper, while the Mayor asked his voters to give the Green candidate their second preferences.
Both Mr Livingstone and Ms Berry listed Mr Johnson's "green crimes", including his:
• Opposition to plans for a £25 congestion charge for gas-guzzlers, as well as a 100 per cent discount for smaller cars.
• Backing for George Bush's decision to boycott the Kyoto treaty on climate change.
• Claims that the new low-emission zone for Greater London is "punitive" and "draconian".
• Plans to allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes.
• Opposition to road humps and traffic lights timed to favour pedestrians.
Only last month, the Greens decided against backing Mr Livingstone because they believed he needed to do more to boost the environment. But they have since been impressed by his policies for the election campaign and have changed their minds.
Ms Berry today moved to underline what she called "the double threat of a Tory monopoly over the GLA" - with Conservative Assembly members allowing a Mayor Johnson "to push whatever he wanted".
She said: "Boris Johnson has real contempt for Londoners. He hates that we celebrate each other's heritage; he hates that we try to pass on a healthy environment to our children; he hates that we look after our most vulnerable neighbours; and most of all he hates that we all expect to share in our city's financial success. And if he's elected he will do his best to destroy all of that.
"I cannot bear the idea of living under Boris Johnson. What I am urging Green supporters to do is this: vote Green on the Assembly, vote for me as Mayor, then use their second mayoral vote as an insurance policy to stop Boris Johnson by giving it to Ken Livingstone."
She said that the Mayor has needed the votes of the two Green Assembly members to pass his budget this term, requiring discussion, negotiation and compromise. Ms Berry herself is placed fourth on the Green list, and is expected to be elected to the Assembly if she loses out in the mayoral race.
Mr Livingstone said Mr Johnson had sided not with Londoners but with the big polluters such as Porsche cars, which has attempted legal action against the £25 charge plan.
"This common green agenda is at the heart of a modern, forward-looking agenda for London, which Sian and I both share and which Boris Johnson stands against," he said.
Blog: Do red and green go together?
Reader views (41)
The Greens do care for the economy but haven't been too good at putting economic policies across. As a new member I'm helping change that. Greens not only care for the real economy, that of actual resources that we need, rather than simply money, which we cannot eat, but also have plans for the monetary economy which could reduce poverty/inequality, get people back to work, spring the benefit trap and ensure actual supplies of actual commodities and services into the future. Vote Green everywhere if you understand that money has no nutritional value.
- Margaret Devlin, Bream, UK.
The Greens don't care for the economy that alone is enough. Roll on terminal 6 with 3 new runways,
- Diane Abbot, London, UK
Opposition to plans for a £25 congestion charge for gas-guzzlers, as well as a 100 per cent discount for smaller cars. Hang on a car is a car, congestion is congestion not matter what you drive! I figure it is either a way to raise the money needed for the 2012 Olympics or it is just an act of Class War, probably even both!
- Nick Walters, UK
I would consider moving to London just to not vote for Boris Johnson!
But as I'm not likely to move to London. Please, please all of you electors in the capitol remember that what you choose to do there will have effects on all of us hard working greens and other serious political activists up north and elsewhere!
- Lance Crookes, Manchester
I wouldn't vote for Boris Johnson to be mayor. He's just a joke.
- Clive, London, UK
A totally sensible move for both the Greens and Ken. We have to remember this isn't the Greens backing labour it is the Greens backing a Mayor that though not perfect is the Greenest we have for now.
It also makes sense as you can't vote for one candidate in both the 1st and 2nd preferences as the second will not be counted. I believe both candidates can only gain from this show of cooperation.
- James Youd, Cambridgeshire
Vote Ken at your peril and see the troughs multiply.
- Asw, Hong Kong
Like P.J O'Rourke once wrote too many "Greens" are "watermelons" (I.e Green on the outside red on the inside!)
- Jason Stone, Stratford, Newham
The Greens should understand that's the sort of politics we all are so sick of now; Boris Johnston doesn't hate anything or anybody. Grow up please.
- Lawson, Sydney, Australia
Just watch those postal votes!
- Peter, n1
It is time for Mr. Livingston to smell the roses and go to greener pastures.
- Gustav, Rego Park, USA
Anything that keeps Boris out has got to be good
- Bob, Enfield, England
Economic Marxist meets cultural Marxist. Is anyone surprised?
- Winston Smith, Kent UK
It's true then, they're just like watermelons: green on the outside and red on the inside. Wonder how much he pays them?
- Jack, London
Sian Berry wants to warn people of Conservative Assembly members allowing a Mayor Johnson "to push whatever he wanted".
As opposed, of course, to Green Assembly members allowing Ken Livingstone do whatever he wants by voting with his Budget when it comes up.
The Greens are just watermelons, green on the outside and red inside, and this is about as surprising as a certain saying about bears and woods.
- Craig, London, UK
I always knew it was a case of Vote Green, Get Red. Green Ken has delighted Londoners with his expansion of carcinogenic buses and very cyclist-friendly bendy buses (when they're not self combusting!).
He's increased Kengestion through removing road space and slowing down London. And presumably Sian turns a blind eye to all his firework parties funded out of our taxes.
As does Jenny Jones AM, jetting to trendy Mayors For Peace jambos. What a bunch of hypocrites!
- Geoff, Richmond
Sian Berry has lost my vote, I was going to go green but if that is her stance with Livingstone then she deserves to come behind him in the vote, we should all be getting together to rid ourselves of him not joining him to keep him in the style to which he has become accustomed, shame on you young lady.
- Mrs Frank H., Chelsea
So Livingstone is trying anything to cling to power by hanging on the coat tails of the Greens,if he was as green as he has said he is he would not need to do this,the master of voting manipulation strikes again,WHAT A CON.get him out.
- Frank, Chelsea
Teaming up to manipulate voting, next will it be our taxes funding their campaigns or is that already happening? Why don’t they go the whole hog and ask that their supporters only send their votes in by post. Ken obviously is worried, hence happy to seek support from any sector – never know Ms Berry, you could fill that vacant ‘Aide’ position.
- Jeanette, Havering
What's all the fuss about. Two parties reach a pact around election time? The Green Party have supported the Mayor's budget since 2000. The Green Party, as I understand voted for the line they are taking and are informing the electorate.
Both Ken Livingstone and the Green Party have made it clear what their policies are. Look at the postings above - not one of them states at all what Boris's policies would be - the reason is they don't know them, because he doesn't know himself. I like Paul Merton's comment, myself: "How is Boris going to look after London if he can't even look after his bike?" It's the Standard's fault we're threatened with this Thatcherite by their biased scaremongering and only printing one side of the story ensuring the election would be dirty. Let's hear what Boris is going to do - what strategy has he got? - London deserves that.
- Victor, London, England
I demand my right to drive my four by four over the north face of Euston road and hang the consequences - Vote Boris!
- Bill, London
What's the point of the Greens as an independent political party if they're in Livingstone's back pocket?
Which party brought in the clean air act, shut down coal fired power stations, got rid of leaded petrol, instructed councils to recycle etc... well it wasn't Labour.
- Giles, London
Your getting desperate Ken, teaming up with the greens, who lets face it would have us all walking everywhere and eating grass if they could. Maybe when you lose office, you and Sian Berry can cycle of into the sunset together.
- A.D. Redrup, Ruislip, Middx
Ooooooh! How frightening; the greens will help Ken!!! The only thing that worries me is fraud under the new postal voting system. Ken is capable of anything. Just now he is rattled, but I am sure Londoners will grab the chance to kick him out.
- Beatriz, London
The Greens are all watermelons...Green on the outside,Red on the inside.
Go Boris , knock the lot of them out of power and influence.
- Peter Of Chingford, Chingford , London
Has anyone worked through the electoral maths on this? I would have thought the Lib Dems would be the main loser.
Also, four of the five crimes refer to policies whose environmental gain is pretty uncertain:
- The £25 charge - even TfL acknowledge the environmental gain is minimal, and that relies on the funds raised being used for cycling projects that are in turn successful and no too many free Group A&B cars hitting the streets.
- The LEZ probably just moves the problem trucks outside the M25
- Motorbikes in bus lanes - less congestion, more motorbike users, less car users?
- Road humps and traffic lights - All other things being equal, road humps increase CO2 emissions, equally stop-go motoring due to traffic lights increases CO2 output [and probably explains yesterdays Ambulance news]
Opposing ineffective policies isn't the same as disagreeing with their aim.
- Fred, London
If I thought Sian Berry would or could influence anything in this City I would vote for any party she "couldn't bear".
- Steve, London
Looks like the Johnson's Press cronies can buy their way into City Hall. Just hope the people of London can see through that ruse.
- Dhanraj, Basildon, Essex
A vote for Ken then is yet another vote for inflation busting council tax rises as any Greens elected to the Assembly will sit in his pocket and vote for his budgets. If you can't win on your own don't stand. Pack up and go. Anyone but Ken on 1st May.
- Xenia, London
This is a bitter attack on Boris, that really demonstrates how much Ken fears him - Ken does seem to enjoy little pacts, and then distances himself quickly when they mess up (Lee Jasper for example)
- Liz Bennett, Rainham, Essex
The Greens are already in power. Despite the fact that there are no Green MPs, every policy from City Hall and Westminster has a verdant hue.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, UK
I believe I detect a whiff of panic in the air.
- R M, London, UK
Livingstone's shade of green is one of envy for his opponents' chances of toppling him.
It beggars belief that the Greens’ would promote Livingstone after recent revelations in this paper.
The sooner Livingstone is put out to pasture the happier this Londoner will be.
- Roger, London, UK
I suppose the green party will now be entitled to a dodgy back hander from Ken and his cronies in return for this support.
Back Boris, cant be any worse than Ken Livingstone!
- Scott, Bexleyheath
It doesn't matter what deal Ken does with the Green party to try and artificially manipulate the outcome of the May elections. Londoners have made a pact with each other. Anyone but Ken.
- Rupert, London
"Plans to allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes."
They're already using them. Does the mayor not know this?
One has to wonder, given the Lee Jasper issue, how much Ms. Berry has been promised for her allegiance.
On the subject of green credentials, I can't believe that any "green" would prefer Ken (the developer's friend) to a man who cycles to work (Boris).
- Sarah N., London, UK.
I think this idea of giving everyone a first and second choice vote is totally wrong. The Ken Livingstone and Sian Berry 'agreement' shows that it is open to manipulation.
- Madeleine Tyler, Rainham, Essex.
Doesn't matter which country they operate in, the Greens love of using dodgy science to 'prove' their off-the-wall theories and ignore the ethics of their chosen political partners is staggering. They don't like democracy all that much either, as the voting public refuses to take them seriously on their own. I don't know Boris, never met the man, but her statement that 'he has contempt for Londoners' is a bizarre and unprovable statement that highlights the wacky Green mindset.
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK
Ms Berry says she could not bear to live under Boris Johnson should he become mayor. I would advise her to start making removal plans because Ken's days appear to be limited. Londoners have had their fill of his behaviour.
- Alex Pomeroy, london
The green party have bent over backwards to help Ken and as such are totally ineffective.
Our "green" transport chair has:
- reduced the number of hours that the C charge applies
- voted for changes that will allow more cars to escape the C charge
- kept spending on cycling at a paltry £50m a year whilst planning £500m of new roads (green party figures)
- ditched improvements to the District line to increase energy efficiency by 20%
Like any other party they are driven by the desire to win re-election rather than make any positive changes
- Marc, Hammersmith
I love being told what to do by politicians.
- St, London
