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Boris: I'll be the Mayor to unite all Londoners
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent08.04.08
Boris Johnson made a bid for the capital's ethnic minority vote today by promising his policies would help Londoners of all backgrounds.
The Tory candidate said his plans to tackle crime and improve transport and housing would lead to a better quality of life across the city.
He accused Ken Livingstone of dividing communities and said the Mayor did not have an automatic right to black and Asian votes.
Mr Johnson was speaking ahead of an Operation Black Vote event in Lambeth where he joined the Mayor, Lib-Dem candidate Brian Paddick and Green Sian Berry to oppose the BNP.
He said: "The Mayor must represent the interests of all communities in London. The major issues such as crime, transport and housing affect all Londoners regardless of the community they belong to. No one candidate has the right to assume any community will automatically vote for them - every vote must be earned. The current Labour Mayor has run out of ideas and has concentrated on politics of division rather uniting people." However, he faces an uphill struggle to convince some ethnic minority voters that he would be the best candidate.
Mr Johnson has come under fire for describing black babies as "piccaninnies" although he has since apologised.
Mr Livingstone has topped the polls when voters were asked which candidate would best represent ethnic minority communities. The Mayor said London could not afford "to go into reverse gear" on community relations and had to stop the BNP "in its tracks".
He added that the party needed only five per cent of the vote to win a seat on the London Assembly, which it would then use to "spread their message of hate".
"Stopping the BNP means every Londoner who opposes racism and bigotry needs to vote on 1 May. Every additional vote cast makes the BNP's five per cent hurdle harder to reach," he said. "It's very simple - if the anti-racist majority votes, the minority of BNP votes will be marginalised. But if we don't vote, the BNP will get elected to the Assembly."
The BNP had called on its supporters to give their second preference vote to MrJohnson. But he rejected the endorsement, saying: "It is the responsibility of all candidates to unite in opposing the BNP."
At the Operation Black Vote event, MrLivingstone was asked about his previous attempt to link Mr Johnson with the BNP in the public mind. He shrugged off the question, saying: "We stand together, Boris and Brian and Si‚n and myself, united in saying to London, 'Vote for any legitimate candidate.'"
Operation Black Vote confirmed Mr Livingstone's former race advisor Lee Jasper was still chair of the organisation but that his presence at the event would have been a distraction. Later, the Mayor joined Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman in her Peckham constituency in a bid to boost turnout among black voters.
Ms Harman refused to say whether losing London would damage the Labour Party. She said: "We're not taking anything for granted and we're emphasising what Ken will do if re-elected."
Reader views (28)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
They should all be locked up! they are but representatives of the ruling class.
- Jammin James, Brighton
After 28 years of Mugabe and 8 of Livingstone, I think it's time for change!
- Ian Nurock, London
People thinking to give Livingstone first choice or second choice should think again very seriously, as they don't realise that his policies have caused much harm very widely to many many businesses, if not virtually all. Including cabs, minicabs, shops, cafes, restaurants, offices, places of education, entertainment, leisure and to employees, tourists and visitors. Businesses close, down-size, move out. Public transport is expensive and needs to be cheaper to encourage people out of their cars when they can conveniently. Livingstone's anti -car policy and Congestion Charge and high fines and high parking charges, and lack of park and ride into the centre add to the misery., and his tax-raid CC has congestion high again,and pollution moved down the road sets out why we all are dependent on a strong economy that facilitates and encourages trade and contact. So of the two top contenders the only one to have as First choice is Boris Johnstone, who should also be second round choice for those who don't vote him first preference if we are not to risk another term as divisive and damaging as the last two with Livingstone again. Happily there are many wise Muslims, Christians and Jews and non-faith people who have seen through Livingstone and his denials of the facts and the truth, and his attacks and racial slurs against his opposition.
He only got elected in the past due to a very low turn out, and only had 13 percent of the electorates vote.
- Jim Abbotson, London Britain
People thinking to give Livingstone first choice or second choice should think again very seriously, as they don't realise that his policies have caused much harm very widely to many many businesses, if not virtually all, including cabs, minicabs, shops and cafes and restaurants, offices, places of education and entertainment and leisure and to employees, tourists and visitors. Businesses close, down-size, move out. Public transport is expensive and needs to be cheaper to encourage people out of their cars when they can conveniently. Livingstone's anti -car policy and Congestion Charge and high fines and high parking charges, and lack of park and ride into the centre add to the misery, and his tax-raid CC has congestion high again,and pollution moved down the road. So of the two top contenders the only one to have as first choice is Boris Johnstone, who should also be second round choice for those who don't vote him first preference if we are not to risk another term as divisive and damaging as the last two with Livingstone again. Happily there are many wise Muslims, Christians and Jews and non-faith people who have seen through Livingstone and his denials of the facts and the truth, and his attacks and racial slurs against his opposition
He only got elected in the past due to a very low turn out, and only had 13 percent of the electorates vote
- Jim Abbotson, London Britain
Oh yes, Boris "Picaninnies, pangas, watermelon smiles" & glib, bilious Islamophobic caricatures... the man to UNTIE London?
- Ml, London, United Kingdom
Nice choice of photograph, Standard. No bias evident there. Keep up the good work.
- Steve, London
The Plot Thickens!
We now have a situation where all three major parties candidates for the London Mayor Election have joined ranks to oppose the British National Party.
One consolidation is "Operation Black Vote."(The other being a blanket amnesty for all illegals!)
If you look at the Operation Black Vote fund providers (paymasters), listed on their website, we find that it includes:
The Home Office/Ministry of Justice
The Electoral Commission
Cadbury Barrow Trust [sic]
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
Now, call me thick (many people do!) - but, is this
legal/ethical/moral ... ?
For the ruling Party to use tax payers money against a rival party seems a little odd, would you not agree?
Is this what we should now expect from Zanu Nu Labour?
Our political masters are streets ahead of Mr Mugabe in this respect!
- Peter Mullins, Liskeard , Cornwall ,England
Before the last Mayoral election KEN Livingstone promised he would not increase the congestion charge from £5 to £8 but he did, he promised not to extend the congestion charge zone but he did even though the idea was rejected by the majority. He had 8yrs to tackle crime but did nothing so why should we vote for him. He is arrogant and dishonest and deserves to be kicked out.
- Ben, London
It seems that opinion is fairly well split as to who represents the "least worst" candidate for Mayor of London.
Why not be very, very wicked and mischievous by voting for Richard Barnbrook, the British National Party's candidate! What a shock that would send through the vitals of the main parties!
Remember, dear voters, "If you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got!!
P.S. I am also waiting for "Operation White Vote" to be announced.
- Peter Mullins, Liskeard , Cornwall ,England
Sorry Mr Boris Johnson:
You are not fit for the job. Your views about blacks and Muslims are well known.
1. "To any non-Muslim reader of the Koran, Islamophobia…seems a natural reaction.. . Judged purely on its scripture — to say nothing of what is preached in the mosques — it is the most viciously sectarian of all religions." (Spectator 16th July 2005)
2. "The proposed ban on incitement to "religious hatred" makes no sense unless it involves a ban on the Koran itself." (Telegraph 21/07/2005)
3. "It is time to reassert British values…That means disposing of the first taboo, and accepting that the problem is Islam. Islam is the problem." ( Spectator 16th July 2005)
4. "Islam will only be truly acculturated to our way of life when you could expect a Bradford audience to roll in the aisles at Monty Python's Life of Mohammed." (Telegraph 21/07/2005)
- Atiq Malik, London - UK
I see it is revealed today Livingstone did know who gave him money and there is no surprise there but the arrogance of the man thinking everyone is stupid enough to believe him.
Well done Evening Standard keep digging there is plenty more Livingstone does not want made public.
- K Harrop, Hertford uk
Did Ms Harman walk around her constituency in a bullet proof vest and surrounded by her own armed protection force again?
Nice to see she bravely steps out in to the area serves.
- Triffid, London
So Ken is going to deliver affordable housing. All housing is affordable it depends on how much you earn. Ken said way back when bendy buses came out that they would only run between London bridge and Waterloo now they are all over London like a rash. Ken has helped reduce the road space by narrowing roads and restricting traffic leaving no room for cyclist. The climate is back to 1998 temperatures according to world climate scientists that are not paid by the government. Come on Boris lets get London open and moving again, with more room it will be safer. Can we really afford to keep Ken and his cronies on? He spends more on advertising than Microsoft UK. He has 90 media staff no wonder his speaches sound perfect, at what cost?
- Ray, London
Now that we have had 'Operation Black Vote' can we look forward in the next few days to a rally for 'Operation White Vote'?
Er....thought not.... After all, that would be racist wouldn't it?
Well, wouldn't it?
- David Moon, Seaford, Sussex
I think I'm one of many that have decided not to vote altogether simply because of the stature of the mayoral candidates. Its clear for anyone to see that Boris aint worthy to be a mayor for a big city like London and those who support him only seem to be driven by a dislike for Ken Livingstone. Might add that his core supporters that are doing all the shouting at the moment, are not even from the Tory party membership but are just some disgruntled Londoners. As for Ken, what else can I say. The man has been in the job for too long, he's obviously lost touch with voters. The Liberal Democrat candidate I'm not even going to speak about. Good luck to him.
- Clive, London, UK
London's burgeoning black and minority ethnic communities have been short changed by Ken's self appointed elite.
Vital funds have failed to reach the communities that need them. Outdated rhetoric has reinforced exclusion.
London's best entrepreneurs and most vigorous and imaginative residents deserve a Mayor who will work for all of London and not patronise them.
Time for Ken and his lackeys to retire.
Let's hope Boris helps to create a truly united London.
- Paul Canal, London
Boris did not describe black babies as picannies. He described, in irony, how the Queen might have described them. Anyone with half a brain can see that unless they are out to stir up trouble. This hair-splitting by Labour is pathetic but understandable - because they are desperate.
- Howard, Essex
Unite London - I don't think I've every laughed so loudly! However, bad you think Ken Livingstone would be Boris Johnson would be a disaster and his policies and his personal views would be extremely divisive and damaging to London. It is has been suggested in the broadsheet press that Boris has been kept away from the public/suppressed in the run up to the election so that his regular 'gaffes' can be kept to a minimum in the hope that the electorate will forget his previous stupid remarks.
- Andy, London
It is true that Boris has meandered in his policy making on immigrants. However, Ken has been openly racist during his tenure, and I find him downright sinister in general. Boris definitely does not fit that category, and I look forward to his arrival as mayor
- Andy, Putney, UK
Richard, you would be well advised to leave the race card alone because in my experience immigrants are not fooled by your propaganda and your boss should do the same.
Boris does display human honesty unlike your boss and that is what is now needed a bit of common sense backed up by a good brain.
- Kenherts, Enfield
Richard,
you forgot that "this is a political advertisement approved by the mayor Ken Livingstone" disclaimer at the end of your post.
- Scott, London
I am surprised Harriet Harman is so happy to show Ken around her constituency. Since crime has got so bad in Peckham that she has to go out in a stab proof vest she should be telling him to sort out the rising crime on our streets and buses before pretending he understands the issues of voters. Boris is the only candidate capable of making our streets safer. Go Boris!
- Louise, Camberwell
Ken the taxman, Ken the man of wasting money, Ken the man who delivers job for the boys and Ken the man that has divided London down race lines - this man should get wiped of the floor on the 1st and Boris should sweep in a new era of common sense politics in London.
- Ryan, London
-St, London.
Boris would have got my vote too until yesterday, when he proposes to give amenity to illegals. Are you sure you want to vote for this numpty?
- Tasha, London
It's so true ken will say anything to get voted in again he will brand anyone racist who opposes his way the problem is Ken is everybodys problem regardless of race or sex we would all get on better if he wasn't stirring up trouble.
- John, London
I will be voting for Boris, as I have had all I am going to get in bogus charity donations from Mr Livingstone's cronies, sadly the game is up!
Come on Boris, I'll give you a go instead.
- Mr Poperdom Pete, Bexleyheath
Right. Boris Johnson, who refers to black people as "picaninnies" with "water-melon grins", is going to 'unite' Londoners. Boris Johnson, the supporter of section 28, is going to bring us all under his inclusive wing. Boris Johnson, the warmonger, is going to be loved by London's antiwar majority. Boris Johnson, who opposed affordable housing, is going to be welcomed into the hearts of the poor. Please.
- Richard, London, England
Ken's policies have only succeeded in dividing London into race-based categories. With Ken at the helm, this won't change, so yes, if you, like me, think that we all deserve what the Aussies call "a fair go", then Boris is certainly the man to vote for.
- St, London
