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Lib-Dem says black and Asian voters have lost faith in the Mayor
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard11 Apr 2008
Brian Paddick has accused Ken Livingstone of betraying ethnic communities and hijacking their cultural events.
The Liberal Democrat candidate said that far from having the black and Asian vote "sewn up" many groups had actually lost faith in the Mayor.
As the mayoral elections draw closer, there is a growing battle to court the "ethnic minority vote", with Boris Johnson claiming this week that he was the only candidate to unite London.
Mr Paddick told the Standard today: "Ken Livingstone tries to hijack ethnic minorities for political purposes. He leaned on the London Development Agency [which hands out grants] to give money to Afro-Caribbean organisations rather than any other minority organisations and he has seriously upset other people as a consequence, particularly the Asian community who felt they didn't get a fair deal."
His comments follow claims that the Mayor's former race adviser, Lee Jasper, encouraged the agency to give grant money to projects with links to his associates.
The former Met deputy assistant commissioner said the Mayor had also failed to help the Chinese community after a recent immigration raid in Chinatown left them feeling "hounded and persecuted".
Mr Paddick added that many Afro-Caribbean voters were disillusioned with policing policies. "You're four times more likely to be stopped and searched if you're black, seven times more likely outside London, and yet Ken says the police can do no wrong," he said.
A spokesman from the Mayor's campaign said: "Ken Livingstone is not going to take any lessons from a person like Brian Paddick with virtually no record of taking a stand when the chips are down for ethnic minorities - whether they be Black, Irish, Asians, Muslims or others.
"Ken Livingstone on the other hand has stood in defence of minority of communities when they have faced the most savage attacks."
Reader views (13)
Ken has not done nearly enough for us gay women! Where are the gay women in prominent positions within the Labour Party, let alone in the canteens of London? And there are sizeable numbers of lesbians who happen to be BME-where are the support network for gay BME women fleeing from prejudice within their communities? After all, there's lots of support for heterosexual women fleeing forced marriages!
- Donna Hancock, UK, 16/04/2008 00:41
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I have also voted labour and ken Livingstone in the past but no more. It seems the norm in this country is to rule until decay. Ken has not achieved much in the capital over the past eight years except possibly congestion charging the life out of the people. I cannot see any of the other 'major' contestants with much of an agenda either. I'd like to know why the media are concentrating on these 'big three' anyway.
Anyway, I hear there is a Christian party out there now which stands for morality and family values in a society damaged by decades of secularism and the alternative way. This is not about religion; it's about decent core values.
- Ade Sulaiman, London, 15/04/2008 12:11
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Is it me or does it look like Paddick has been photo-shopped into the picture?
- Steve, London, 11/04/2008 16:55
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I voted for Ken in the past, I shall not do so this time and one reason is that I believe his politics are racially divisive. The LDA/Jasper fiasco has done a grave disservice to the reputation of London's Afro-Caribbean voluntary sector, who are playing a vital role in many areas, such as youth mentoring.
For the Mayor to court Yusuf al Qaradawi and other Islamist movements has worried moderate Muslims and offended all the other religious groups in the capital.
It is time for one London, for all its citizens - and an end to divisive sectarian policies.
- Danny, London, 11/04/2008 16:47
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As some one of Indian Sikh origin I would never vote for Livingstone. He has stood next hugged and greeted sheikh Quarawdawi, an Islamic fanatic.
No one knows the fanaticism of Islam more than Indians either Hindu or Sikh.
- Jaspal Singh Dhillon, Southall, 11/04/2008 16:41
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Well said Diane. Your views are representative of all the black people I know. They don't want to be pitied or patronised by middle class white people who have a superiority complex. Equality is enough.
- Bob, London, 11/04/2008 15:50
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I am black and can tell a crook like Livingstone a mile away. When he was leader of Brent he presided over dodgy grants to many West Indians for all sorts of businesses. They all failed and on investigation the money was spent on such illegal activities like setting up a pirate radio station. This also went broke and Livingstones reaction ,unbelievably was "I hope they are more successful in their next venture" the fact it was an illegal venture was a matter of boredom to him. I recently saw a meeting where various projects were being voted on, when the assembly voted against something,a cocky voice saying "passed" could be heard,it was Livingstone smirking,because he has a veto on all votes it seems.
There should be a space on the voting form for, anyone but Livingstone with a box next to it.
This man's arrogance appals me.
- Kevin Slater, Brent, 11/04/2008 14:47
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Why on earth is this down to race alone? Surely all voters have lost faith in him? The amount of spin that appears to have gone into covering up his election donors alone would be enough to put most right minded people voting for him. The only problem is that whoever replaces him has to deal with his legacy of trade unions holding the transport system to ransom and crossrail and the Olympics running massively over budget.
- Phil Yerpockets, London, 11/04/2008 14:35
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Many small local businesses (shops, pharmacies, dry cleaners minicabs, take-aways, restaurants) are run by Asians and Chinese. Yet the mayor has done nothing to help them. Who will provide local goods and services if they are forced to close down because of unaffordable rent and rates, crime, congestion charge and parking restrictions which hinder deliveries and drive away their customers?
- Gerry Griffiths, London, 11/04/2008 14:24
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Well said, Diane Benjamin! London is full of successful African and Caribbean people who are fed up being thought of as beggars, or always looking for a handout.
Many of the best African/Caribbean initiatives are totally down to the energy and hard work of the communities they serve. Nothing to do with the Town Hall.
- Sally R., London, 11/04/2008 13:37
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Yeah, like Diane so accurately put it, Ken, and the idiot PC socialists like him, are the ones stirring up the racial tensions. London belongs to all of us, make London better for all the people, not by giving preferential treatment to particular groups.
- Martin, Kennington, London, 11/04/2008 13:27
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Ken has lost my vote on the basis of stirring up racial division. I'm an African lady. He thinks I'll vote for him not after the trouble he causes I've never claimed benefits though thanks to Ken people think I do. This has to stop, he's so patronising, I make my own luck in this city.
- Diane Benjamin, london, 11/04/2008 13:06
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The so called mayor of London biggest crime is he sneers and despises the ordinary white working class people of London ie THE COCKNEYS. What support or grants has he ever given us? He punishes us because we are hard grafters with pointless congestion tax and high fares when we travel into London. He is just a rich socialist who lives in a Mickey Mouse world.
- Joe Sardena, Swanley Kent, 11/04/2008 12:40
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