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Just how bad is Ken Livingstone? We should reflect on this before we risk making Boris Johnson Mayor of the most incredible city on earth.
During Monday's televised debate, Ken was calm and assured as he outlined his achievements while Boris blustered about "new ideas" and "fresh thinking". Boris didn't look like a leader as he struggled to define what his vision for London actually is.
Light on policy, Boris's boring, low-key campaign has been marked by his new gaffe-preventing reserve and his insistence that he's great at delegating, ie hiring better people to do the job for him. You wouldn't hire someone to run a kebab stall on such a premise. His greatest achievements so far are being selected as an MP for Henley-on-Thames and editing a Tory fanzine. Supporters say he deserves a chance despite being "unproven". The truth is, he's a thoroughly proven Right-wing provincial mediocrity.
Ken's an egomaniac who has played divisive politics with race, cosied up to property developers and handed out grants without scrutiny. But Boris has used race to court notoriety too, and as a lifelong Thatcherite will suck up to big business even more. Given that his supporters say his attention to detail is slack, why should he be trusted to keep tabs on public money? He shares Ken's worst traits while holding a flimsier CV.
For all Ken has done wrong, he's also done some things right. Would bumbling Boris and his illconsidered rhetoric on race have helped win us the Olympics? Would he have helped to calm London and keep it united after 7/7? In both cases, the answer is: no. In a crisis, Boris is the last man I want in charge.
Unlike Boris, Ken doesn't pretend to be anyone but himself. He was campaigning for gays, women, ethnic minorities and the poor when Boris was throwing himself into a Tory party that treated them with contempt. I dislike how Ken plays politics with people's identities but I trust where his heart is. Boris's proclaimed multiculturalism and desire to be a "human bridge" between rich and poor sound hollow to me. He showed no interest in London and its people until he decided to run for Mayor.
Congestion, extortionate housing and the fear of crime make life in London frustrating. But London still works and is the only place I want to call home. Yes, Ken could have done better, but I say don't give Boris the chance to make things a whole lot worse.
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Nirpal Dhaliwal's column is an unintended example of damning with faint praise. The phraseology and carefully selected accolades would lead an analytical reader to conclude that Ken Livingstone does not have a record which should leave the voter in any doubt about his suitability. Rather, the case made is that the only other likely winner of the contest is not up to the job.
Well, for my money (and that is literally true in this case) a claim that the present incumbent 'has done a few things right' is totally insufficient. I am sure that if Nirpal Dhaliwal was given £10bn per annum with which to do good works he would eventually warrant a similar plaudit.
And the only 'proven' attribute of Ken Livingstone is an unlimited and uncaring capacity to sacrifice everything and everyone to his own, personal objectives. Presumably the small shop-keepers on the edges of the Congestion Zone are merely collateral damage; it happens in conflict - tough.
No, it really doesn't wash. 'For all his faults' he should go - it really is that simple. One can trawl through history and find many a success story where the subject was initially unproven. We all were at least once. Let us have a Mayor who has heart, soul, humour, a determination to work with - not dictate to - everyone and genuine transparency.
And a little British eccentricity won't go amiss or do any harm. Let Boris Johnson bring some life and light into a Mayoralty which Ken Livingstone has smothered.
- Alan Wenman, Ruislip, UK
Ken has never had a proper job. Boris has never had a proper job. Ken is a tired old man who steals other people's ideas and calls them his own. Boris can tell good jokes and is too dumb to steal other people's ideas. No contest really. Boris is Best.
- John, Dundee, UK
Sounds like words of wisdom in this article. A very sobering note to anyone who thinks that electing Boris as Mayor would not have a lasting damaging effect and potentially put the future of the city in peril. For all you wavering voters and second preference bods, looks like until the Tories get a candidate that isn't a liability then it will have to be Ken.
- Colin, Hounslow, uk
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