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Ken's arrogance cost him Mayor's job says Jowell
Pippa Crerar and Andrew Gilligan23.09.08
Minister for London Tessa Jowell has admitted that Ken Livingstone's perceived arrogance could have lost him the mayoral election.
"There is nothing that alienates people more than what they see as the arrogance of power," she told a fringe meeting at Labour's annual conference in Manchester.
Ms Jowell, who oversaw Labour's campaign, also suggested the former mayor's length of service could have put voters off re-electing him. "You have to assume that in modern politics longevity works against you," she added. Her remarks underline a belief held by many that Mr Livingstone should not be allowed to stand again.
And Joy Johnson, Mr Livingstone's former communications director, has told how investigations by the Evening Standard "appeared to confirm that [City Hall] grant-giving was influenced by favouritism" - the first significant admission about the Lee Jasper scandal by one of Mr Livingstone's inner circle. She said Mr Livingstone's decision to "hang on" to Mr Jasper, his race adviser, despite allegations of cronyism, was "wrong", "doomed" and "a mistake".
At the meeting, a string of senior London Labour figures voiced criticism of Mr Livingstone's mayoral campaign. Steve Reed, leader of Lambeth council, accused the campaign of sending "mixed messages" about Conservative candidate Boris Johnson. "With one hand we said he was a buffoon and with the other we said he was a dangerous extremist," said Mr Reed. "Both things cannot be true, and the voters concluded that neither was true."
Writing in the British Journalism Review Ms Johnson said: "When someone is in the eye of the media storm - on this occasion, Lee Jasper - resignation must be swift. Our reasoning, that resignation would look like an admission of guilt, was a mistake."
The consequence of the Jasper affair was, Ms Johnson said, "an inability" for the Livingstone campaign to get back on the front foot.
"With a barrage of negative stories arising from leaked emails that appeared to confirm grantgiving was influenced by favouritism, we were operating against a backdrop of hostile stories," she added.
Ms Johnson also said the Evening Standard's billboards had caused "incalculable damage" to the Livingstone campaign. However, she admitted some stories were "legitimate".
Reader views (16)
As a relative newcomer to London, I was stunned by the blatant cronyism and raciscm of Livingstone and his clique. I am a conservative (small c) socialist, but reading Boris's books (novel and histories) led me to realise he has a formiddable intellect and a very shrewd grasp of realities. He has also proved that he is unafraid to grasp the nettle in pursuit of what he believes to be the proper course of action in civic affairs, cutting through party-political hyperbole and waffle in an admirable fashion. His buffoonish mannerisms are a useful mask and not to be confused with any kind of stupidity.
Coming from a nation whose citizens have grown past hating their fellows on the basis of the school they attended and/or their political or religious beliefs, I have had problems adjusting to the socio/political landscape and the nastiness of the class system in the UK. University-educated NuLabour activists claiming to be 'working class' while using the term 'Toff' as some kind of derisory term seem to me to be a way of avoiding grown-up thinking and on a par with Livingstone's playing the Race Card whenever he or or one of his clique were challenged.
And yes, like many of those living in outer London who Livingstone saw as merely a source of council tax, I voted for Boris and am very pleased with what he has acheived thus far.
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK
Terry: Ken Livingstone has suffered from folie de grandeur for many years now and his position as Mayor simply made this worse. You should have seen him at the Irish Embassy, refusing to join the long queue to shake hands with Ted Barrington--Ken was too grand to stand in line--but Mo Mowlam, evidently already a very sick woman, joined the queue, just like the rest of us.
- Dectora, London UK
Why does the word "Gilligan" always find itself inches away from the word "Livingstone". Let it go dear boy, the obssession is worrying. He's not in power anymore. Let's look at the man in pow...hang on, on second thoughts lets stick our fingers in our ears and scream "Ken dun it!"
- Carlos M, London
Ken is an arrogant twerp - but I thought he was a good mayor. Of my 40 yrs in London the only times I've seen things esp. transport change for the better were when he was at the GLC and when he was mayor.
I could understand people voting for Norris - I knew what he stood for. But Boris? what were his election policies the few times he was interviewed his policies were ripped apart as unworkable - he seemed to have made them up on the way to the interview. Boris campaign was great - dodn't discuss issues.
Its a shame I'm not a labour supporter, but like him or not Ken has always cared about London. Boris only recently showed an interest.
I know Ken is annoying, but is the pop of london so transient that very few actually lived here before we had a mayor and so known what chaos it was.
Ok the tube is a nightmare now - but that is down to all the work going on now - hopefully it will improve once this overhaul is finished.
Ken's greatest gift was that metronet contract - it was so good for London that the other side went bust trying to adhere to the penalties.
- Terry, London, wandsworth
Or to rephrase the apparatchik-speak: the public rumbled us for the crooks we are. One almost feels sorry for Ken, having to get lessons in political presentation from Mrs Jowell, whose husband symbolises Labour's gritty integrity. As a lifelong Labour voter, it was an act of despair to have to vote for Boris, simply because if we reward obvious crookery then democratic politics is over.
- Mdj, Leyton, e10 london
Dream on, Jeremiah. And then you got up and made your bed.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa. Spain
Failing to listen over the congestion charge cost him many votes. Calling Oliver Finegold a Concentration Camp guard probably lost him the Jewish vote.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
Arrogance, sleaze, sucking up to radical islam. Going back on his word, failing to address the issues concerning the majority of londoners rather than minorities. The list is endless.
- Squiz, Islington
Once the Country has made it through the coming difficult winter there will be some wailing and gnashing of teeth.The Spring will see a crisis of confidence and a General Election. It is by no means certain Labour will even survive as the Opposition but may be relegated to the Third Division
- Jeremiah, London
Let him stand so we can say no thanks again, to that twerp of a man.
- Oscar, London
hmmm, perceived arrogance and length of service. Doesn't exactly look good for the Government then, either, does it?
- Marianne, S W France
The reason Livingstone lost the election is because of the unpopularity party he was standing for. For that party to then blame him for losing is hilarious and shows how completely out of touch they are.
- Charlie, Soho
No. The inability to listen to real Londoners cost him the mayors job.
- Jimbob, Kensington
First time I've ever heard her speak any sense.
- P I Staker, london
"Perceived" arrogance? There was nothing perceived about it. He has been the most odious little man to enter government in the last 30 years. If he is allowed to stand again in 2012, Labour will get everything they deserve.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
Poor Tessa Jowell she suffers from Labour blindness.She can't see the facts. Boris won because people liked what he offered.He also looked open and honest.London needed someone to clean out the stables.
- M Wilkinson, London UK
