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Mayor race: Livingstone and Boris too close to call
Ross Lydall, City Hall Editor2 Jan 2008
Boris Johnson is running neck and neck with Ken Livingstone in the race to be Mayor, a poll reveals.
The most detailed survey yet puts Mr Livingstone just one point ahead of his Tory challenger in spite of sustained attacks on the latter's character.
A YouGov poll for ITV's London Tonight puts the Mayor on 45 per cent, Mr Johnson on 44 per cent and Lib-Dem candidate Brian Paddick trailing badly on seven per cent.
The figures, based on a sample of 995 Londoners, excluded respondents who did not know who they would back or who said they would not vote at all in the 1May poll.
Mr Livingstone has repeatedly sought to portray Mr Johnson as a racist by citing his use of the terms "piccaninnies" and "watermelon smiles" to refer to black Africans.
Earlier this week Mr Paddick suggested Mr Johnson would be unable to behave himself throughout the four years of a mayoral term, warning that Londoners must not elect a "clown".
Today Mr Johnson declined to comment specifically on the poll but was understood to be excited that "it's all to play for" and Londoners had a real choice for Mayor - which should lead to a higher than normal turnout.
Mr Livingstone's camp said the Mayor's true support would be seen at the ballot box. They made another attack on Mr Johnson, saying his decision to provide a character reference for convicted fraudster and newspaper tycoon Lord Black showed he had "no credibility on law and order".
Mr Paddick shrugged off the survey results, saying: "It's still early days. Over the next few weeks and months I will be putting forward a programme of ideas to convince Londoners I am the only candidate capable of improving the capital's safety and transport network."
In terms of deciding votes, crime was the top issue, mentioned by 68 per cent of respondents. This was followed by transport (excluding congestion charging) on 63 per cent and recycling/the environment (47 per cent). The C-charge attracted 42 per cent support and 44 per cent opposition.
Reader views (16)
Nice to see Livingstone's 70 press officers spinning their magic.
- Robert, Grove Park, 18/01/2008 06:57
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I have no idea what Tobold's "idiom of sense" refers to, but, if he had an iota of sense he would realise that there are plenty of us living in the capital who do not, and have no desire to, "embrace" its "cosmopolitan diversity" and who would love to move to Surrey could we only afford the price of a garden shed situated in its leafy environs. Preposterous suggestions from Tobold, indeed.
- Kobold, London UK, 04/01/2008 14:04
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It is sad that the conservatives could not find a serious character to oppose Ken. However to suggest that he is solely to blame for thugs on buses is laughable. Please remember that your kid is not a thug and that yobs are in fact a minority. Do we really want a society where minority hoodlums effect our policies? The idea was great, so let's solve this little problem by getting someone to police some of these bus routes.
- Natalia Grant, London, UK, 03/01/2008 15:56
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Don't fool yourselves with wishful thinking...Ken Livingstone will win. As for people who think Mickey mouse should run London?..hmm.
- S Barrett, London, 03/01/2008 15:26
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This is preposterous, how could anyone with an idiom of sense believe a bumbling short sighted character such as Boris could be anything but a severe embarrassment to the city.
Ken's policies are unfashionable because they go against the greed is good mentality of the times, the idea that empowering young people with free travel makes them 'thugs' embodies all that is bad the narrow minded insular view of those who are frightened of those who live around them.
What’s next? Gated communities? My suggestion is that if you do not embrace the cosmopolitan diversity of the capital, you are almost certainly living in the wrong location. I understand there are still areas of Surrey available for purchase?
- Tobold, London England, 03/01/2008 14:53
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I despise Ken Livingstone and so do most people I know who live in London. He is power crazy who cares nothing of what normal working Londoners want. He just needs their money and taxes to bankroll his crazy policies and projects which are of no benefit to us at all. I can't think of one single positive thing he has done to change my life in London during his term here. I would vote for Mickey Mouse if it meant we finally get rid of him.
- Lb, London, 03/01/2008 11:25
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Livingstone is gone. He has increased taxes by too much and taken the fun out of this city. Giving away free travel so hoodlums can get around is not a useful strategy, especially that there are still people in London who have to travel for work and genuine leisure as well. I agree with Jackueline -transport here is a real mess!
- Peteo, London, 03/01/2008 10:24
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This poll lines up with everything you hear on the street and in the pub. Ken Livingstone is well past his 'sell-by date', a dinosaur, and Boris Johnson is a character, and a very clever one with a lot to offer London in the future. And he's very popular with the young voters who are normally notorious 'no shows' at the ballot box.
- Richard, London, England, 03/01/2008 10:18
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So how many in this 'poll' were don't knows or 'won't votes'? - two out of three voters didn't bother voting the last time these elections were held in 2004, and also at the first Mayoral election in 2000. When only a third of the voters can be bothered to turn out amid all the hype, you can bet they are not being given a real choice. So if this poll is in any way accurate as a reflection of the way Londoners' think, at least 600 of the 995 who were polled would have said 'not voting'. So at max here we're talking about 160 people each saying they'll vote for Ken or Boris. Big deal. You can't fool us into thinking this is going to be an exciting race by manufacturing artificial excitement about dead heats and close run things. You have to give us real choices. And proper policies.
- Ryan, London, UK, 03/01/2008 01:24
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Here in the East End, the rot of Livingstone's years in power are keenly felt; Mile End tube station is a half finished wreck thanks to Metronet going bust. Graffiti and fly posting are rife, and police rarely seen. We need a mayor who doesn't pander to ethnic minority votes with bucketloads of cash and is tough on crime, and I think Johnson is that candidate.
- Chris F, Mile End, London, 02/01/2008 22:27
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Jack - as far as I know pensioners had free travel in London long before the slimy Newt King came along. And free travel for 'children' means that a generation of lazy thugs have colonised the upper floor of buses. Have you travelled on a bus recently in the afternoon? And it isn't even free, we all pay extra so the little scrotes can harass us for nothing.
- Sarah N., London, 02/01/2008 22:14
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Come on Boris we need a breath of fresh air...or hair.
Better a clown that does some good...then a Ken that does harm.
- Julian Wadey, Thornton Heath, London, 02/01/2008 20:15
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I find the results of this poll very hard to believe. I've spoken to lots of Londoners across the political spectrum on this subject and not one believes Boris stands a chance. Even the most rabidly anti-Livingstone types thought he'd be worse.
- Charlie, Soho, 02/01/2008 18:33
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Red Ken needs going. London has become depressing and slow to move around with transport so bad and expensive for the working people. London deserves a charismatic man like Mr. Johnson. Boris is my man.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 02/01/2008 17:58
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Who said that Livingstone is not a clown! There is more to being a good mayor than giving free travel in London especially when you do not have to pay for it. It is a pity but Nu Labour bribes seem to work with some people.
- Bill, London, 02/01/2008 17:21
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The fact that the 'opposition' can find no better than a clown to stand against the mayor responsible for free travel on London in London for pensioners and children, speaks for itself.
- Jack, London UK, 02/01/2008 16:47
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