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'We've got to get back to moral code and respect'
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent10.01.08
The Mayor provoked a furious reaction from his rivals when he blamed the lack of "moral code" among teenagers for the spate of killings in London.
Ken Livingstone told the first televised debate between the three mayoral candidates: "This is a generation that has been exposed to horrendous levels of violence in cinema and on television.
"No mayor, no commissioner of police, can stop young people killing each other if they haven't been given a moral code.
"This generation's parents grew up in the Eighties. I was brought up to respect others, to respect the city I lived in, and we've got to get back to those values."
Tory candidate Boris Johnson retaliated, saying it was "tragic" that the Mayor was blaming the problems of 20 or 30 years ago for the gang culture in London. He has challenged Mr Livingstone to "get a grip" on gang violence and show stronger leadership on the issue.
Mr Johnson accused the Mayor of wasting taxpayers' money supporting groups which had so far failed to curb the violence.
Two teenagers have been killed this year, while last year 27 died in London as a result of gang violence.
Mr Johnson told Mr Livingstone: "People want to see you working with those groups across London that are helping those kids. The reason Londoners aren't feeling any safer is that they aren't any safer. Why are you wasting all this money?"
Liberal Democrat contender Brian Paddick, a former Met police commander, also attacked the Mayor on crime, questioning his pledge at the last election to cut it by half in London.
He claimed during the debate - chaired by Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq - that extra police - 31,000 officers compared with 25,000 when the Mayor came to power - had made "not one bit of difference" to real crime levels in London.
But Mr Livingstone claimed that overall the crime rate had fallen and the murder rate had been cut by more than a quarter in the last four years.
"We are arresting more people and winning more convictions," he said.
"Police on the beat are now identifying the kids who have got into trouble. For a generation there weren't police on the streets but the crime figures are falling."
Mr Livingstone antagonised his opponents further when he said beleaguered Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair should be allowed to serve more than one term.
He said: "I've worked with a man who was absolutely true to his word. If it was up to me I'd extend his term."
* You can watch the full debate on London Talking tonight at 11.05pm, ITV1.
Reader views (20)
I have to agree with Bernard, I spent 24 years in the Royal Navy and saw action in both the Falklands and the Gulf. That is not to say that I believe we should send our conscripts to war at the whim of dodgy polititians who bow down before the USA and send our troops into a war both ill equipt and unready.
Train them, teach them right from wrong, educate them within an institution, give them more of a family environment than most of them have ever had at home. The boost in manpower to the services will allow community projects to be manned and also give them some pride and a reason to live, something the youth of today don't have. Reduce unemployment and give British industry a ready made source of skilled and responsible manpower to make this country great again.
- Chris, London
There should be a limit on the number of terms a mayor can serve. There is no real oversight and accountability as both the London Assembly and local media are too weak.
By forcing a change in personnel every 8 years - corruption would be mitigated.
Electing Ken continuously feeds his total comtempt for those who want a full investigation into the allegations of scandals.
- James, London
Ken Livingstone is the ultimate liberal extremist; the reason that people of my generation (born in 1969) do not, by choice, want to live in London is because the liberals have, through their barmy accomodation to anything minority, made life for the majority a painful experience. Only in UK politics is such a man able to exist. I hope for the sake of London that he's not around for much longer.
- Simon Hk, London, England
I was a war baby and as a result did not know my father and my mother had to go to work to support us. My grandmother raised me and there was no discipline needed, just a look from nan and I knew what I should or should not do. Even at the age of 21 and holding a responsible job in the City of London I had to be in by 8pm if working the next day and 9pm at all other times and she always knew where and with whom I was. Mind you there were youth clubs and cinemas in those days which did not cost a fortune to visit. Perhaps they should make a comeback.
- Monica, Portsmouth
I watched the debate last night and a few things became clear;
1. Brian Paddick- nice guy, possibly pollitically naive, but on law and order has invaluable experience.
2. Boris- Kept telling us he wants his kids to be able to cycle to school and wants conductors on buses. Offered nothing of any substance other that a limited "wish-list", couldn't give straight or positive answers to any direct questions, and seemed to have cynically gathered the most obvious multi-cultural supporters for the studio audience. His exposure as an MP that hasn't given a fig about London before was hilarious, the look on his face priceless.
Ken- Love him or hate him, he's a Londoner, has worked for London for 40 years, knows this city inside out, and has delivered whether you like what he's done or not. He is also a conviction politician, not an opportunist. He is occasionally brash, occasionally provocative, but he is ambitious and at times unpopularly ground-breaking.
London is a progressive, brash, exciting city that has become the world capital in the last 5 years. Coincidence?
- Luis, Hampton
If Ken's questions have to sink to the depths he plumbed in the debate he must be really worried. And Connie should be sacked. She said no speeches and then let Ken shout on and refused to let Boris answer and she did nothing. A very poor choice for chair. When Ken said Boris would be a disastrous Mayor and Boris flashed back "You are already a disastrous Mayor", that was so funny and the knockout blow.
- Angela King., London
Moral Code? How on earth would Livingstone recognise a Moral Code?
And all this garbage about 'Respect'. Respect has to be earned. It arises from observing the examples of others - and I'd venture that those watching politicians such as Livingstone are merely learning profound contempt.
- Chuck Unsworth, London
No point having an argument on TV. These guys are like carpet sellers, and I do not expect any of them to tell a single piece of truth. Look at them having a laugh on their well rehearsed confrontation while cashing in our taxes for personal benefit.
- Laurent, London, UK
Ask Mrs Boris about her husband's moral code.
- Colin, Barking Essex
"You can watch the full debate on London Talking tonight at 11.05pm, ITV1."
Having heard excerpts of the debate on the radio today, I am really looking forward to seeing Konnie Huq "chairing" this very important debate.
- Robert Zimmerman, London
I cannot wait for politicians themselves to re-discover ethics and morals... Maybe if they start behaving in such a way, a kind of social contract will be restored where people are happy to contribute to society via taxes! But when one sees one's taxpayer’s money at best being wasted at worst being bagged one just gets antagonised! I am still waiting for people to re-discover that love of money is the root of all evils and that our greed is wrecking the planet and above all to start changing their behaviour. If I was a teenager I would also be disillusioned and turned off by the kind of society we adults have created and by what kind of future awaits them. How can they be balanced when the older generations are so uneducated and/or cynical? So they turn to gang violence. Moreover I guess most haven't got fathers to act as role models - yet we have positively encouraged single motherhood.
- Esther Phillips, Leatherhead
Here comes lack of "moral code" among teenagers!
I would add: Spate of killings among teenagers apart, just have a good look at a separate news-item (today), too, telling us how a girl aged 18 so blatantly confessed, on electronic media, that she'd slept with 50 men in two years. Disgusting! Isn't it?
Where do the "moral codes" stand today? What to talk of respect for our values!
- Nadeem Aghar, London, UK.
Our society is now so clogged with red tape and bureaucracy that no one is able to say what needs to be said or do what needs to be done. This country is in a state of inertia. Instead of asbos and community wardens, why can’t we have colleges and support for the feral amongst us that the everyday Joe now has to live along side of?
Most of these kids are not bad, just totally lost and with no sense of self. They are angry. We are all angry.
- Paul Marshall, London
Where are these extra 6000 Police Officers?
Has the Mayor ever thought of putting them on foot-patrol, rather than in comfy cars?
You all better get used to the levels of youth crime we're experiencing - the youth of today own the streets and neither the Police or Politicians want to do anything about it. As my mother used to say "who feels it, knows it", and obviously those in power don't feel the affects of youth violence.
Teenagers convicted of crimes do not get sufficient punishment to deter them from that lifestyle and those caught carrying weapons are let off with a warning - how very effective!
- Joon, London
The only violence I feel is towards this idiot, Livingstone.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
Problem is Ken the 6,000 extra 'uniformed officers' are mainly plastic bobbies! No powers, no use! That's despite making everybody in London pay directly for a local police presence on top of their usual taxation. Ken's never been true to his word on anything. I'd vote for Ken Dodd if he stood against Red Ken.
- Mark, London, UK
They should bring in the American three strikes and you're out thing - might help.
- Charlie, London
So bibi Red Ken. Boris will take over now.
- Peteo, London NW1
"I've worked with a man who was absolutely true to his word."
That's because he's a copper not a politician.
- Dave, London
Teach them discipline.
Bring back National Service.
- Bernard Parke, Guilford
