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Livingstone: Boris can't help himself on race
18.03.09
Former Mayor Ken Livingstone admitted Boris Johnson had appeared "genuinely hurt" by his accusations of racism during the mayoral campaign over articles in which he used the word "piccaninny".
Mr Livingstone said: "He's not a racist in the sense that anyone would make that point, but he shouldn't have written that crap. He can't help himself.
"Apparently when he meets foreign mayors with distinctive language patterns, he mimics them almost as soon as they are out of the bloody door.
"He doesn't mean it in any unpleasant way, but it is very easy for people to misinterpret that."
Reader views (4)
If only thinking would make it so. Not to be Ken you have to endure forever being beaten by a far greater man than your good self. Boris is destined for greatness you cannot even begin to imagine.
- Barry, San Francisco, USA
The test is, have things got better or worse since this man as elected because he has made a few remarks which a proper Mayor might not do and Londoners may yet find him a liability. Tories don't put the nasties in to their election manifestos as, witness the poll tax.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK
Well give him some credit Ken, Boris has yet to tell anyone Jewish to go back to Iran or compare them to a concentration camp guard. Nor has he hugged any far right Islamist extremists. You have some pretty bizarre ideas about tact and dipomacy yourself.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent
Do we have to listen to the failed ex-mayor constantly attacking every aspect of Boris? It's really dull and he is really sad.
- Thomas, London
