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Ken: I said Brown was a liability and time has proved me right
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor18.03.09
KEN LIVINGSTONE launched a savage personal attack on Gordon Brown today, criticising his handling of the economy and blaming the Prime Minister's national polling for costing him the mayoral election.
In a wide-ranging interview to be published tomorrow, the former mayor of London claimed that Labour's unpopularity led directly to his defeat at the hands of Boris Johnson last summer.
Mr Livingstone also hinted that he would run as an independent if the party should "rig" its candidate selection process for the next mayoral race in 2012.
Mr Livingstone caused uproar within the Labour party when he called for Mr Brown to be sacked as Chancellor in 1998.
At the time, he accused Mr Brown of "economic misjudgments", "subservience to the City" by guaranteeing big bonuses, and claimed that Britain was "heading towards an unnecessary recession entirely of Gordon's making".
Most wounding of all, Mr Livingstone wrote in 1998 that Mr Brown could not " grasp the grand picture" and lacked an "instinctive feel for the huge sweep of movements in the global economy". He wrote: "Quite clearly, Gordon is not on top of macro-economic policy."
In last year's mayoral election, he ditched his criticisms as the pair campaigned against Mr Johnson.
In the interview the former mayor also claimed that Mr Johnson was too "centrist" to be re-elected and admitted that the Tory Mayor is not a "racist". However, he claimed that MrJohnson mimics foreign visitors to City Hall.
Mr Livingstone told Total Politics magazine he felt he had lost the mayoral election last year because of dire poll ratings for Mr Brown and Labour.
He said: "If you could have taken away the national dimension I think I would have won because Boris's negatives were more than mine. From the moment Boris [entered the running] my ratings went up and up. It was only in November they started coming down. I then realised it was just tracking the national party's polling. Immediately after the budget, Labour's figures and mine just went off a precipice.
"It was only really when I woke up and switched on the Today Programme and heard that Labour was on 24 per cent nationally, with the Tories on 44 per cent I realised I couldn't overcome that. I came in and started clearing my desk."
In remarks that will cause dismay in Downing Street, Mr Livingstone resurrected his long-standing criticism of MrBrown's chancellorship.
In what appeared to be an attack on Mr Brown's troubles over failing to regulate the City, he said: "I was very critical of the first two years. The passage of time has shown me to be right.
"I had fundamental disagreements throughout my eight years as mayor. I hoped when Brown took over, things would change more than they did. But I have not been massively surprised."
Mr Livingstone also said that Lord Mandelson was a "formidable operator, but I am not certain [his appointment as Business Secretary] sends the message of renewal that we want."
He attacked the Prime Minister's centralising approach adding: "97per cent of all tax collected in Britain is collected by Gordon Brown. When I told the Mayor of Moscow that, he said: 'That's worse than Russia under Stalin.' From the moment Thatcher got power everything was sucked up to the centre and it got worse under Blair and Brown."
Mr Livingstone said he was "as certain as you can be" that he will run for the Labour nomination for 2012 but suggested he could run as an independent as he did in 2000 when he lost the Labour nomination to Frank Dobson after the party changed its rules.
"I wouldn't have run the first time [as an independent] if I hadn't won [the Labour nomination], but I won and it was rigged. They have to have one member one vote. I will be happy to submit myself to one member one vote and abide by the result."
Reader views (63)
I prefer Boris just because he is what he is and doesn't hide behind a pretend persona.
- Ronnie, Billericay UK
Andrew of St John's Wood - A few reasons why Ken was thrown out by the voters:
Arrogance
Sleaze
Hypocrisy
Refusal to stand by manifesto pledges
- John Cruddas, London UK
Could anyone of you please explain why Ken was so bad as London Mayor? Boris has done more damage in less than a year than any other politician just because he flys from one idea to another without seeing it through - e.g. the routemaster bus which is still nowhere near even the planning stage and yet he got elected on his mindless ranting about bendy buses despite more serious issues.
- Andrew, St. John's Wood, London
ken lost the election all by himself, totally unimpeded, or restrained by anybody else. he was aggresive, acerbic,
arrogant and most of all inept. as leader of the glc his motrives and attitude were questionable, but people forget with a long gap between what was then and what a new mayor of london might achieve, thus ken got in. but his true colours re emerged and he believed himself to be the only man with a 'vision' and 'ideals', these proved f;awed and increasingly became self evident.
he is and always was yesterdays man and is now in denial blaming everybody else, barr himself.
it is time to accept he is washed up and long past his sell be date.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
Two wrongs don't make a right. Brown is rubbish, so is Livingstone.
- Judith C, London, England
... and now you can understand why they are called the loony left!
- Joe, Thornton Heath, UK
i think ken misses the money and the limelight.
- John Mckim, glasgow.uk
Whatever's happening? I now find myself agreeing with Ken Livingstone.
I think I need to have a lie down in a darkened room.
- Ann Louisa, Southampton.
Unfortunately politics is a long. long race. Labours fiddling at the edges brought about the demise of a world class economy, by tax and burn policies. The repair work needs to start asap, the PM must call an election now so that our recovery as a country can begin.
- J R J, Glen Vine
No, Ken: like many others I felt compelled to vote Tory for the first time, just to get rid of all your sleazy associates. You did some good things, and understand how London ticks more than almost anyone, but once you overlook sleaze and lies democracy is over: it doesn't mean the other chap is better, of course. Had you stayed independent when Labour cravenly got you back on board, having tried to knife you, your standing would have been so much higher. Too late now, however correct you may be about Brown!
- Mdj E10, london uk
" I will be happy to submit myself to one member one vote and abide by the result."
Until you then decide "To listen to Londoners".
Just like last time Ken.
I think labour siding with Ken did that party a lot of damage.
- Frank H., London.
I will vote for Ken if he stands as an independent but not as Labour.
- Jo, london,uk
Livingston is just a Left Wing pain in the a--e!!!!
- Mark A, Warrington England
this will be the pot calling the kettle black then.
both have been and remain election liabilities, but then so was blair and in time cameron will become.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk
Out of about 47 comments only about three support Ken.
Says it all, doesn't it?
- Ricky, Hackney, London
The saddest thing about Ken is the way its everyone else's fault except his. A trait he shares with Brown.
- Dave, London England
silliest thing london ever did voting ken out
- C May, biggin hill
I remember him saying at the time that he lost the election because of the voting of the, (not proper londoners) in the outer boroughs. Of course we were proper enough at the time to pay his London Olympic taxes
- Jan, erith london
I don't see what is wrong with Ken - you're all criticising him without any basis?
- Andrew, St. John's Wood, London
Ken was always right about everything, haven’t you realised that? It’s amazing that we all found enough fault to boot him out and ask him to never come back. But we did.
- Disgruntledislingtonian, London
And Ken isn't? They deserve each other.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Oh geewhiz, here we go again, same old record, I wuz robbed, it is not my fault it is the other guys fault, the backstabbers and all I did was good.
You are yesterday's man, and that should remain in that position. You about feathering your own nest, little about providing for the ratepayers, other than those who toady up to you and say "yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir".
You did little for multiculturalism, other than give it a bad name.
Stay in retirement and let us hear no more from you.
- Hugh, Middx
Two peas from the same pod that need to be boiled for at least 30 minutes!
- Joe, Thornton Heath, UK
What a ghastly pair, don't they just deserve each other.
- David, Fleet UK
Independent; Labour member; independent again. Ken should make his mind up where his true loyalties lie. And then go away, because none of us care. We do not need his 70s divisionist policies in London anymore - in fact, we never did, he just seemed to want to impose them on us.
Maggie saw him off in the 80s and Boris last year - can't you take a hint, Ken?
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
Pot calling the kettle
- Jeremy E, London
When Ken says this, you just know that Gordon Brown is doing a great job as PM
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Shut up Ken
- Coys Switz, switzerland
This is a typical labourite way to try and ensure that they stay in power or hide their true effects.
Blaming BROWN is very, very, very easy but we should all understand that the terrible states we are in are a result of labourism.....not just one of them - they are all to blame!
- Ed, london
The one thing he has in common with Brown is that they are both of the same ilk. I wish he would disappear from our TV screens - take Tichmarsch with him if he likes.
- Frederick, London
This is laughable Ken was a disaster...and his behaviour over matters fiscal made him in my eyes more culpable than a lot of bankers: he should shut up and thank his lucky stars he was not subject to a full investigation of his term of office. Brown is no better, but having Ken blaming him for being kicked is just risible
- Sheila, london uk
Ken who?
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster
look whos talking! rather like the kettle...Has Ken given up ondilgently turning up at City Hall to listen to Johnson spouting on about undoing transport for London and getting congestion back on our roads?
- Dhanraj, basildon
Ken is right about Brown who has been disaster from square one. Pity he is still deluding himself about himself.He lost the mayoral election to the better man.
- M Wilkinson, London UK
I never thought that I'd ever agree with Ken Livingstone on anything!!
- Phil Jones, London UK
Pot, kettle, black.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
Ken, I hate to have to break it to you but the election is in 2012. It is now early 2009. Boris hasn't finished his first year and he has another 3 to go before you can run against him. Why not take a break, eh? This is not America and we don't enjoy 3 1/2 year election campaigns.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent
Is Ken making a pitch for PM ?
Perhaps he thinks he is bigger than being a failed London Mayor ??
- Jake, London
Yes, Labour was not popular then, but Ken's failure to be re-elected was purely down to his own capabilities.
- Matthew, london
The truth is that many Labour voters had enough of him, well before Brown became PM.
- Jools, London
He has gone, he is yesterday' man and should now disappear from public view.
- Adrian, Paris, France
The left love all this infighting.......remember the Politburo in communist Russia? They will all start blaming each other rather than being man enough (or woman enough!) to own up and admit their failings. They run away from their responsibilities and in doing so just cause more damage to the country.
I cannot believe that the citizens of this country have just sat back for the last 13 years and allowed the gradual destruction of our country. It is shameful.
The sad thing is, we have fallen for it hook line and sinker and we do nothing to demonstrate our anger. Some democracy!!
- Tom W, London
The sooner Ken is back in power the better. Bumbling buffoon Boris's days are numbered.
- Mick, London, England
Comments that are pretty much par for the lefty course - Remember the party mantra, ITS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSES FAULT...
Ken blames Brown, Brown blames the USA/The banks/Thatcher/The tories/the martians
- M, London
The Government should go to the country, but who
HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO TAKE OVER ?
- Bernard Parke, GUILDFORD
Welcome to the club Ken!
But, lets be honest here, you lost the election because London wanted a change and not because of anybody else.
- Sally King, London
Dont run Ken down. He got cocky and we threw him out but he was a good mayor. Experienced and did a lot for London. I would like to see him back in government now but certainly as mayor in 2012. He is a lot better than most of the politicians now in charge.
- Anthony Perry, London
Ha ha ha. Can't stop laughing. Labour tearing itself apart (again). Delusional Ken and delusional Broon - one can't run London and the other can't run a bath.
- Keith Price, Luton, England
You lost the election because London voters got fed up with you. I did not vote for Boris either but abstained.
- Martin, London UK
Calm down dear, calm down.
In a years time an embittered Crash Gordon will be feeling just like you are now, when he too gets his
come-uppance at the ballot box!
- Dave, Cumbria
Please keep out of the public eye. We thought we had gotten rid of you.
- Ricky, Hackney, London
Ken is always good for a laugh but if ever there was a liability to anything it is him. Bye bye Ken, it was fun while it lasted but now we are all past it.
- Thomas, London
Gosh!! For the first time ever Livingstone's said something I agree with! Except the bit about why he lost the Mayoral Election of course.
- Chris, Brighton, England
Ken, you lost the vote because much like your NuLabour mates you didn't listen to the voters and you paid the price, just like they will next year.
- Jimbob, Kensington
Pot, kettle and black.
- Bob, Cheam
Ken, pot, kettle, black.
- Marianne, SW France
You should have stayed an Independent Ken.
Re-joining the party that set Dobson against you; was not wise at all.
Londoners wanted you from the start; and you won alone.
Why rejoin a bunch of back-stabbers?
At least you now know who your real friends are.
- Mickyinlondon, london
This man is even more deluded than Gordon Brown if he thinks he has a chance of being re-elected. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
Goodbye Livingstone. Goodbye Brown. You've both tried your hardest to destory this great country of ours.
- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle
Typical of red kenny blame anyone else for his failiure to be re elected.
Kenny we didn't want you anymore OK?
- P Staker, London
At least we all know that Gordon is following Red Ken into oblivion when polling day comes. Hopefully the death of political correction will last forever !
- Joe, Swanley Kent
I never thought I would ever agree with Livingstone but he is absolutely correct about Gormless Gordon
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi
Livingston has always been a pain and as bad as BROWN with his spin. However, he has stated something quite true this time worth airing.
BROWN has no idea on economics. Only thing he understands is grabbing more taxes only to be totally squandered.
- Asw, HK
