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Boris and Ken
Ken Livingstone: says mayoral fight is between 'good and evil'

Boris Johnson is Hitler, says Ken Livingstone

Peter Dominiczak, City Hall Correspondent
18 Aug 2011


Former London mayor Ken Livingstone sparked fury today by comparing Boris Johnson to Hitler.

The Labour candidate suggested he represents Winston Churchill and Mr Johnson is Adolf Hitler by saying of next year's mayoral contest: "It's a simple choice between good and evil. I don't think it has been so clear since the great struggle between Churchill and Hitler.

"Those who don't vote for me will be weighed in the balance come Judgment Day. The Archangel Gabriel will say, 'You didn't vote for Ken Livingstone in 2012. Oh dear, burn for ever. Your skin flayed for all eternity.'"

His comments were branded "crass" and in "incredibly poor taste" by Conservative MPs and friends of Mr Johnson.

A spokesman for Mr Livingstone today insisted the comments in a pie-and-mash shop at Shepherd's Bush Market about Britain's Second World War leader and the Nazi dictator were in "a spirit of good humour".

The ex-mayor was accused of "extremism and poor taste" in June after describing Mr Johnson's Chief of Staff Edward Lister as "the Ratko Mladic of local government" - just days after the Serbian war criminal was arrested.

While he was mayor in 2006 he was reprimanded after comparing a Jewish Evening Standard journalist to a concentration camp guard. Opponents today branded the latest comments in Total Politics magazine "nasty and divisive".

Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell said: "After the events of the last week, Londoners need a mayor who will unite our city, not one who regards people who don't share his views as evil.

"Comparing rival politicians to Hitler is in incredibly poor taste. And even to joke that Londoners who don't vote for him will 'burn for ever' after everything we have just been through is crass even by Ken Livingstone's standards."

A friend of Mr Johnson's told the Standard: "There must now be serious questions about whether Ken Livingstone is fit for public life. Even if it was a joke, it is not something you can say."

A source close to Mr Johnson's campaign said: "We always knew that Ken was a nasty, divisive character who would fight a dirty campaign but the Labour leader must surely distance himself from these, and similar comments, made in recent times and clarify to Londoners that this is not how his party conducts itself in 21st century democratic politics."

Mr Livingstone's team today attempted to defuse the row.

His spokesman said: "Anyone reading the full quote will see Ken's comments were clearly made in a spirit of good humour during a light-hearted interview about the London mayoral election."

A source close to him added: "He was standing in a cafe. It was light-hearted. Boris has made jokes using colourful language during his time as mayor.

"Ken made a series of comments during the interview. Yes, if you just take out that particular comment it looks quite stark, but both Boris and Ken have made some pretty colourful remarks."

In the interview, Mr Livingstone also talks about his closeness to Ed Miliband, saying he had seen him "half a dozen times" since the Labour leader's election. He also joked about his relationship with ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown saying, "I think they had him on something" at events when the two politicians were seen together.

Reader views (110)

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I am keeping my distance from this distasteful distraction:
Both BORIS & KEN are guilty of FAUX PAS.
FACTS:
Boris reversed Congestion efforts by cancelling WCZ.
Lost Bendy-Buses 50% more passenger-capacity by ensuring that Tfl at high cost replaces existing fleets with new 'half-capacity' Double-Deckers.
Fare-evasion and improved safety can be successfully addressed, if Tfl wishes to do so.
2012's expensive new 'Route-Masters' only provide Boris with his own vain-glorious photo-opportunity.
Cancelling Ken's Cross-River Tram robs London of potential major easing of over-demand on Tubes and Buses, as well as long overdue links to South London.

- CHRISTOPHER CROWDY, Chelsea SW3, 31/08/2011 10:00
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The commentator who said Boris was like a bulldog - "better go to spec savers!" With his hair Boris is more like the Dulux dog!!!

Ken did not who was who but for all these Tories to ascribe Boris with Hitler tells you more about them than Kens supporters do about Ken!!!

Anyway Hitler built the German Autobahn network while Boris has still to begin any tram or DLR extension so he is no Hitler more like Nero!!!

- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 23/08/2011 19:03
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Pete Croydon,There seems to some very wierd people living in Croydon,are you all from another planet or is it just some of you.

- Honest John, london, 20/08/2011 00:00
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Are none of your readers serious enough to consider Londoners "Quality of Life", above inane comments over Ken or Boris's 'Careless Mouths'?

- Digby Carruthers, Wimbledon, 19/08/2011 14:28
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I know why, you don,t you forgot that we will all get burnt if we do not vote for him just shows how stupid he is saying that after what happened on London last week, was he trying to say riots would happen if we did not vote for him?

- peter, london, 19/08/2011 12:22
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The actual quote...
“It’s a simple choice between good and evil – I don’t think it’s been so clear since the great struggle between Churchill and Hitler.”

He did not brand Boris as Hitler, he did not say Boris is Hitler.

The Evening Standard supported Boris's campaign at the last election.

- I know why, Hackney, London, 19/08/2011 10:36
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Calling Boris Hitler is close.Had he said Cameron ,he would have hit the mark.
Cameron and his "There will be no vote on Europe ,Heil Brussels ,Heil the EU.

- dave, london, 19/08/2011 06:47
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When you have to fall back on bringing Hitler into it, you're seriously running out of arguments.

- Jonathan Begg, London W2 4RD, 18/08/2011 23:13
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Looking at the photo at the head of the article Ken is quite right about Churchill and Hitler.

Boris has the look of a bulldog trying to advertise insurance whilst you only have to flip Ken's picture to see a salute that was well known in 1930's Germany. In addition Ken's treatment of Finegold and the Reuben brothers together with his support of al-Qaradawi, who's "enlightened" views on Judaism and homosexuality are well documented, would make the Fuhrer proud.

But of course such comments, just like comparing Finegold to a concentration camp guard, are in all in jest and should not be taken seriously.

- Ian, Bromley, 18/08/2011 22:51
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Ken Livingston is a self-serving idiot with nothing to offer the city of London or its people. Boris Johnson may not be the most effective of mayors (who ever was?) but from what I've seen, his efforts appear to be target on making the city a better place for its citizens. Sure, he has his detractors, but so did Churchill, who was ultimately relieved of his position by the British people. Typically, they didn't know what was best for them. Idiot Ken should simply go away... quietly.

- Wayne, Canada, 18/08/2011 22:47
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Let's have the New Coallition: Ken and Boris. And add Dianne Abbott's female touch to this all Londoners' new government. Who will know all aspects of the London make-up better than this Trio? No one.

- lili, London UK, 18/08/2011 22:22
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After Livingstone's well publicised rant at an Evening Standard photographer, who happened to be Jewish, he perhaps should compare himself to Hitler, except that Hitler was a Socialist!

- Richard, St Albans, Herts, 18/08/2011 22:10
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Now I know why I am glad that I don't live in London. Can you imagine living with the fools who vote for someone like livingstone? Like living in Scotland and having neighbours who voted for brown. What illiterate oafs.

- Simon, Nottingham, UK, 18/08/2011 20:45
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Ken Livingstone ...HE DE MAN.....HE DE MAN

- Galactic Cannibal, Murrieta CA, 18/08/2011 20:38
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I seem to recall Ken being fast and loose with his tongue once before likening a Jewish reporter to a concentration camp guard. That he did not think this might sound hurtful when told that he was addressing a Jewish reporter, Ken scorned him. Is this the kind of human being London needs?

- Joshua, London, 18/08/2011 20:30
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Typical garbage from these muppets. The fact that Kenny and BoJo are the only two people who bother to run for the joke-of-a-job that London mayor is shows how bad things are. Why can't somebody just dress up as a monkey and banish this pair for eternity? I'm tempted to give it a go.

- Uncle Paulie, N London, 18/08/2011 20:28
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Oh dear - the Standard really still is the Daily Mail

- Carl, London, 18/08/2011 20:05
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Pete Croydon,What is the meaning of your comment,I don't understand as I'm just an Englishman.

- Honest John, London, 18/08/2011 19:25

It means you're an idiot and your comment was laughable.

- Pete, Croydon, 18/08/2011 19:53
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From my recollection the Pie & Mash shop has not been there that long. Hardly a campaign issue to keep a fast food outlet going. He should find something real to campaign about. How about Gypsies breaking in to houses and trashing them? Not something he cares about?

- coylum, Vancouver, Canada, 18/08/2011 19:34
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Calm down sheep people.

Re the article: Peter Dominiczak, City Hall Correspondent should take into account the "low life" way the UK press has been exposed as of late and try much harder. Check your facts Peter. It's that easy.

- Mat, London, 18/08/2011 19:33
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The media are far too appeasing of Ken and his bigotry.

Several years ago a journalist counted the number of times he insulted the Jews over a few years and it was something like 2500 times. Amongst a large section of socialists there is a long standing hatred of the Jews that goes back to the early days of the Nazi movement.

The Treaty of Versailles after the WW1 left Germany sick, frustrated and angry. The socialist Nazi party directed that at what they saw as being the nasty capitalists, the Jews.

Ken recently has had a paid job working for an extremeist Iranian channel that spoutes the annihillation of the Jews and the West. He brought over extremists Imams that were banned here, he is a staunch supporter of the Respect party that original muslim members have left as it became too extreme.

Every insult he delivers such as calling Jews Nazi prison camp guards he describes as a joke. Just as in teh 1970s we heard the same jokes about blacks and others. Its not a joke, its a pathetic attempt at trying to hide his bigotry.

No I am not Jew or Muslim, just can't stand his socialist approach of divide people, establish an enemy and goad the ignorant mob.

- John, London, 18/08/2011 19:31
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Pete Croydon,What is the meaning of your comment,I don't understand as I'm just an Englishman.

- Honest John, London, 18/08/2011 19:25
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Mike Stern London,Wake up and smell what coffee ,the only smell is crap being spouted by Bonkers Boris and a bunch of Tory self gratifying greedy gits.

- Honest John, London, 18/08/2011 19:12
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How low can this man sink, as someone who lived through the Blitz,V1 & V2s & remembers people & childen that did not make it, also all the other cities that Hitler ordered to be destroy I think he's a disgrace, Miliband get rid of him before he destroys the Labour Party, anyone would be a better candidate than him

- peter, london, 18/08/2011 18:45
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Dave from Devon, eloquently put, saved me from making the same point in a roundabout/rambling way. As for the muppet who called Boris a 'dimwit' you must be a genius? - look up the man's credentials before you insult his intelligence. He is a highly intelligent man and is passionate about London and this country, hardly Ken's attributes. Having said that, Ken did tell one of the funniest jokes I have ever heard, and given his love of Muslims, highly suspect too....

- Pearly, London, 18/08/2011 18:43
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@Alex W6

My comment was made in regard to the fact that Ken made his comments whilst making a tour of the area, inside one of the threatened shops; A J Cooke's Pie and Mash, one of the few genuine pie and mash shops left in west London. I felt that this genuine issue was being obscured in typical fashion by a paper more interested in sensationalism than representing the lives of the majority of Londoners.

To your further points, the developments will also threaten the market, which will now be forced to exist beneath the proposed block. I agree that the area isn't always the most pleasant to be in at times (where in London doesn't have its moments?) but I don't think the answer is to tear down historic buildings and put local people out of business. That strikes me more as a way for developers to make lots of money and then private landlords to make further amounts by charging obscene rent beyond the reach of those who most need it.

Regenerating an area should not mean an area loses its character.

- Alexander DeLarge, London, 18/08/2011 18:43
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I think Ken was just making the point between good and evil and if that's what he meant he's absolutely right,Boris represents wealth and power while Ken represents the less well off.

- Honest John, London, 18/08/2011 17:27

The less well off? Like who? The greedy, overpaid army of useless 'socialist' bureaucrats he employed? And which Mayor asked for Londoners' opinions on an issue, accepted the outcome and acted upon it, and which one completely ignored them?

If you're talking about evil, then Comrade Ken is definitely not the lesser. Wake up and smell the coffee.

- mike stern, london, 18/08/2011 18:18
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Ken seems to be as adept at making a fool of himself as Boris. Both men are figures of fun but London is probably a better place for it. We don't want any Stalinist type leaders in this country. We want leaders whom we can ridicule and lambast in equal measure. At least the Coalition hasn't responded to the riots with surveillance and ID card twaddle in the way the Labour Party did. Britain is a conservative country, and socialism just doesn't work, nor will it ever. It really is a case of some people being more equal than others. I live in Devon now but if I lived in London I'd vote for Boris Johnson every time because he isn't the kind of 'we know what's good for you' socialist tyrant that the Labour Party would inflict upon us.

- Dave, Devon, UK, 18/08/2011 18:15
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Wow! Livingstone, the face of Labour!

- ST, London, 18/08/2011 18:11
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It's a ridiculous comparison.

While Hitler and Johnson have the Olympics in common, Boris is never going to be taken seriously, cannot make the tubes or trains run on time, hasn't overseen a rise in employment primarily through arms manufacturing and motorway building, and has instead seen an increase in lawlessness.

Still, as he's not a racist, genocidal despot, I suppose for some people, he has a lot going for him. And unlike Adolf, Boris is tall, blonde and blue-eyed.

- Oswald Mosley, Ancoats, 18/08/2011 18:11
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@ Lala.

ME!

- Daddy, Kensington, 18/08/2011 18:10
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Well there may be more truth in what Ken said than he realised given the news on the TFL website that an extra 6 trams (down from 10 promised!!) will be built in Germany and not at Bombardier, they will also be 2.5 metres longer which will mean extending stops to take them.

Add the above to the Thameslink order going to Siemens and Camerons wanting to set up a youth army and the party links in europe to a party that celebrates Hitlers birthday and you might find that Churchill is now spinning in his grave!!!

It also shows how Tories have no sense of humour and get to excited - perhaps they need a rest and go on a very long holiday!!!

- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 18/08/2011 18:09
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Ken Livingstone is a champaigne socialist who cares little for London or Londoners, unless there's a free booze-up or expenses-paid-for junket thrown in. Boris Johnson isn't much better either, but given Ken's dangerously left-wing extremist views and love of taxing Londoners to the hilt, I am now convinced that Ken Livingstone would be the worst thing to happen to London since the Blitz.

- Gatedweller, The People's Republic of Newham, 18/08/2011 18:01
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"AGAIN 50% LESS passengers than BENDY-BUSES." - CHRISTOPHER CROWDY, Chelsea SW3

But less deaths and a lot less fare dodging.

- Tom, London, 18/08/2011 17:52
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Ken is a nasty piece of work who repeatedly makes these nasty comments, comparing what happened in Tiananmen Square to the poll tax, last week justifying the riots in london and now this, the man is a deluded fool who had any morals should stand down. i remember prior to the last mayoral elections too when his shady past come to light with his personal life.

- joe, london, 18/08/2011 17:51
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I think Ken was just making the point between good and evil and if that's what he meant he's absolutely right,Boris represents wealth and power while Ken represents the less well off.

- Honest John, London, 18/08/2011 17:27

Facepalm.

- Pete, Croydon, 18/08/2011 17:47
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I would say that Boris is more like a mixture of William IV, his ancestor, Louis XIV Le Roi Soleil, Rei Momo The King of Carnival of Rio de Janeiro and The Nero character created by Peter Ustinov in the film Quo Vadis.

Ken is just boring and ugly and might qualify as a third, twice removed cousin of David Niven, without the charm.

We need someone gorgeous and intelligent as Mayor of London !!!

Perhaps someone like ...

- Lala, London U K, 18/08/2011 17:41
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WHEN ARE THE LIBERALS AND UKIP GOING TO NAME THEIR CANDIDATE. THINK ANYONE WOULD DEFEAT KEN AND BORIS.

- alan., England, 18/08/2011 17:30
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I thought we'd seen the back of silly little dishonest stories that attack Ken on the basis of made-up quotes. Read the whole extract, it was hyperbole. Cos of course boris never makes a fool of himself, hasn't been sacked for lying, twice, doesn't claim for Islington his mortgage from us taxpayers, didn't describe the £250k he gets a year from The Telegraph for his column, didn't describe this money as "chicken feed" when asked if he could be a proper mayor when it was his second job and so on.

Boris never did all that did he?


Oh.

- Harry Cole, Bow, 18/08/2011 17:29
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I think Ken was just making the point between good and evil and if that's what he meant he's absolutely right,Boris represents wealth and power while Ken represents the less well off.

- Honest John, London, 18/08/2011 17:27
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LibLabCon what difference does it make? They are all venal con artists. They are bought and paid for by the people who really run the show, specifically the international banking cabal.
As Red Ken himself once said: if voting made any difference they wouldn't let you do it.

- len moss, brighton, 18/08/2011 17:15
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For Livingstone of all people to aim a statement such as this at anyone living in recent history in Europe must be the most despicable insult. The guy should be forced to apologise and then forever be cast out into the wilderness of politics. Enough is enough of this guy. The guy is a lunatic.

- Michael, Kensington, UK, 18/08/2011 17:04
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Laurel versus Hardy might be a better comparison

- Micky, London N4, 18/08/2011 16:51
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FAO marino

surely the same could be said of Ken and any Politician then? i dont agree

- alan, london, 18/08/2011 16:40
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I'm quite gobsmacked at the number of people taking Ken's clearly light-hearted comments doggedly literally & winding themselves up about it. Do keep up!

- Giustina, London, 18/08/2011 16:35
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You lot down in London really are going to put your thinking caps on when you come to make your choice of the next mayor, way I see it non of the present contenders are fit for purpose, clowns the lot of em.

- stuart, chesterfield,derbyshire, 18/08/2011 16:34
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crass comment aside, what exactly has boris actually done for london that wouldn't have happened anyway? the olympics aren't down to him... and... erm... okay, we've got some free bikes. is that the extent of his influence on the capital?

- marino, london, 18/08/2011 16:31
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Ken Vader or Boris Skywalker? The Force is strong in this one.

Livingstone should crawl under the bottle of Johnnie Red that spawned him.

- Tom Jones, The Green Green Grass, 18/08/2011 16:16
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Some ageing historian made a similar crass comparison on some BBC program earlier in the week, he was condemed out of hand by the left, no allowance made for fair comment or 'jokes'. Funny how this is now interpreted as a 'joke' by those same people.
In my view, both were stupid comments which need not have been said. However you can't have your cake and eat it, so they were either both offensive or neither was offensive. you can't really say one was and one wasn't. Can you?

- alan, Carlisle, 18/08/2011 16:15
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how can people say boris doesnt treat his job seriously? on what grounds or with what evidence? please post links...v.interested. he has done a better job overall than ken

- alan, london, 18/08/2011 16:10
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FAO Kieran

joke or a statement of fact...either way, as a public figure its a case of very very poor judgement. Imagine how you would feel if Boris said that of Ken?

- alan, london, 18/08/2011 16:08
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A doctor might well ask whether Ken Livingstone is displaying early signs of dementia.

I say that with the authority of someone who is the reincarnation of Napoleon.

- Mike Newland, London, England, 18/08/2011 16:06
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Should have said Ken shows an amazing lack of thought to trivilise Hitler. Just think what Hitler did. Has Labour no young, theoughtful politicans. Come to that do we have to ahve a mayor wedded to poticical ideology.

- Alan., England., 18/08/2011 16:03
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The ES fails to point out this is an interview from Total Politics, the full quote is below - his final line is the clincher that people should read - but is conveniently left out by the ES:

'Asked why people should vote for him, Ken jokes: "It's a simple choice between good and evil – I don't think it's been so clear since the great struggle between Churchill and Hitler… The people that don't vote for me will be weighed in the balance, come Judgement Day. The Archangel Gabriel will say, ' You didn't vote for Ken Livingstone in 2012. Oh dear, burn forever. Your skin flayed for all eternity.'… I'll come round with a serious pitch nearer the time."'

- Kieran, London, UK, 18/08/2011 15:57
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"he is well into his sixties now and should retire gracefully"

What? You mean like your hero Churchill? Ah but that's different of course.

I see its outrageous poor taste for Ken to say this but if a Tory councillor 'blacks up' to imitate Nelson Mandela at a party it's just a good wheeze. After some of the gaffes Boris has made I would expect his supporters to keep their traps shut. Remember Liverpool?

- Dan, London, 18/08/2011 15:52
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"Anyone reading the full quote will see Ken's comments were clearly made in a spirit of good humour during a light-hearted interview about the London mayoral election."

That's why the Headlines scream a different story!
To provkoe a reaction - now Hitler is added to buffoon, clown, bungling fool all describing our London Mayor - says a lot about the voters of this city are we are truly that foolish?

We need a Mayor that will actual work in his role, sit down & talk, lead groups etc...Boris has treat his role as joke, never truly wanted to do the 'actual' job, so I won't get all defensive for him because this hatchet job of editing Ken's comments.

- Jamie, London, England, 18/08/2011 15:50
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Ken said "Those who don't vote for me will be weighed in the balance come Judgment Day. The Archangel Gabriel will say, 'You didn't vote for Ken Livingstone in 2012. Oh dear, burn for ever. Your skin flayed for all eternity.'"

What an incredibly arrogant and big-headed statement to make. Who does Ken think he is, the Messiah?

I will never vote for him now after saying comments that verge on blasphemy.

It was not so long ago that he referred to an ES reporter as a Nazi -- what is it with Ken and accusing others he does not like as Nazis?

This suggests to me that Ken is the Nazi and not only that, but a very self-righteous one.

- David K, London, 18/08/2011 15:48
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@Nathaniel. Ken was a great major for London and he will sweep into power again next May. You wait and see.

Not if I and thousands of other Londoners have anything to do with it. Apart from anything else, he is well into his sixties now and should retire gracefully to look after his newts. Surely the Labour Party can do better than him?

- Scarlet Manor, London, UK, 18/08/2011 15:27
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You are a nasty piece of work Livingstone.Remember
Stalin, the great socialist leader, killed far more than Hitler ever did.You are devoid of all morals,the labour party invented the mayor just to keep you out of parliament and foisted you upon the unsuspecting
Londoners.Poor souls.

- davo, faraway, 18/08/2011 15:21
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Why is it that the Financial Times can recognise this was a joke - in fact, as they put it, "proof that there is still plenty of life left" in Ken.

Johnson's cronies at the Evening Standard are at it again. For yet another election Boris can rely this paper to do his campaigning for him. Ah - the delights of deceitful journalism.

- Kieran, London, UK, 18/08/2011 15:21
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Sorry - this is a ridiculous article - it was clearly a joke. The Standard haws twisted it to make it look like a serious remark in a interview, with a typical misleading headline. (Flashback to 2007/8 anyone??)

"The Archangel Gabriel will say, 'You didn't vote for Ken Livingstone in 2012. Oh dear, burn for ever. Your skin flayed for all eternity.'"

Come on - Ken's not usually know for his humour. But that's genuinely quite funny.

- Kieran, London, UK, 18/08/2011 15:15
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Was it Livingstone who signed an oil deal with Venezuelan tyrant,Chavez?

- peter Doff, filey uk, 18/08/2011 15:15
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Its nothing to what we use to call Ken when he was head of the GLC, decades ago, and I was in retaling.
Joking apart, if as it now appears it was said by Ken in banter, it shows an amazing amount of thought. Hiter was responsible for the death of not only millions in concentration camps but millions who died to defeat him. Such remarks trivilise the darkest days in our history.

- Alan., England., 18/08/2011 15:14
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This is not the first time Livingstone has made "jokes" comparing anyone who he doesn't like to a Nazi. In 2005, he accused a Jewish reporter of being a like a concentration camp guard - a "joke" he stood by and refused to apolgise about.

This new outburst will remind Londoners what an odious person Livingstone really is and how important it is to make sure that he never gets elected into office again.

- Jez, London, 18/08/2011 15:12
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Mention Nazi or Hitler to Ken Livingstone and all hell would break loose,if not from from all Jews and you may even get a visit from the MET to explain yourself.
If it meant to be a joke then it's poor taste.
This is beneath you Ken. And I hope you don't attempt to explain your self on LBC.

- moses, london, 18/08/2011 15:11
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Surely to god there must be a brighter set of buffoons that could do this mayoral jobby, these two halfwits are very worrying characters.

- John Hardon, Watford Herts, 18/08/2011 15:03
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@Alexander de Large

Most of what's along Goldhawk Road could do with tearing down. I was not aware of any plans to build flats there but anything to lift up and improve this depressing and frankly scary road is fine by me.

I don't see what the comment has to do with the article btw.

- Alex, W6, 18/08/2011 15:01
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Natanian, It's all right for you, you have not had to live under this madmad, I have, it's very expensive.

- peter, london, 18/08/2011 15:00
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Lee Jasper won't be happy. He will not want anything that might hinder his efforts to get his nose back in the trough.

- kerry livermore, London, England, 18/08/2011 14:46
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BoJo like Hitler?

No way! More like Crusty the clown, methinks.

- John Smith, London, EUSSR, 18/08/2011 14:39
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If Ken Livingstone really did compare himself to Churchill then he is so self delusional as to require medical help.
Seriously, can you imagine him in charge in 1940?
Fight them on the beaches?
Not our Ken.
He would have capitulated in the blink of an eye and welcomed Hitler to Number Ten with open arms.
Mind you, if it were Boris Johnson, he wouldn’t have known who Hitler was.

- James Ghost, London, England, 18/08/2011 14:38
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It is likely that these comments, although Unforgiveable, were ill-advised Flippancy that have been isolated from their context.
Boris oft does not listen to, nor reply to reasonable questions from his voters, and is a Master of Buffoonery.
Of import are KEN's Serious Focus on London's Problems: CONGESTION,
CROSS-RIVER TRAM,
OXFORD STREET TRAM
SHEPHERDS BUSH - UXBRIDGE TRAM,
Tram-Link EXTENSIONS e.g. Crystal Palace.

BORIS has 'buried-his-head-in-the-sand' by IGNORING efforts to REDUCE CONGESTION and even reversed those efforts by cancelling WEZ.

BORIS has WASTED MILLIONS by -

(i) Scrapping Existing FLEETS of BENDY-BUSES,
(ii) necessitating BUYING NEW Double-Deckers to replace them, that have 50% LESS Passenger-Carrying CAPACITY,

(iii) BORIS-BUS - a totally un-necessary indulgence, with ONLY 5 Vehicles to be running on London's Streets in 2012. Presented with the Publicity 'Spin' as 'NEW' Route-Masters. The Rear 'Open-Platform' will require a Bus Official Present, making the Platform useable only for very limited times. AGAIN 50% LESS passengers than BENDY-BUSES.

- CHRISTOPHER CROWDY, Chelsea SW3, 18/08/2011 14:38
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I can think of no politician I would vote for, except maybe David Davis who has strong views on our freedoms.

- Alan., Green., 18/08/2011 14:36
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I think the larger issue at stake here is the fact that there is an historic row of shops on the Goldhawk Road that our Tory council want to cheerfully tear down to aid development of yet more luxury flats.

This, coupled with the appalling 'regeneration' (re: gentrification) plans for the rest of the borough mean I'll cheerfully vote for anyone who will help put the kibosh on such waste.

- Alexander DeLarge, London, 18/08/2011 14:34
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Thats nothing to what we use to call Ken when he was head of the old GLC and I was in retailing. Joking apart appaled by such comments. It insults the memory of the millions put to death by Hitler in concentrsation camps by trivialising this dreadful stain on cicivisation.

- Alan., England., 18/08/2011 14:34
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Is Stalin on the bottle again?

- Terry Barr, Ilford, Essex, 18/08/2011 14:33
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Ken never changes, still as nasty and divisive as ever I see.
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Me wonders if Ken is deliberately trying to court the Muslim vote excluding all else.
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A nasty man who does nothing for London only for himself.
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Gimme Boris anyday, at least what he does he does for Londoners.

- Jock S. Trap, London, 18/08/2011 14:30
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I think Ken should stick to what he does best - ramble on during his Saturday morning radio show on LBC & send people to sleep...zzzzzzzz!!

- Scott, E14, London, 18/08/2011 14:29
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@Rod, Epping, UK, 18/08/2011 13:20;

Well if it's a choice between Boris and Ken and you don't like either, then you shouldn't vote.

Voting for the lesser of two evils is still compromising your principles and instincts.

I wouldn't vote for Livingstone in a million years, but I'm finding it difficult to want to vote for Boris either.

Maybe if we all abstained they might put forward a couple of candidates that aren't so useless.

Maybe.

- John, London, 18/08/2011 14:29
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Typical Standard. Clearly a joke, maybe in poor taste. Admit it, if Boris made these comments you would have laughed them off. Shame, as for a while it looked like under its new owners the Standard had become less of a propaganda sheet for Boris.

- mike hartley, tooting, london, 18/08/2011 14:28
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I see it more as Harry Potter vs Voldemort Ken... obviously good old Boris is our Harry...

- Liberal, London, West Side, 18/08/2011 14:26
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"It's a simple choice between good and evil. I don't think it has been so clear since the great struggle between Churchill and Hitler."

Not exactly sure how this is comparing Boris to Hitler. It certainly mentions Hitler but I'm pretty sure there's no comparison.

- James, London, UK, 18/08/2011 14:23
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Actually it's not as funny as the Oliver Finegold "concentration camp guard" joke. That one was particularly hilarious, especially when he followed it up with "your paper (London ES) is a load of scumbags." "It's reactionary bigots ...... and who supported fascism."

Still none of them as good as "My dog has no nose!"

- Mark, Peckham Rye, Southwark, 18/08/2011 14:23
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The fact that Livingstone is the best candidate that labour could come up with speaks volumes about the depravity of the party. To describe this obnoxious nonentity as a "newt" or a "toad" is an insult to newts and toads.

- R.F.Yorke, Yorks,, 18/08/2011 14:21
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This is like watching two bald men fighting over a comb.

- Crazy Hippie, 10 Drowning Street SW1A 2AA, 18/08/2011 14:21
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This man is a slime ball. Do not vote him back in. Fool us once, shame one you. Fool us twice....don't even think about it. Vote Boris.

- Hades, London, 18/08/2011 14:17
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Ken is showing his poor lack of judgement which is essential in a Mayors position. This comment, already added to a growing pile since his stepping down, have painted him as a bitter old egomaniac that cant believe he lost. rather than blame himself, he blames everyone and everything else.
If he were a true leader he would not fall into more gaffs than boris (which is unbelievable) and inspire confidence, optimism and admiration...instead yet again Ken livingstone is dirtying his public image.
Hitler? cmon ken, thats low, the nadir of bad debating skills...of a flumoxed politics grad, let alone someone of your (rapidly diminishing) stature.
i know you love london, but your making london fall out of love with you...and you only have yourself to blame.
dont be bitter at boris, be better.

- alan, london, 18/08/2011 14:06
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As always, he is misquoted and especially from the idiotic Tories posting their venom here.

Ken was a great major for London and he will sweep into power again next May. You wait and see.

- Nataniel Arbuthnot, Bristol, 18/08/2011 14:05
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Some of these comments coming from Ken are somewhat crass to say the least!

This man has actually insulted pretty much everyone in this pointless rant.

If this is the best Labour candidate they could muster then they may as well give up!

- Mark, Central London, 18/08/2011 13:44
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What do you expect from such a jerk? London has no need of the likes of Ken. He should withdraw from the mayoral race and let a sensible candidate run in the Labour interest.

- Alex, London, 18/08/2011 13:43
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If I lived in London I think I would vote for Brian Patrick. He is a gay and.incredibly boring.

- Daphne, Brighton, 18/08/2011 13:41
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No, Boris is nothing like Hitler.What ever one thinks of that man at least he had brains, to rally his party members around him and at the same time, for a certain period of time he also had the German people behind him . Boris on the other hand finds it very hard to have a conversation and be able to string a few words together . And I'm also afraid that he would never become a leader of men .Boris may be a pompous fool but he will never be able to attain anything more than being a mayor .

- Hamilton Straker, Ealing West London, 18/08/2011 13:38
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Livingston is well known for uttering self promotional c**P on a regular basis as he rarely has anything intelligent to say.

- Steve, The shire, 18/08/2011 13:35
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Twisted by the media I am sure. Ken is a maverick and always pushes the boundaries, sometimes too much. However, Boris is not good for London and best got rid. Anyone got a better idea?

- Rod, Epping, UK, 18/08/2011 13:20
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Gavin Barwell is Boris's attack chipmunk. Mind you, at least he has the decency to be quoted - just who is the "source close to Mr Johnson's campaign" who said "We always knew that Ken was a nasty, divisive character..."?

- Arfur Towcrate, Waddon, actually, 18/08/2011 13:19
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I don't think that Ken should come back as mayor! It is quite clear that Boris doesnt really want the job and is more interested in upseating his old school pal, David Cameron!

- Kunle Sotunde, London, 18/08/2011 13:16
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LOL That's rich coming from Ken Livingstone. Perhaps Ken is Mussolini then....

- Paul Humphreys, Essex, 18/08/2011 13:15
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Just what have Londoners done to deserve these people?

One is an odious little creep the other a dim-witted buffoon.

God help us, what a choice.

- James Ghost, London, England, 18/08/2011 13:02
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Look at the pic of Ken. He has the same salute pose of the Third Reich.

Stupid man!

- Gerry O'Callaghan, Birmingham, 18/08/2011 13:01
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I would have put ken firmly in the 'Stalin' camp, thoroughly nasty, two faced and happy to sacrifice the indigenous population to suit the party line. Churchill was proud to be English. Much like Boris.

I wouldn't vote for either of them, they're both about as much use as Anne Frank's drumkit.

- Daddy, Kensington, 18/08/2011 12:54
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Didn't he get in to trouble comparing a journalist to a nazi camp guard a few years ago? So as well as being offensive, Ken is boring also. Change the record!

- COYS Switz, Switzerland, 18/08/2011 12:51
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He's really lost it this time. Was there not a toy shop near by where someone could have bought Livingstone some marbles. He's clearly lost his.

One of the great things about Livingstone not being mayor is the i don't have to listen to his contant lecturing and hectoring on how to live me life. Don't do this, don't do that, walk here, use the bus, flush the toilet, don't flush the toilet, don't drive, don't have any fun at all.....oh and I'm putting up your council tax.

- JCE, London, 18/08/2011 12:50
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Why does Ken hang around with & support politically people who admired Hitler ?

- The Convenient Truth, Reading, England, 18/08/2011 12:50
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Jane, chances are the Olympics will be over before the next mayoral election.

Think about it.

- John, SW8, 18/08/2011 12:49
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Boris the Buffon is just that, crass, unthinking, shooting from the lip with neo-Thatcherite pontifications.

However, compared to Adolf, he is harmless.

Interesting, but stupid, as they used to say on "Rowan and Martin's laugh in"

- Rabigyin, Scotland, 18/08/2011 12:43
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God help London if Ken L gets back into power. He only wants to be Mayor for the Olympics.

- joan, london UK, 18/08/2011 12:42
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Invoking Godwin's Law is usually the last resort in a heated discussion, not the first. Bad fail there, Ken.

- Stevie D, London, 18/08/2011 12:42
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I'd say Boris was more like the wastrel Charles the First while Ken was the reforming Parliamentarian. I know which I'd rather have in charge.

- John, SW8, 18/08/2011 12:41
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Mr Livingstone, please retire and leave us in peace.

- Paul, Chatham, 18/08/2011 12:36
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ken is confirming his mental state

- terry sullivan, morden england, 18/08/2011 12:35
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