Today in Politics: Exit Red Ken

By Andrew Grice

The defeat of Ken Livingstone after eight years as Mayor of London is a big moment with implications way beyond the capital. We might well look back on Boris Johnson's remarkable victory as the time when the tide turned against Labour and could not be turned back by the general election.

As the Tories acknowledged, Ken did some good things for London. It was in their interests to do so (as that's what many Londoners felt) rather than portray Livingstone as all bad. In any case, the London Evening Standard did their dirty work for them.

The demise of Livingstone is very bad news for Gordon Brown. Ken's team calculated that his ratings were normally about 10 points higher than Labour's. So how did he lose? A highly effective (and expensive) "get out the vote" operation by the Tories in the outer London boroughs made it virtually impossible for Ken to make up the ground in his inner London strongholds. Boris fought a clever and disciplined campaign. He grew up politically from the TV show joker, even if he was hazy on policy. It will be fascinating to see whether he can keep it up as Mayor, but those people expecting him to implode may be proved wrong (again).

I suspect Labour's defeat in London is not so much a vote against Brown, Labour or even Ken personally, but a vote against incumbency, a "time for change" message. That should be what worries Brown most. When he took over from Tony Blair, he knew he needed to be "the change" that many people wanted. But Labour's dismal local election results show he has failed. After 11 years in power, it is very hard to look new.

Boris provided a breath of fresh air in London, making Ken look a bit stale. David Cameron will look new at the general election (even though he'll be the longest-serving party leader) because Brown has been on the scene for so long. And what was the most brilliant piece ever of political marketing? New Labour. 

Comments

[george same]

Dismal, absolutely dismal result for London, to let a political joke like Johnson become mayor. I am so glad I have moved out of the place. Londoners will deserve evrything thry get.

[Dave]

It was the usual politician's story with Ken: he makes promises (no tube fare rises, keep the Routemasters) then breaks them. So I voted for Boris. If he breaks his promises (fight crime, deliver value for money, no foreign junkets) then I'll change again - and again, and again and again......

[Neil McGowan]

>> I suspect Labour's defeat in London is not so much a vote against Brown, Labour or even Ken personally <<

Wrong.

# Brown's spineless support for a yankee war in Iraq was a major factor in the anti-Labour vote. Every day British soldiers are DYING FOR NOTHING in Iraq, and Gutless Gordy does NOTHING to stop it. He should be thrown out of No 10 and kicked bodily down Whitehall for this alone.

# Brown's gutless yankee bootlicking is offensive to most people who believe he's supposed to be the PM of *Great Britain*, and not Bush's toadying Viceroy.

# If that hopeless nincompoop thought hiking taxes for the poorest was an appealing idea to Labour voters, then they gave him a kick up the jaxie as a reminder.

# Lying to Parliament, the voters and the Olympic Committee about the *known* costs of Britain's Olympic bid?? Not clever. The behaviour of a craven stinking coward. And of course, the shortfall's been stolen from Education & Health - to build a stadium for his personal aggrandizement? Fat fool.

# Blab-mouth Brown came up with the idea to have Mussolini-style Military Units in School. Another good reason to kick him out of power.

Let's be clear, Andrew. THE PUBLIC HATE THIS FAT INCOMPETENT LYING TRAITOROUS CRETIN. Can it be put clearer than that?

BROWN MUST GO.

[David Dayus]

God help London under Boris. Thankj God I moved away

[J Trengove]

This result was purely a vote against the labour government and are unelected prime minister.

It isn't just a vote for a change; its a vote against.

[Peter Hamill]

I believe it was Aristotle who said "People get the government they deserve". I can't imagine what Londoners did to get Boris. Perhaps there's a connection with 'binge drinking'? I'm off!

[Bood]

Two things.

1) The Evening Standard, and Andrew Gilligan, are a disgrace. Irresponsible journalism at its very a worst - a source of deep shame for London.

2) Those millions who didn't bother to vote. How dare people NOT vote? People have died for democracy, and millions have struggled for the right to vote, and yet people still 'can't be bothered to vote'. Man, they make me sick.

[John Tommey]

Oh Dear Oh Dear - - as Jonesy in Dad's Army would say - they don't like it up 'em do they Mr Manwaring.
Along with the right to vote goes the right not to vote if you believe none of today's politicians are worthy of support.

[Alan Stenson]

The thing about not voting is this. If the party I'd like to vote for isn't standing where I live, why should I vote for people I don't like and legitimise them by default? If there was a box I could tick that said 'None of the above, they're all w**kers, I'd really prefer ...........', I'd be quite happy for voting to be made compulsory. At least that way, the muppets in charge would have a true idea of who SHOULD be in power.

You know the party I'm talking about.

[Frank Davis]

At least one factor in Ken's defeat must be Labour's smoking ban, which Ken supported, and Boris didn't. Boris said that such bans should be left to local authorities. That won Boris the smokers' vote, and lost it for Ken. It's a significant minority, since smokers make up 25% of the voting population.

But somehow or other, nobody can see this. And nobody is even permitted to say this. And so I expect that this comment of mine will be deleted, if it is ever published in the first place. Smokers are getting used to being ignored. But they are still voters.

[Mike]

The result isn't surprising. Although Ken is largely the vicitm of Labour's national unpopularity, he also made some errors. Everyone loved the Routemaster buses and getting rid of them was a mistake. The other error was the proposed 25 pound congestion charge on luxury cars, even though I agreed with it. It seemed a bit extreme and it provided the wealthy and aspirant - of which there are very many in London - the perfect excuse to go and vote Tory. Ken misread the mentality of many Londoners here. It is a shame because on most measures Ken was a great mayor and I think Boris is going to be terrilbe. If you're reading this Ken, keep your chin up and thanks and well done for all your great work for London.

[David Craik]

Yesterday & today I had the miserable and most depressing task of analysing and commentating on the biggest poliitcal disaster since 1979, for our local radio station.

Hundreds of council seats lost in core Labour areas, Ken ousted in London, the BNP being elected, in what should be solid Labour areas.

After 11 years of "Labour?" government we still have:

1. Many pensioners unable to heat their homes because of energy prices out of control.

2. No guarantee of free residential elderly care in England, our forces stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan in conflicts we know we cannot leave except in defeat.

3. Academically able teenagers who will not contemplate university because of the debts they fear they will incur.

4. A parastic monarchy that costs the equivalent of 10 hospitals a year, while women in some areas of the UK cannot get vital drug treatments for breast cancer because their NHS trust won't fund it.

5. People living in fear of anti-social behaviour on housing estates and in other neighbourhoods.

6. A proposal to make income tax regressive, by making the poor pay as much basic rate as higher earners

7. Difficulties in recruting teachers, with others leaving teaching in record numbers.

8. A political system and constitution stuck in the 18th century

9. £120 million a year given in "charitable tax relief subsidies" to private schools.

10. A massive security problem for the UK, with over 70% of our oil coming from an increasingly unstable middle east and over 70% of our gas coming from Russia which has showm no hesitation in shutting off supplies to its neighbours if they don't pay the supplier's price.

Is it any wonder we are being deserted? Stand by for Thatcher's fourth term:

1. The UK abrogating The social chapter of the Treaty of European Union, so that British workers will loose employment rights & social protection, families losing social rights.

2. The UK abrogating the EU employment rights directives which will
remove most core employment rights.

3. The end of the minimum wage

4. Wholesale privatisations in: education, the NHS and other public services.

Gordon Brown has the power and means to be history's greatest Labour prime minister, pity he never uses them!

Just a rant from a lifelong Labour supporter !

[Dectora]

May I remind David Dayus that Macmillan and Jim Callaghan were also 'unelected Prime Ministers' when they first took office. Angry about this as well?
It wasn't that Johnson won, so much that Livingstone lost; too much open corruption and cronyism, as well as quite disgusting courting of dubious clerics who endorsed antisemitism and misogyny. Also a quite bizarre and reprehensible campaign to brand Trevor Phillips a racist.

[Alex]

Great news! A breath of fresh air for London. I'm sure Boris will do a great job.

[john appleby]

It was Groucho Marx who said that he would never join a club which would accept him as a member !
Why o why Ken did you apply to rejoin the conservative New Labour machine when you would have won easily if you had remained an independent and thus untainted by Nu-Labour sleeze,incompetance and their paranoid fear of radicalism ?

You've only yourself to blame. Brown and Blair dragged you down with them when you could have let go of the anchor and stayed on the surface...not drowning...but waving !

[Sarah]

Why can't all of them do it together? Why have one mayor for such a massive city? I thought we lived in a democracy.

[Campbell]

"disgusting courting of dubious clerics who endorsed antisemitism and misogyny."

Have you actually ever read any thing written by Yusef Al Qaaradawi, or is it somehow more convenient to make do with whatever Memri pumps your way? Well,now we've got Boris, I'm sure that "comfortable" option will become de rigeur. We'll see who is actually planning to wipe who "off the map". And will all have to live with the consequences.

[Mikko Takala]

Thank God Boris won. I hope he now targets fanatical Muslims, unlike Ken who pampered to their every whim.

[TERMINATOR]

I THINK A GUY WITH THREE WIVES AND FIVE KIDS HAS NO TIME FOR (ANY) PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT. HE WOULD NOW HAVE MORE TIME TO SHAG MORE FUTURE MOTHERS AND INCREASE HIS HERD

[loppo]

Chairman Mao had loads of mistresses and kids and he ruled China! I can't see how his sex life has anything to do with his job. A virile man usually has a lust for life so hopefully he'll put his lust for life to good use now.

[Harry]

It was the Evening Standard wot won it. I shall be eternally grateful. I seem to recall that Zanu NuLabour is looking to recruit a new General Secretary...conspiracies galore, limitless political correctness and looming bankruptcy. 'sounds just the job for the newt fancier.
BORIS 20012.

[exlondoner]

I am glad the left has been given the boot. I am sick of their "say this and then go and do that" political tactics.

I am also enjoying reading and seeing how the lefty mafia, complete with some sectors of the British media and all those little mediocrities we call artists, actors, writers and personalities all doing their "gloom and doom" bit, about how it is all going to fall apart now without Ken, I find this leftist moral superiority laughable and repulsive.

I do not vote, which is my right, and if i had done i would have voted for Boris, so there, not all those who did not vote would have voted for Ken either.

I am happy Boris won.

[Francis Oeser]

CAUSES of this debacle are numerous. What is clear is that Londoners do not value experience, skill or committment. To them, politics is prescribed by the media, and is unrelated to policy, achievement or vision.

[Harry]

Ken's mate Yusuf Al-Qaradawi(referred to above) has, of course, been banned from entering the United States since 1999 and the United Kingdom since 2008. Mr Al-Qaradawi is known for rejecting the concept of universal human rights and endorses Palestinian suicide bombing attacks against Israeli civilian targets. Charming fellow, obviously. Boris 2012.

[Mikko Takala]

Ken achieved nothing except stealth taxing the poor (the congestion charge and inflated tube fares) and stuffing his big gang's pockets with cash (sorry, "grants and expenses").