Just for a change I shall start things off with a statement of bias, I don’t like Ken Livingstone much (from what I know of him), think he was a poor Mayor and really don’t want him back in any sort of power ever. I wouldn’t trust him as honorary mayor of a toy village consisting of 3 cereal boxes and some sticky back plastic, so this may all come across as a bit biased, so I’m really quite in the Not ken again camp.
That said so far the only propaganda I’ve received for the mayoral election is from red Ken, it has a banner heading:
“Ken ‘I’ll cut fares or I’ll quit!'”
Specifically he’ll cut fares by 7% by October, no promise to keep them low mind you. Though we should also remember that he previously said he’d not seek to serve more than one term, so one really shouldn’t pay too much attention to what he says. If you ignore his general truthfulness his track record on cutting fares even with the help of subsidy from Venezuela really isn’t good.
It’s also claimed he’ll devote himself full time to London, which would be a change as when he first became Mayor in 2000 he continued to also “serve” as an MP until 2001. Then in his second term, the one he said he wouldn’t seek, he was able to write articles for the new statesman, but still this time round he’ll devote himself full time to London honest (though if that will be as Mayor or Mayor and other “London devoted” roles as well who knows?). To be fair Ken has asked that this single job policy be enforced by law. Whilst we’re talking about extra jobs, it’s also worth recalling that for someone who has been so out spoken about the wealthy avoiding tax (note not “evading”), his track record there isn’t exactly stellar.
Rather than go through the litany of all of Kens broken promises I’ll just pass you over to Mr. Cleverly who doesn’t think Ken’s track record is so good.
That’s all in the past of course much like Ken inventing broadband in the ’80s presumably with the help of Al Gore. Looking forward dear old Ken has said he will make London a beacon of Islam (Cranmer has the video) as well as making their life a bit easier financially. Quite how Kens love of Islam ties in with his plans for transgender specific policies one has to wonder unless it involves large piles of stones. This would of course presumably be in the independent caliphate of London that Ken would somehow declare.
Just by way of “balance” here a link to the Boris manifesto audit. Many people have complained that Boris hasn’t done much as Mayor, personally I think that’s a good thing – London has done quite well for quite a while without a Mayor, so a Mayor that lets it get on with stuff un-meddled with is just what’s needed.
Update Harry’s place has the latest apology from Ken for his “apparent” anti-Semitism.
Someone once said, “Don’t vote it only encourages them!” That said I’d prefer Boris to Ken.