NO to Red Ken
June 10, 2004 ~ 11:16 p.m.
As of last night, on into this night, Ken Livingstone is facing a tooth-and-nail, neck-and-neck fight with Conservative challenger Steve Norris.
From the June 9 edition of The Evening Standard, they reported the mayoral race as still being in Red Ken�s favor, but by only a 51-49 percent lead. Just one week ago, it was predicted that Livingstone would win the mayoral post by a 58-42 percent margin, not unlike his numbers in the 2000 election.
In these past four years, the mayor of London has eradicated the pigeons from Trafalgar Square, introduced a Congestion Charge in central London which has, admittedly, worked in reducing traffic jams, but also alienated many businesses, and has opined on world politics, especially his hostility to George W. Bush.
In recent days, while repeating his anti-war, anti-Bush tirades, he has called for the removal and subsequent deaths of the Saudi royal family. Often it seems as though Ken cares more about international politics than local ones.
Ken Livingstone reportedly has more personal aides than even Prime Minister Tony Blair and has been a shameless promoter of himself. Livingstone�s feet are too big for London�s City Hall.
This doesn�t mean, however, that Conservative (Tory) candidate Steve Norris, Red Ken�s rival in 2000, is much better in the personality department. Norris has refused to give up chairmanship of the engineering department Jarvis Plc., who were running the trains involved in a major train crash that brought the nation to a standstill. Norris has been as every bit shameless in his mayoral election bid as has the incumbent. If Ken is pompous, then Norris is narcissistic.
However, Norris the Challenger may just be what London needs to tackle crime in the city which remains at record levels. Under the stewardship of New Labour, and Livingstone�s reign (and Livingstone didn�t get accepted back into the ranks of the Labour party until recently), crime has not been successfully tackled.
People want to feel safe in their city, and Steve Norris� campaign, running on a zero-tolerance platform on a par with Rudy Guiliani�s experience with New York, has cut into that desire. The Evening Standard has refused to endorse either candidate but suggests that if Londoners decide to elect Ken Livingstone again, they should also vote in a heavily Conservative London Assembly to keep him in check.
I hope Ken gets bounced out on his ear. I�ve been listening to his anti-Bush drivel for four years, watched him take away the pigeons which made Trafalgar Square such a successfully touristy area and divide the city with his Congestion Charge. It�s time for a London mayor who may not be a nicer taste than Red Ken personality wise, but certainly more attuned with the average Londoner�s desire for a safe, prosperous city. That, despite all his pomposity, is what Livingstone has not quite yet given us.
So, on this, �Super Thursday,� I say vote NO to �Red� Ken Livingstone and yes to Steve Norris. Having lost in 2000, he deserves a chance to not only say, but actively demonstrate, what he�d do for London.
Certainly can�t be more painful than the last four years in this city have been.
� M.E.M.
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Copyright � 2001-2007 by M.E. Manning. All material is written by me, unless explicitly stated otherwise by use of footnotes or bylines. Do not copy or redistribute without my permission.
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