Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has accused Boris Johnson of presiding over “a record of extraordinary managerial incompetence” following the resignation of Mayoral aide Ian Clement for the misuse of his taxpayer funded credit card.
On a damaging day which has seen the London Assembly vow to proceed with a planned investigation into Clement’s use of the card and the safeguards implemented by the Johnson regime, Livingstone said the departure of a fifth senior aide “is by any reckoning a record of extraordinary managerial incompetence at the top of London government.”
Livingstone, no doubt relishing the opportunity to repay Johnson for a stream of comments seeking to capitalise on allegations surrounding Lee Jasper, said his successor’s record “is a total contrast to my administration – which saw in eight years only a single resignation.”
”Boris Johnson has brought in a regime beset by the serial loss of top leaders who have been forced to resign due to misconduct or driven from office by the incompetence of the new Mayor’s Office.”
In addition to Clement four other top Johnson aides – ‘deputy mayors’ Ray Lewis and Tim Parker, deputy chief of staff James McGrath and Olympics advisor David Ross – have all quit their posts.
While the conduct of Johnson’s chosen top team has been pretty lamentable, I don’t think Livingstone has much to crow about either. It’s also pretty tiresome that he, Livingstone, still seems unable to cope with the fact he was beaten. I expect his “real mayor in exile” routine would be of some interest to the psychiatric community.
One reads a lot of comments, like that of Appealing of Ealing, which are critical of the former Mayor for publicly criticising his successor. I can see the basis of the comment, but I am not sure that is logical to rest too much criticism of politicians on the fact that they actually retain an interest after they have lost an election. Surely it is a positive thing and goes in favour of Ken Livingstone, even if you are not a natural supporter? Had Boris Johnson lost the Mayor election by even just one vote, do we seriously believe we would have heard a single further word from him on commitment to London politics or issues? If you are genuinely committed to what you believe in, and to the position you are seeking, you do not simply pack up shop and skulk away after losing an election.
I can understand why Ken Livingston criticises Boris Johnson’s Mayoralty and with good reason. For a start there does not appear to be any direct or immediate Transparency and accountability in Boris Johnsons leadership when things go wrong. Also Boris Johnson appears to be going for a world record in accepting Resignations , surely there is something seriously wrong in that itself.
As for Appealing of Ealings comments regarding Psychatric interest !!! Boris Johnson’s leadership does require Urgent and Immediate attention , preferably one from Ealing as it appears that they are well recommended in that area.
Damian Hockney wrote:
“One reads a lot of comments, like that of Appealing of Ealing, which are critical of the former Mayor for publicly criticising his successor. I can see the basis of the comment, but I am not sure that is logical to rest too much criticism of politicians on the fact that they actually retain an interest after they have lost an election.”
Even if I didn’t much like him as a mayor, I accept Livingstone genuinely cares about London and how it is run. Likewise, I think he’s as much right to criticize Johnson as you or me. However, to my mind, he’s constantly speaking out like someone who’s upset because Johnson somehow stole something from him unjustly. There’s a very fine line between a loser who’s always saying “I know better” and a loser having a sulk in public. I think Livingstone has got his media (campaign) posture all wrong. Good.
Leo wrote:
“As for Appealing of Ealings comments regarding Psychatric interest !!! Boris Johnson’s leadership does require Urgent and Immediate attention , preferably one from Ealing as it appears that they are well recommended in that area.”
Many thanks for your endorsement of Ealing’s healthcare provision. Indeed we have all manner of successful professional here in our leafy borough. Should Livingstone ever require some gentle treatment for his ongoing state of chronic denial, he need look no further than the western end of the Central line.
Appealing of Ealing
When the campaign for ” Mayor for London ” was fought in 2008 Boris Johnson and his advisors claimed that Ken Livingston’s Office was corrupt and syphoning of tax payers money that was meant for certain projects in London , hence Boris Johnson’s Zip or Key words : Transparency and Accountability . Boris and his advisor’s misled the public because after the election those claims that Ken Livingstons Office was corrupt was proved by the inquiry to be False and untrue and Ken Livingston’s Office had done everything above board. How many Votes did this cost Ken Livingston ? The results were Boris Johnson 1,168,738 and Ken Livingston 1,028,966 . I believe that Boris Johnson and his advisor’s played dirty tricks and knew that the inquiry would end after the election and would find in Ken Livingstons favour. So much for Boris Johnson’s claim to Transparency and accountability. I can understand why , as you put it , that Ken Livingston sounds like a man that has had something stolen of him. Yes , Ken Livingston has every right to feel cheated when you look at everything in great detail. How would you feel if someone accused you or your office of corruption when you have done no wrong ,” yes it hurts”.
Lastly I understand that Ken Livingston is either thinking or intends re-running as Mayor for London next time around , which gives him every right to criticise and question Boris Johnson’s judgements in public. So what is your argument ? All I can see , is that Ken Livingston is preparing himself for the next election to be Mayor for London and he has a long term strategy which involves reminding people of what is wrong with Boris Johnson’s Mayoralty and he intends to fairly and legally keep the pressure on without Lie’s upon Lie’s unlike others have done.
I do take your point about the impression of sour grapes that the former Mayor appears to show sometimes, Appealing of Ealing, but it’s probably worth remembering that the media will inevitably spin his comments and interpret them in this way. That is often the story rather than what he has to say. When you remove the headlines and the commentary dressed up as news, what the former Mayor is usually doing is commenting, and involving himself in the political process…I would consider himself to be closer politically to Boris Johnson than to Ken Livingstone, so I regret to say that I find myself agreeing with the former Mayor more often than I am comfortable with…
I agree with Leo’s comments – and it’s right that Ken criticises the Johnson bandwagon because there are not enough GLA members who are doing for him.
Even the Boris supporters agreee that Ken critcises Boris becase he cares about London, it may look like sour grapes but Ken has lost many contests before and he’s a bit more mature than that. However I concur that he probably is quite peeved as Leo pointed out – his election was lost by the claims of corruption and greed – mainly by the (then) Boris supporting Evening standard. These of course turned out to be complete fabrications and I have heard no more of Lee Jasper and the supposed misapropriation of money – where is the police investigation? where is the crime?
Boris on the other hand has lost more advisors and deputies in his time than anyone can keep count of. This certainly questions his judgement and absolutely destroys his game plan of ‘employing clever people to do all the work for me (so I can avoid making and being connected with gaffs and failures)’. This strategy runs the risk that you won’t actually know what your people are doing (as Boris clearly doesn’t) – does he look and sound like the sort of man who carries the air of authority to ‘manage from a distance’? – I mean seriously would you listen to him if he were your boss?
What Boris’s regime demonstrates is that “the old boys club is alive and well in politics” as most of the advisors and tag-alongs had no political experience – and found that whilst you can ‘bend the rules to breaking point’ in business without being questioned – under the spotlight of politics it’s a different matter. Their in-experience shows in their mistakes and it’s a tough lesson for Boris to learn.
All in all it shows that politics hasn’t changed – Boris claimed transparency and honesty throughout his campaign and the desperate Londoners lapped it up. Now we know it was all hogwash I hope the voters are not so easily suckered next time.
What I would ike to know is who is stepping into the shoes of these people? I have seen no appointments so are we to assume they weren’t providing a service we actually needed – or that an internal appointment has been made?
Hopefully Ken will stand again as an independent at the next election – without the weight of the disasterous Labour party millstone around his neck he should win by a country mile.