• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Ken Livingstone launches Mayoral comeback bid

June 1, 2010 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Livingstone is hoping to regain the Mayoralty from successor Boris Johnson. Photo: MayorWatch
Ken Livingstone today formally launched his campaign to become Labour’s Mayoral candidate in the 2012 Greater London Authority elections.

Livingstone’s candidacy has been widely trailed since he lost to Boris Johnson in 2008 and today’s launch will be seen by many City Hall observers as merely formalising the situation.

During a visit to Croydon where he met shoppers and joined local party activists who were signing up new party members, Livingstone said if elected he would “overhaul London’s budget priorities in favour of Londoners as a whole” and highlighted that under Johnson “a single bus fare by Oyster has risen by a staggering one third, as has the price of a weekly bus pass.”

The former Mayor said he was “looking forward” to the hustings and hearing what rival Oona King, who announced her candidacy last week, had to say on the issues facing the capital. He also reiterated that Mayor of London would be his “final political job” whatever the outcome of the Labour’s selection process and, ultimately, the GLA elections.

Since losing office the former Mayor, who served between 2000 and 2008, has often attended Mayor’s Question Time sessions at City Hall and commented on his successor’s policies.

He has also founded the Progressive London movement which some have criticised as a thinly veiled re-election vehicle.

In an interview conducted with this site in February and published this week, Livingstone said the question for would-be challengers to is “are you going to beat me on the ballot”.

Last Friday a group of prominent Labour politicians, including London Assembly Members Nicky Gavron and Val Shawcross, signed a letter describing Livingstone “as the best-placed candidate to secure a progressive future for London.”

The deadline for nominations is June 18th after which the party will announce the final shortlist of candidates. A series of hustings will then tale place across London with the party announcing its candidate in September after a ballot of members and affiliated organisations.

19.30 Update:
Livingstone has announced that Labour MP David Lammy, who was widely touted as a potential candidate for the Mayoralty, will act as his campaign chair.

In a statement issued on Wednesday night Lammy said: “I saw what a recession can mean for Londoners during the 1980s. There were riots just a few roads away from our family home. London needs a political heavyweight to stand up to this government

“Ken is that figure. He knows city government and coalition politics inside out, he has been through countless Whitehall spending rounds and he has London in his soul.

“Ken’s experience, his track record and his commitment to social justice make him the best placed to lead London in 2012.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Tagged With: 2012 London Election

RECENT UPDATES

852 new homes to be built in Acton by Transport for London

HGV operators in London urged to apply for a Direct Vision Standard permit

TfL proposes bus and tube cuts and annual fares increases to achieve long-term financial sustainability

London’s entire bus fleet now meets ULEZ emissions standards




Popular

1,700 extra Santander Cycles are coming to London’s streets

TfL confirms changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card hours

TfL fares to rise in return for £1.6bn Government rescue package

Election for Mayor of London and London Assembly postponed until 2021

FEATURED

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.