An astonishing thing happened yesterday.
A politician lost his job and forgot to blame someone else.
Ken Livingstone didn't blame Gordon Brown, Westminster, the Barnett formula, London, the weather, Tony Blair, the world economy, Derby County's defence or any of the other usual scapegoats politicians suggest when things go pear-shaped with the electorate.
This is what he said: "There is absolutely nothing that I could have asked from the Labour Party that it didn't throw into this election, from Gordon Brown right the way down to the newest recruit, handing out leaflets on very wet, cold days.
"I'm sorry I couldn't get an extra few points that would take us to victory and the fault for that is solely my own. You can't be mayor for eight years and then if you don't at third term say it was somebody else's fault. I accept that responsibility and I regret that I couldn't take you to victory."
Whatever your views of his politics, Ken Livingstone was a political pioneer in some areas, whether it was talking to Sinn Fein or taking on the motoring lobby.
Yet somehow I don't think this radical idea of candour and personal responsibility in defeat is going to catch on.
Showing posts with label Ken Livingstone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ken Livingstone. Show all posts
Saturday, 3 May 2008
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Wales in London
Could Wales be a winner in tomorrow's election for London Mayor? It's estimated that more than 70,000 Welsh people live in the UK capital and Wales in London wrote to the four main candidates asking for their views on transport, trade and Welsh issues.
You can see a full list of the mayoral candidates on the BBC website. Under Welsh issues, Wales in London asked these detailed questions:
a) Will the Mayor support a Welsh Week, centred on St David’s Day, as part of that programme?
(b) Will the Mayor give support to organisations which seek to preserve Welsh cultural heritage in London - such as the Welsh School [Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain] and the proposal to place a monument on Primrose Hill to mark the beginning of the Gorsedd of the Bards of the Isles of Britain and Iolo Morganwg?
Twenty four hours before polling day there's been no response from Sian Berry of the Greens or Boris Johnson. Ms Berry's first name may hint at Welsh ancestry while Mr Johnson was once related by marriage to Owain Glyndwr and did fight Clwyd West during the 1997 general election (Clwyd West won).
He did speak to a Wales in London gathering recently so may be forgiven for not responding directly to the questions.
There were detailed replies from Ken Livingstone and the Lib Dem Brian Paddick. You can see them here.
Brian Paddick: "I would be happy to talk with the Wales in London Association about how we could work together on promoting a Welsh week and preserve the Welsh cultural heritage in London."
Ken Livingstone's response was rather lengthier: "I would be very happy to work with Welsh organisations and other Welsh interest groups in the capital to develop an appropriate celebration of Welsh culture in London.
"Another way that we have promoted the different cultures that go to make up our great city is through Visit London - our tourism agency for London. They have produced a series of on-line guides - a guide to Jewish London, African London, Irish London and so on. A guide to Welsh London would be a very appropriate addition to this if you could help us with finding the content.
This would also be a way to promote organisations like the Welsh school and others that seem to promote and preserve Welsh heritage.
"Finally, on the monument on Primrose Hill, in principle I am keen to see all ways of marking the history of the city, the contribution it has made to different cultures, and the contribution they have brought to it. The proliferation of civic style statues is something I would like to see us move beyond - although they clearly have their place - and to bring more imagination and creativity to bear in the monuments or memorials that we put up. But I am sure that a monument to the Bards would give great scope for this!"
If the winning candidates delivers that pledge, he might yet end up being offered a white robe of his own....
You can see a full list of the mayoral candidates on the BBC website. Under Welsh issues, Wales in London asked these detailed questions:
a) Will the Mayor support a Welsh Week, centred on St David’s Day, as part of that programme?
(b) Will the Mayor give support to organisations which seek to preserve Welsh cultural heritage in London - such as the Welsh School [Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain] and the proposal to place a monument on Primrose Hill to mark the beginning of the Gorsedd of the Bards of the Isles of Britain and Iolo Morganwg?
Twenty four hours before polling day there's been no response from Sian Berry of the Greens or Boris Johnson. Ms Berry's first name may hint at Welsh ancestry while Mr Johnson was once related by marriage to Owain Glyndwr and did fight Clwyd West during the 1997 general election (Clwyd West won).
He did speak to a Wales in London gathering recently so may be forgiven for not responding directly to the questions.
There were detailed replies from Ken Livingstone and the Lib Dem Brian Paddick. You can see them here.
Brian Paddick: "I would be happy to talk with the Wales in London Association about how we could work together on promoting a Welsh week and preserve the Welsh cultural heritage in London."
Ken Livingstone's response was rather lengthier: "I would be very happy to work with Welsh organisations and other Welsh interest groups in the capital to develop an appropriate celebration of Welsh culture in London.
"Another way that we have promoted the different cultures that go to make up our great city is through Visit London - our tourism agency for London. They have produced a series of on-line guides - a guide to Jewish London, African London, Irish London and so on. A guide to Welsh London would be a very appropriate addition to this if you could help us with finding the content.
This would also be a way to promote organisations like the Welsh school and others that seem to promote and preserve Welsh heritage.
"Finally, on the monument on Primrose Hill, in principle I am keen to see all ways of marking the history of the city, the contribution it has made to different cultures, and the contribution they have brought to it. The proliferation of civic style statues is something I would like to see us move beyond - although they clearly have their place - and to bring more imagination and creativity to bear in the monuments or memorials that we put up. But I am sure that a monument to the Bards would give great scope for this!"
If the winning candidates delivers that pledge, he might yet end up being offered a white robe of his own....
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
Latter day Dick Whittington
This may or may not be a silly season story. Lembit Opik is considering running as the Liberal Democrat candidate for London mayor.
The leader of the Welsh Lib Dems says the speculation linking him with the job is "ever so flattering".
"If I was a London MP I would stand like a shot. The only issue is my constituency is 205 miles away."
That may indeed be an issue with local party activists in Montgomeryshire, but Opik is clearly undeterred after positive comments from an aide to party leader Sir Menzies Campbell.
Sir Menzies can expect a call. "I think I might go and have a chat with the boss to see what's going on. The momentum seems to be developing a life of its own."
Is London ready for a fight between Ken Livingstone, Boris Johnson and Lembit Opik?
"Me, Boris and Ken would be a splendid contest. It would get a lot of interest and get the public voting as well."
It's a toss-up who will be more delighted by the news - Tory Montgomeryshire candidate Glyn Davies or would-be Welsh Lib Dem leader Eleanor Burnham AM.
The creation of directly-elected mayors has certainly led to a more presidential politics although this three-way fight could perhaps be less of an election campaign and more of a reality TV series.
The leader of the Welsh Lib Dems says the speculation linking him with the job is "ever so flattering".
"If I was a London MP I would stand like a shot. The only issue is my constituency is 205 miles away."
That may indeed be an issue with local party activists in Montgomeryshire, but Opik is clearly undeterred after positive comments from an aide to party leader Sir Menzies Campbell.
Sir Menzies can expect a call. "I think I might go and have a chat with the boss to see what's going on. The momentum seems to be developing a life of its own."
Is London ready for a fight between Ken Livingstone, Boris Johnson and Lembit Opik?
"Me, Boris and Ken would be a splendid contest. It would get a lot of interest and get the public voting as well."
It's a toss-up who will be more delighted by the news - Tory Montgomeryshire candidate Glyn Davies or would-be Welsh Lib Dem leader Eleanor Burnham AM.
The creation of directly-elected mayors has certainly led to a more presidential politics although this three-way fight could perhaps be less of an election campaign and more of a reality TV series.
Opik's connections with London may not be as strong as those of his rivals - judging by the photograph above he appears a little confused about the concept of a Chelsea tractor.
Still, I can't wait for the Hello! election pull-out.
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