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London Net News Feature
London Mayor and Assembly
Mayor and Council for London
London has a new mayor and assembly. The first Mayor is Ken
Livingstone M.P.
 The move to have a mayor and
assembly was a popular one, the London electorate putting it
high on their list of polling-day priorities in May 1997. Our
city had a directly elected council, the GLC, until it was abolished
in 1986 by the Thatcher administration. 70 % of London's four
million voters support the move to restore a council for London
in a referendum on 7 May 1998.
Below you will find details of the election result on 4 May
2000 and an archive of the articles from the LondonNet newsdesk
that covered the Mayor and Assembly from its inception in 1997.
4 May 2000 London Election
Results
London Mayor
Turnout : 33.65 per cent
Result after First
Preference Votes
Livingstone (Ind) : 39 per cent
Norris (Con) : 27 per cent
Dobson (Lab) : 13 per cent
Kramer (Lib Dem) : 12 per cent
Result after First and
Second Preference Votes
Livingstone (Ind) : 58 per cent
Norris (Con) : 42 per cent
Greater London Assembly Seats
Turnout : 32.58 per cent
14 Constituency
MLAs and 11 Top-up MLAs
Lab 9, Con 9, Lib Dem 4, Greens 3
Mayoral News Feature:
Jeffrey Archer's
London - London's top sights by
the man who would not be mayor
Mayor News
05/05/00
Ken at a Canter
- Livingstone confirmed as new Mayor
AS WIDELY expected Ken Livingstone today takes up the chains
of office as London's first elected Mayor after securing some
39 per cent of the popular vote.
The maverick left-winger, who stood as an independent, said
he wanted to work with the government but insisted he would push
ahead with legal moves to stop the part-privatisation of the
Underground, a policy championed by both Prime Minister Tony
Blair and humiliated Labour candidate Frank Dobson.
Clashes between Livingstone and the national government are
expected on other fronts, notably the taxation-without-full-representation
issue in which Londoners cough up far more in taxes than they
get back in government spending. Labour minister David Blunkett
has already tried to head off Livingstone's championing of the
London cause by claiming that the capital "does not have
an identity," a remark which may well come back to haunt
him.
Dobson could now be offered a job in the Livingstone administration,
but insiders believe the down-hearted former health minister,
who struggled to win even third place ahead of lacklustre Liberal
Democrat candidate Susan Kramer, will instead lick his wounds
on parliament's back benches.
Meanwhile, Tory Party strategists will be able to claim that
their bigoted response to the asylum debate paid off. A better
than expected showing in the London Mayor race, where Steve Norris
scored a just-respectable 27 per cent and a strong performance
in the Greater London Assembly election, has given new heart
to a party written off by some pundits just a few weeks ago.
The other group with a lot to be smug about after last night's
elections were the Greens, who took at three seats in the GLA
and who trounced left rivals, the London Socialist Alliance.
London Mayor
Turnout : 33.65 per cent
Result after First
Preference Votes
Livingstone (Ind) : 39 per cent
Norris (Con) : 27 per cent
Dobson (Lab) : 13 per cent
Kramer (Lib Dem) : 12 per cent
Result after First and
Second Preference Votes
Livingstone (Ind) : 58 per cent
Norris (Con) : 42 per cent
Greater London Assembly Seats
Turnout : 32.58 per cent
14 Constituency
MLAs and 11 Top-up MLAs
Lab 9, Con 9, Lib Dem 4, Greens 3
04/05/00
Mayor? What Mayor?
- New Labour concentrate on Assembly as Dobson faces oblivion
NEW LABOUR has all but written off the chances of its candidate,
Frank Dobson, in today's London Mayor election, and has instead
decided to play up the role of the Greater London Assembly, the
body which will work with the mayor to run the capital.
Education Minister David Blunkett said that the true test
of New Labour's popularity would come in results for the Assembly,
of which his party is almost bound to win control, given London's
long term shift to the left over the past decade. Just as well,
as polls place Dobson in third place, some 35 percentage points
behind bitter rival Ken Livingstone.
Although Blunkett's intervention is clearly a hopeless attempt
to wrest attention from the near certain victory of Livingstone
in the Mayor race, it also points to the troubles ahead for the
maverick left-winger.
A New Labour controlled Assembly, ritualistically opposed
to Livingstone, who was thrown out of the party when he chose
to stand as an independent, could form part of an effective pincer
movement with its allies in the national government to block
his every policy initiative.
02/05/00
Ken Slams 'Mindless Thugs' after May Day Riots
- McDonald's also attacked by Mayor favourite
KEN LIVINGSTONE has continued his attempt to appeal to all sections
of political opinion in the wake yesterday's riot in central
London.
Conventional views were backed by the man most expect to become
Mayor of London in Thursday's elections. "I utterly condemn
the violence and destruction of property by mindless thugs,"
said Livingstone after a few hundred mostly anarchist demonstrators
had smashed up shops in the immediate area around Trafalgar Square.
"I fully support the police."
But Livingstone was also careful to ingratiate himself with
those who back the anti-corporatist agenda, calling McDonald's,
whose Whitehall restaurant was destroyed in the riots, a "corporate
abuser."
Rival mayoral candidate Frank Dobson had earlier accused Livingstone
of stoking up the riots by backing direct action, although Livingstone
made it clear he favoured peaceful protest rather than full blown
riot.
Over a hundred demonstrators have now been arrested as police
begin to sift through video surveillance evidence. Most of the
violence is believed to have come from a green-anarchist group
called Reclaim the Streets which also had a substantial presence
in last June's disturbances in The City.
Those with a wider perspective than both the white, middle-class
student types who made up the bulk of yesterday's protesters
and their hysterical critics in the press who are now calling
for water cannon and tear gas to be used in future, can point
to the rest of Europe for evidence that London's riots were very
small beer indeed.
In Berlin, anarchists had a more tangible and dangerous target
for their venom when they teamed up with others on the left to
attack a march by neo-Nazis, while in Paris anti-fascists had
to counter the threat of 3,000 National Front members who filed
into the French capital behind a woman on her horse pretending
to be Joan of Arc.
27/04/00
Tatchell, Livingstone Race Ahead
- London elections prove fruitful for Labour renegades
GAY campaigner Peter Tatchell won the first race in the London
local elections this morning, but Ken Livingstone is now a virtual
certainty to claim victory in the main event next week.
Both are recent renegades from the Labour Party and both played
a big part in the London section of the party's embrace of rainbow
coalition politics, dubbed 'loony left' by some, in the 1980s.
Tatchell, standing for the London Assembly on the Green slate,
sneaked in through the staff entrance of Tesco's on the Old Kent
Road to place his vote, taking advantage of a new scheme to encourage
a high turn out. Other supermarkets and polling stations are
open for selected voting business over the next four days ahead
of May 4th, the official polling day.
Livingstone expressed his worries earlier this week about
the threat posed to his bid to become London Mayor by Tory candidate
Steven Norris, but will be cheered by the latest poll* which
gives him a whopping 34 point lead over his nearest rival.
Now pundits expect Livingstone to demand re-admittance to
the Labour Party as his price for making peace with Prime Minister
Tony Blair, the party leader who effectively arranged the left-winger's
expulsion. Livingstone was given the boot when he decided to
run as an independent after narrowly losing to Frank Dobson in
the battle to secure the Labour ticket, a contest dismissed as
rigged by Livingstone supporters.
* ICM Poll taken 25, 26 April: Ken Livingstone (Independent)
51; Steve Norris (Tory) 17; Frank Dobson (Labour) 14; Susan Kramer
(Liberal Democrat) 12 - all figures percentages.
13/04/00
Kramer in Poll Surge
- Lib Dem candidate gains most as Ken slips back
SUSAN KRAMER is eyeing a run-off with Ken Livingstone in the
London mayoral elections after doubling her ICM poll rating over
the past month.
The Liberal Democrat, a virtual unknown before winning her
party's nomination, is still way behind Livingstone but she is
within a few points of the two other main candidates, Labour's
Frank Dobson and Tory Steve Norris.
Livingstone has seen his support drop by 12 points to 49 but
still enjoys a commanding lead over his rivals. Nevertheless,
by slipping below the 50 per cent mark, under the preference
voting system, Livingstone is now likely to be involved in a
run-off against one of the other three main candidates.
With Dobson dropping one point to 15 per cent over the last
four weeks and Norris only managing to add a few percentage points
to edge into second place on 16, if Kramer's dramatic rise were
to continue, the former banker would be the one to go head-to-head
with Livingstone.
Kramer shares similar, and popular, policies on the Underground
with Livingstone but is unencumbered by the former GLC leader's
left-wing image which some see as his his Achilles heel.
16/03/00
Money Mad Ken Stays in Front
- Financial troubles yet to make poll impact
THE LATEST POLL for the London Mayor election gives Ken Livingstone
another commanding lead, but main rival Frank Dobson can console
himself that the gap has narrowed and that the latest survey*
took place before yesterday's damaging revelations over Livingstone's
financial affairs.
Livingstone's lead has been cut by 10 percent, but the maverick
leftwinger is still a whopping 45 points up on Dobson. However,
Livingstone's potrayal as a money-grubbing sneak by a parliamentary
investigation panel is likely to cut his rating further. Livingstone
has now agreed to apologise to fellow MPs for his conduct which
saw the left-winger fail to reveal that his extra-parliamentary
income had risen from UKP20,000 a few years ago to over UKP200,000
last year.
The former Labour man, now standing as an independent, says
that although he may have technically broken the rules, he could
hardly be accused of secrecy as his work mainly involved the
highly public professions of journalism and after-dinner speaking.
Livingstone is also concerned over the timing of his financial
case.
"I think everyone knows there's going to be a lot of
dirt thrown in the campaign," he said. "I don't believe
anyone thinks there would be this brouhaha if I wasn't standing
for mayor."
Maybe, Ken, maybe. But supporters might now wonder about you
pleading poverty while asking for campaign contributions and
might also question the need to bring in annoyingly-named ad
agency EuroRSCG Wnek Gosper, whose creative director calls you
"one of the most interesting brands in the country."
Man of the people, huh.
* ICM Poll: Ken Livingstone 61; Frank Dobson 16; Steven
Norris 13; Susan Kramer 6. All figures percentages.
15/03/00
Dobbo Talks More Balls
- Frank scotches Mowlam Mayor rumours
FRANK DOBSON'S triumphal race for the borders of the English
language gathered pace last night after the Labour London Mayor
hopeful spat out the word "Bollocks" when asked about
the chances of him dropping out of the election.
Dobson's linguistic descent comprises of three steps to the
gutter. First he borrowed Clint Eastwood's famous "Go ahead,
make my day" piece of tough, if hackneyed, vernacular in
a face-to-face clash with popular rival Ken Livingstone. Then
he boasted of telling Labour apparatchiks to "Get stuffed!"
when they suggested he shave off his mighty white beard, only
to go right over into official swearing territory with his latest
"Bollocks!" outburst.
In fairness, Dobson was responding to another round of rumours
suggesting Prime Minister Tony Blair, supposedly his main backer,
was ready to bring in voter-friendly Mo Mowlam in place of Frank
as a last ditch attempt to block left-wing independent Livingstone's
chances of securing the Mayor's job.
Those with a sensitive nature might fear Dobson's future speech
which, following the trajectory outlined above, will inexorably
lead to sentences full of c- and f-words. Whether the invective
will be aimed at that p*** Livingstone or the other b****** Blair
is now the burning question.
13/03/00
Beard Today Hair Tomorrow
- Dobson won't shave to be Mayor
FRANK DOBSON won't part company with his facial hair for anyone
- not least Labour's image-makers.
Beard-loving Dobbo was asked to shave off his white fur yesterday
in an attempt to brush up on his image in preparation for the
London Mayoral election.
But Frank was having none of it. " I told them to get
stuffed because quite frankly, I'm not in the image business
- with me what you see is what you get," the former health
secretary said.
The razor-sharp demands came on the back of Millbank research
that men with beards were seen as dishonest. It was hoped that
that a clean shave would revamp the Labour candidate's appearance
and help lure young voters from hair-free rival Ken Livingstone
- who ditched his trademark moustache in the 1990's.
Dobson, who is due to receive an award from the Beard Liberation
Front, isn't the only Labour Party member to be under the facial
spotlight. Social Security Secretary Alistair Darling, Peter
Mandelson and Stephen Byers all relinquished their bristly features
in order to improve their public image.
08/03/00
Dobson to Stand Down
- Anti-mayor platform for new Frank
'IF ELECTED I will resign," said Frank Dobson today.
No, not that Frank Dobson, Frank S. Dobson, the latest
candidate to declare himself a runner in the race to become London
Mayor.
Frank S. is standing on an anti-Mayor platform and reckons
the high profile new post and its attendant assembly are a waste
of money. "The new Mayor's HQ will cost UKP20 million alone,"
said Frank S, a retired publisher from New Malden. "Imagine
all the books that could be bought for our schools and libraries
for that money."
Normally, electoral rules would prevent someone from standing
under the same name as an already established opponent, but this
time there is nothing in the law to stop Frank S. putting himself
forward for the simple reason that Frank Dobson is his real name
and not some hastily concocted nom-de-plume scam or deed poll
effort.
"I'm 65 and he's 60," said Frank S. of his Labour
namesake, "so I think I can justifiably claim prior use
of my name."
Meanwhile the man both Franks have to beat, Ken Livingstone,
has unveiled celebrity-led plans to raise some of the UKP450,00
he believes will be needed to fund his campaign. Livingstone's
glamorous backers from the world of music including Blur, The
Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim are all due to appear in a
concert in aid of Ken.
07/03/00
'Broad Church' Battle for Ken
- Big poll lead helps Ken attract disparate support
THE FIGHT is now on among a wide range of groups to claim
Ken Livingstone's candidature as their own.
Livingstone was placed an incredible 55 percentage points*
ahead of bitter rival Frank Dobson in the latest London Mayor
opinion poll and already the "broad church" (Livingstone's
words) backing the left-winger is jockeying for position.
On the left, the Socialist Alliance, set to run candidates
for the Greater London Authority which, like the Mayor, will
be elected on May 1st, called on Livingstone to stand as an out
and out socialist. Livingstone is unlikely to be so bold, but
neither is he expected to fall in with the big money interests
of The City as some in the Square Mile hope.
Black activists also hope to link up with Livingstone, a factor
emphasised today when former leader of Lambeth Council Linda
Bellos announced her decision to resign from the Labour Party
in order to campaign for Ken.
The man himself is keen to use the future of the Tube as a
lightning rod to unite his disparate support, with leftists backing
the Livingstone view on keeping the Underground in the public
sector and normally Conservative commuters ready to swallow massive
state financing for a service they themselves use.
* Guardian/ICM Poll: Ken Livingstone (Independent) 68; Frank
Dobson (Labour) 13; Steven Norris (Conservative) 11; Susan Kramer
(Liberal Democrat) 6; Malcolm McClaren (Independent) 1. All
figures percentages.
06/03/00
Ken: Independent I Stand
- Livingstone London Mayor bid based on future of Tube
KEN LIVINGSTONE has identified the future of the Underground
as the crucial issue in the upcoming Mayoral elections after
announcing he would run as an independent this morning.
Livingstone is thought to believe the capital's crumbling
Tube network gives him the chance to appeal both to his natural
left-wing constituency as well as to commuters of every political
hue who have consistently said they are against the break up
and privatisation of London Underground.
Referring to the privatisation policies of his official Labour
Party rival Frank Dobson, Livingstone said, "that the break-up
and partial privatisation of the Underground is over-whelmingly
rejected by Londoners." Livingstone, like Liberal Democrat
candidate Susan Kramer, wants the modernisation of the Underground
to be financed by a bond issue rather than by handing over the
system to the same train companies responsible for the shambles
that is Britain's privately run over-ground rail network.
In contrast Livingstone's two rivals, Dobson and Tory Steven
Norris, have been brazen in their attempts to swing the debate
away from transport and onto crime, an area they believe will
expose Livingstone's left-wing credentials and frighten some
voters. Livingstone is clearly worried about being painted as
a revolutionary wrecker and some insiders believe he only announced
his candidature today to obviate the need to attend a meeting
this evening at which scores of Trotskyists were expected to
turn up.
As a punishment for standing against an official Labour candidate,
Livingstone will now be expelled from the Labour Party.
01/03/00
Ken Speaks Up for Socialism
- Wealth redistribution key to London's future, says Livingstone
KEN LIVINGSTONE last night did a very strange thing. After
months of bureaucratic wrangling, the London Mayor hopeful actually
brought politics back on the agenda.
Stranger still, Livingstone eschewed the advice of many pundits
and spoke up for a creed whose time many thought had past, namely
socialism. "I think socialism's time is still to come,"
the front runner for the May 1st mayoral election said. "That
is why I am running for mayor. How you run a city like this is
inevitably going to mean the language of socialism [such as]
the redistribution of wealth."
Although well known as a left winger - he was dubbed Red Ken
during the 80s - Livingstone was thought by many to favour a
broad church approach in his likely independent campaign to become
London's first elected boss. But last night's talk of socialism
and wealth redistribution has blown that theory out of the water.
Tactically, the move could help Livingstone appear as the
radical alternative to Blair loyalist Frank Dobson who beat him
to the official Labour nomination.
25/02/00
Get On Your Bikes Punks
- London Mayor candidate Malcolm McLaren plans cycle giveaway
MAVERICK Mayor candidate, Malcolm McLaren has pledged to give
a free bike to every household in London.
"If I can make it feel more sexy to ride a bicycle, I
can connect Londoners to the landscape" he said yesterday.
The former Sex Pistols manager also promised a huge boost
in subsidies for public transport if he is elected in the 4 May
2000 poll. Ex-Creation Records boss Alan McGee is backing the
punk fashion guru in his off-beat campaign.
However, McLaren, seen by many as the leading non-party candidate
in the race, has seen his prospects slip with rumours that Ken
Livingstone might stand as an independent. The Brent East MP
said yesterday that he may leave it a couple of weeks before
making his final decision on whether to stand for the election.
Jeffrey Archer's
London - London's top sights
by the man who would not be mayor
24/02/00
Dobson in New Backing for Private Tube
- Future of London at stake, warns Livingstone
FRANK DOBSON, the Labour nomination for the London Mayor election
safely tucked in his pocket, has now come out with his strongest
defence yet of the unpopular idea of part-privatising the Underground.
During the internal Labour poll, canny Dobson dropped hints
that he was keeping his options open as far as the future running
of the Tube network goes. That has changed. "I believe that
we need to apply the discipline that comes from Private Public
Partnership for the Tube," an unequivocal Dobson said. "I
think it is the right and proper thing to do."
Ken Livingstone, still bitter at the way the party machine
helped stitch up his defeat in the Labour selection process,
has meanwhile issued a demand that the party abandon PPP, a dismal
policy associated with rail disasters, job losses and fat cat
pay hikes. "If Labour does not withdraw its plans for privatisation
of London Underground, the election will become a referendum
on the future of London," he stormed, adding that the issue
would boil down to, "Does London have the right to govern
itself?"
Throw in a something about how overtaxed Londoners are compared
to other parts of the UK plus a ruined tea-party and Livingstone
could almost have been making a declaration of independence.
22/02/00
Livingstone Lines Up Loser Alliance
- Lib Dem Kerr slated as deputy
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Keith Kerr is rumoured to be Ken Livingstone's
choice of running mate if the Labour loser decides to run as
an independent for London mayor.
Like Livingstone, Kerr was a narrow loser for his party's
ticket. "My people are talking to his," Kerr said.
"There are certain synergies that can be achieved by us
working together. I am very attracted to the proposition."
Livingstone is currently holed up with close political allies
planning his next move. His team is thought to believe the recruitment
of a well-known black figure such as Kerr is crucial to their
success, not least because Kerr would be able to call on the
support of the influential Operation Black Vote and other community
groups.
Polls show Livingstone a clear leader over official Labour
candidate Frank Dobson and Tory Steve Norris but the left-winger
will be aware that he needs to broaden and deepen his support
to guarantee success. As well as canvassing the minority vote,
Livingstone can count on the backing of fringe left groups such
as the Socialist Workers Party, who have run a strong pro-Ken
campaign, despite his past role in excluding Trotsyists - he
labelled them "nutters" - from internal Labour Party
battles.
20/02/00
Dobson Pips Livingstone
- Blair's man beats left-winger in Labour's London mayor
nomination
FORMER Health Secretary Frank Dobson has gained the nomination
to be Labour's candidate for London mayor.
Dobson beat off a strong challenge from left-wing Brent East
MP, Ken Livingstone. The third candidate, Hampstead MP Glenda
Jackson trailed a distant third in the vote. As neither Dobson
nor Livingstone obtained more than 50 per cent of the vote in
the first 'round', Jackson's second preference votes were distributed
between the pair. This left Dobson with 51.53 per cent and Livingstone
with 48.47 per cent.
Votes came from three sources within an electoral college.
The first third was made up of London Labour Party members, the
second London based unions and the final block from London MPs,
Euro MPs and nominated candidates for the Greater London Authority.
Almost ninety per cent of this final group towed the party line
and popped for, Dobson; Prime Minister Tony Blair's preferred
candidate. Livingstone gained a clear majority in the membership
and union sections but this was not sufficient for him to beat
the block vote from the party's elected representatives.
Livingstone was the last leader of London's previous elected
body, the Greater London Council, which was abolished by Margaret
Thatcher in the mid 1980s. He was left fuming at the result.
He accuses Labour's national leadership of fixing the result
to ensure their man - Dobson - scraped home. Having gained a
majority of the vote in the two popular parts of the college,
he invited his successful opponent to stand down in his favour.
Holborn and St Pancras MP, Frank Dobson who declared he was delighted
with the result, scotched Livingstone's invitation, saying "You
must be kidding" at the suggestion.
The Brent East MP may now consider standing as an independent.
Although he has ruled out this option in the past it is believed
some close advisors will urge him to run. If he chooses that
course he and any fellow Labour members supporting him would
face certain expulsion from the party.
The election for London Mayor takes place on 4 May 2000. Steven
Norris, the former Conservative minister, is the leading non-Labour
candidate. He said that the Labour result will divide his opponents
and alienate many natural Labour voters. Political lightweight
Susan Kramer, a previously unknown Liberal Democrat, fronts the
chasing pack which includes a green and a host of independent
candidates from punk-fashion guru Malcolm Mclaren to ska star
Buster Bloodvessel.
18/02/00
Dobbo Close to Victory
- Narrow win predicted for Blair's man
FRANK DOBSON is close to securing the Labour nomination for
London Mayor, Ken Livingstone could be offered a job by his erstwhile
rival, but both could find themselves twiddling their thumbs
for another year.
These were the messy predictions being made by political insiders
as the Labour party prepares to announce the winner of its primary.
The Dobson camp believe their man will squeeze home by a couple
of percentage points, thanks mainly to the votes of MPs, MEPs
and London Assembly Members who form one third of Labour's complicated
electoral college and almost all of whom are loyal to Prime Minister
Tony Blair and his choice of candidate.
Livingstone supporters put a brave face on the likely defeat,
claiming the result, which will be made public on Sunday, was
still too close to call. If the popular left-winger, who everyone
concedes has won an overwhelming majority among ordinary party
members, does lose he will be offered a post on the Dobson campaign
team.
But the election for Mayor, scheduled for May, could still
be postponed thanks to wrangling over mail shots. Liberal and
Conservative Party bosses want the government to fund a free
mail shot to all London homes, something Blair rules out on cost
grounds. The dispute could go all the way to the courts, forcing
a postponement of the election until next year.
Jeffrey Archer's
London - London's top sights
by the man who would not be mayor
25/01/00
Spectre of Archer Looms Anew
- Scandal hit Lord still wants Mayor role
WE thought we'd seen the last of him, but it appears we were
sadly mistaken - Lord Jeffrey Archer is rumoured to be planning
to stand in the London Mayor elections as an independent.
Archer was the chosen candidate of the Conservative Party
until legal scandals last year saw him dumped. He is now to be
kicked out of the party but has apparently told friends he still
wants to be a "player" in the new Greater London Authority,
the body which will work with the Mayor.
Those same friends say the favoured approach would be for
their man to stand as a member of the GLA, but that he has not
ruled out going the full hog and trying for Mayor.
17/01/00
Tories Choose Steven Norris
- Former Transport Minister gets Conservative nomination in race
for London mayor
FORMER Transport Minister Steven Norris has won the nomination
to be the Tory's candidate for London mayor.
He beat challenger Andrew Boff by 12,903 votes to 4,712 in
the final round of the London Tory Party's second selection process.
The first attempt to choose a candidate left Norris swept aside
by former Tory favourite Jeffrey Archer. However, Archer's candidature
was short lived. He pulled out of the race at the end of last
year following allegations that he had deliberately sought to
manipulate the evidence of a friend and key witness in his libel
trail against the Daily Star newspaper more than a decade ago.
Like the now disgraced Archer, Norris has a far from clean-living
history, he has previously confessed to having had five lovers
on the go at the same time. Where Norris differs from Archer
is in his openness. The former car salesman has never denied
nor sought to disguise his more colourful characteristics.
If elected, Norris has promised to improve transport in London.
He says that in doing so he will not penalise the motorist as
his campaigners to the centre and left have pledged.
The election for London's new mayor takes place in May. Norris
faces Susan Kramer from the Liberal Democrats and either Ken
Livingstone, Frank Dobson or Glenda Jackson from Labour in the
poll.
What do you think?
Who do you want to see as London's first directly elected
mayor?
- Have your say today on our News
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6/12/99
Ken Denies Spreading Dobson Slur
- It was Millbank, says Livingstone
DENIALS followed denials today as the race to become the Labour
candidate for London Mayor grows increasingly tetchy.
First out of the refutation blocks was Frank Dobson who blasted
reports in the weekend papers that he was on the verge of a nervous
breakdown, such was his despair at the way things were going
on the hustings. Next up was Ken Livingstone who poo-pooed Dobson's
desperate claim that it was he who had planted the breakdown
rumours. Instead, Livingstone pinned the blame on the Millbank
Labour HQ, whose mastery of the dark arts of spin have achieved
the status of legend.
Meanwhile, nominations closed today for the new Tory selection
process, which follows the removal of scandal-man Jeffrey archer
from the race. Steve Norris is the front runner for the Tories,
claiming he "is the only man who stands a chance of beating
Labour."
1/12/99
Buster Has Stomach for Mayor Race
- Bad Manners singer advocates free tampons
BUSTER BLOODVESSEL is to stand in the London Mayor elections,
with the female vote his prime target, it has emerged.
Bloodvessel says he wants to bring in free tampons for women
as well as free nappies. The lead singer with ska-based band
Bad Manners reckons he has spotted a vote-getting gap between
mainstream politicians and joke candidates, although whether
he can fit his generous frame through even a chasm is open to
intense debate. Campaigning on transport, housing and health
as well as women's issues, the man who shot to fame in the 80s
with Lip Up Fatty and Double Barrel wants to be taken seriously
as a candidate, not least, he says, because Ken Livingstone's
more radical views have been reined in by Labour Party apparatchiks.
When asked if there were any personal scandals of the Jeffrey
Archer type lingering in his past, Bloodvessel said: "I've
got loads of skeletons in my cupboard." Coincidentally Bad
Manners start a tour this month.
05/11/99
Let Ken Run, says Dobson
- Rival backs Livingstone right to stand
KEN LIVINGSTONE should be allowed to stand in the race to
become the Labour candidate for London's new Mayor, according
to his chief rival, Frank Dobson.
Rumours have circulated this week that Labour leader and Prime
Minister Tony Blair wants left winger Livingstone struck off
the list of candidates seeking the party's nomination as he is
thought to fear the political impact of having a high profile
radical mayor constantly sniping at New Labour policies.
But Dobson disagrees. He is after Livingstone's scalp. "I
want to win this contest on goals scored, not on complaints about
the ref," the establishment candidate said. In a further
surprise move, Dobson also said he regretted the leadership's
decision to shelve plans for Labour's candidate to be decided
by one-member-one-vote in favour of a highly suspect electoral
college system which is seen as a blatant attempt to block Livingstone,
who has enormous support at grass roots level in the party.
01/11/99
Mayor Race Turns Nasty
- Archer rages at share 'smear'
TORY London mayor candidate Lord Jeffrey Archer has slammed
Government attempts to re-open the case on his alleged insider
share dealing.
"It's a politically inspired leak," Archer said
of the news that Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers had
asked civil servants to look again at Archer's 1994 purchase
of shares in Anglia TV, a company his wife was working for at
the time. Within hours of making the investment, Archer sold
the shares for a profit of UKP77,219 before news of a takeover
of Anglia was revealed.
Byers denies the charge of political opportunism, saying there
is now new information on the case.
21/10/99
Jackson Fights On
- No exit from Mayor race for former actress
GLENDA JACKSON is adamant that she will stay in the race to
become London's Mayor despite rumours that she is about to exit
stage right and offer her support to Labour establishment candidate
Frank Dobson.
Polls over the weekend rated Jackson's support among Labour
activists, who will help choose their party's candidate, in the
low single figures and this was seen by some to have been the
final nail in the coffin for a campaign that was already felt
to be drawing its lasts breaths. But now Jackson insists she
will fight on, partly to carry the banner for women and partly
because, in power play politics at least, she has no where else
to go.
Jackson was once thought to be the favoured candidate of Prime
Minister Tony Blair but her often lacklustre campaign forced
the PM into shoving Dobson into the contest and since then the
chances of the former actress of landing the plum role have receded
fast.
30/7/99
Ken Livingstone Denies Split
- Mayor hopeful rules out running as 'Labour Independent London'
candidate
KEN LIVINGSTONE MP, has denied reports that he is considering
running as an independent candidate if he fails to win the official
Labour Party's nomination.
Livingstone, erstwhile leader of the Greater London Council,
has set his heart on winning next year's election and being the
first Mayor of London. His biggest hurdle to realising that dream
appears to be winning Labour's nomination. Party chiefs have
conspicuously failed to disguise their opposition to a 'Red Ken'
ticket.
However, the Brent East MP has denied a report that he may
stand as a 'Labour Independent London' candidate in the election.
Compounding Livingstone's problems is the nomination momentum
being gained by Minister for London Nick Raynsford. The 'squeaky
clean' and media friendly Raynsford appeals to Premier Tony Blair
and much of London's often right of centre media establishment.
Ironically these factors might damage Raynsford's candidacy as
they may alienate traditional Labour activists.
If both Livingstone and Raynsford fail to bring together a
sufficient coalition of support then it could pave the way for
a 'unity' candidate to gain the nomination. Broadcaster Trevor
Phillips is one such possibility. Another is the popular former
sports minister Tony Banks, who hinted today that he might run
too.
29/7/99
Glenda Jackson Runs for Mayor
- Oscar winning actress quits ministerial post to fight
for London Mayor's job
GLENDA JACKSON has quit her ministerial post in a bid to win
Labour's nomination for the post of London's new Mayor.
Oscar winner Jackson had been a junior transport minister
in Tony Blair's New Labour government. If she is nominated she
is expected to give up her Hampstead parliamentary seat.
"I am officially throwing my hat firmly in the ring as
Labour's candidate for mayor" she said.
Jackson faces a strong challenge from within the Labour Party
to win their nomination.
Nick Raynsford, the current minister for London, has received
the backing of the right wing tabloid; the London Evening Standard.
Former GLC leader Ken Livingstone has built a significant caucus
of supporters with his populist and at times left wing style.
However his unwavering support for NATO in the recent air blitz
of Yugoslavia has lost him support from many traditional allies
within London's left.
Broadcaster Trevor Phillips is the fourth candidate with a
realistic chance of securing Labour's nomination. With his TV
background, he is in tune with New Labour's media friendly image.
Phillips has gained support from London's black community, including
MP Bernie Grant and the Prime Minister is also thought to be
warm to Phillip's bid.
Whoever wins the Labour nomination will be favourite to grab
the mayor's role. However, they will face a strong challenge
from London's Tories. Lord Archer is regarded by many as their
frontrunner, with former transport minister Stephen Norris close
behind.
14/7/99
Steven Norris Runs for Mayor
- Ex-Tory MP announces candidacy
STEVEN NORRIS, former Tory MP for Epping Forest, has announced
his candidacy for the post of London mayor.
Norris left Parliament in 1997 and took up a lucrative post
as head of the Road Haulage Association. He claims his experience
gained from his new job will make him the best candidate to tackle
London's transport problems.
Norris is now seen as the main Tory challenger to peer Jeffrey
Archer who announced his intention to run on Monday.
12/7/99
Jeffrey Archer Stands for Mayor
- Novelist officially announces his candidacy
- John Major supports Archer's bid
FORMER Tory minister Jeffrey Archer has formally announced
his candidacy for the post of London Mayor.
The millionaire novelist was a loyal supporter of Margaret
Thatcher's premiership. His brief ministerial career was cut
short after a clandestine 'brown envelope pay-off' to a London
prostitute at Victoria station. Archer won substantial damages
from a tabloid newspaper who had claimed he had sex with the
vice girl.
John Major, Tory Prime Minister until 1997 has backed Archer's
mayoral bid. Major made the writer a peer but left him out of
his cabinet.
Archer's intention to run has been widely known since the
concept of a Mayor surfaced. He is expected to propose a populist,
party unifying platform. If selected he should be the main opposition
candidate to Labour's, as yet unselected, runner.
7/7/99
Keep the Tube in Public Hands
- London Mayor candidates line up against Government's 'Public
Private Partnership'
- Electronic voting set for Mayoral contest
ALL DECLARED runners in the race to be the first Mayor of
London are against the Government's plan to raise private cash
for the Tube, says Maverick Brent East MP Ken Livingstone.
Livingstone, himself a candidate for the Mayor's post, argues
in today's Independent newspaper that some form of private cash
injection might be appropriate. For example, allowing London
Underground to issue bonds secured by revenue. This would follow
the thus far successful lead taken by New York's Metropolitan
Transport Authority.
As for the Government's 'Public Private Partnership' Livingstone
believes the planned involvement of Railtrack is a disaster.
Railtrack, who are responsible for the nations rail infrastructure,
have been under fire recently for their 'patch and mend' investment
policy.
'Every declared London mayoral candidate - myself, Trevor
Phillips, Steven Norris and Jeffrey Archer is against PPP"
said Livingstone.
The Brent East MP believes that continuation of the PPP will
only aid his opponents position. He claims Archer is already
gaining capital for his stand against the scheme.
"It is a rip-off and its not going to happen. I will
not honour any deal that involves Londoners paying more for shoddy
service", said Jeffrey Archer recently according to Livingstone
article.
It has been announced that the elections for London's Mayor
and Assembly next May could be the first to feature electronic
voting. If trials this summer prove successful, up to five million
votes will be counted automatically in the complex election.
15/3/99
Trevor Phillips Joins Mayor Race
- Broadcaster wants to run as Labour candidate
THE BROADCASTER Trevor Phillips has thrown his hat in to the
ring and revealed that he will stand for the new post of London
Mayor, due for election next year.
Phillips hosts a weekly capital based current affairs show
- LWT's the London Programme - every Sunday. He is one of the
leading figures from London's black community and played a pivotal
role in bringing the Lawrence family's fight for justice to public
prominence.
"I think that by doing this I might be giving a lead
to some members of my community" he told David Frost on
the BBC's Breakfast With Frost programme yesterday.
"In the last few weeks, in the Lawrence discussion and
debate, what we have seen in London is the fact that this is
a city of great diversity. I think I can play a part in turning
that diversity into our advantage. I would like to lead that
city" said Phillips.
12/3/99
Mowlam for Mayor
- Blair backs Mo as London chief
- 80% of Labour voters racist, says Tory Boulaye
TONY BLAIR is said to be backing Mo Mowlam to become London's
first elected mayor, according to sources close to the Labour
party leadership.
Blair wants to stop popular Labour left winger Ken Livingstone
from receiving the party's backing for the election which takes
place in May next year. The Prime Minister sees Mowlam as one
of the few figures who could match Livingstone's appeal to Labour's
activists, although the PM's team has not yet ruled out blocking
Red Ken's bid through procedural means. Mowlam has won plaudits
from all over the world for her role as peace maker in the north
of Ireland.
Meanwhile, Tory hopeful and B-list entertainer Patti Boulaye
has walked into a huge row after claiming that 80% of Labour
supporters are racist, compared to only 20% of Tories and that,
in any case, race is but a minor issue.
1/3/99
New London Assembly Revealed
- Foster's 'Glass Eye' wins in battle to house city's new Mayor
and Assembly
THE new home for London's forthcoming Mayor and Assembly has
been revealed.
Sir Norman Foster's 'Glass Eye' won through against a narrowed
down competition involving a Bloomsbury site. Foster's plan will
involve a large scale redevelopment of the area of the South
Bank to the west of Tower Bridge.
Tony Blair is said to have favoured the 'Glass Eye', which
will be completed in 2001, a year after the authority elections
in May 2000.
15/2/99
Livingstone Show Hits Town
- Mayoral candidate's glitzy campaign meeting upsets Labour bigwigs
KEN LIVINGSTONE's long running campaign to secure the right
to stand for nomination as Labour's candidate for London Mayor
takes a new twist tonight with a glitzy public meeting.
The maverick Brent East MP has upset Labour bosses by running
a private fund raising initiative to raise cash for his leadership
bid. Left winger Livingstone's challenge took a bizarre turn
last week with a full page advert in a right wing London tabloid
newspaper.
As Liverpool's Militant tendency discovered to their cost
in the 1980s the Labour leadership and membership to do not take
kindly to comrades running a party within a party. In turn, Livingstone's
credibility has been severely damaged by his solo campaigning
and recent dalliance with the tabloid press.
The door is now wide open for Health Secretary Frank Dobson,
MP for Holborn and St Pancras, to gain widespread support from
Labour's London membership.
5/2/99
Blair Orders Dobson To Run For Mayor
- Health Secretary lined up by PM to counter Ken Livingstone's
bid
SECRETARY of State for Health Frank Dobson has allegedly been
warned by the Prime Minister that his cabinet post is under threat
and that he should stand for London's Mayor.
Tony Blair and his New Labour inner circle are desperate to
ward off a strong challenge for the mayor's job by maverick Brent
East MP Ken Livingstone. They see Dobson as the only London based
MP with the calibre and popularity in the party to beat Livingstone.
However, Dobson has previously let it be known that he is doing
the job he always wanted to do; looking after the nation's health.
In response to Dobson's reluctance to stand down from his
post and fight for the London job, The Mirror newspaper claims
Blair has threatened to eject him from the cabinet in a forthcoming
reshuffle. This would leave the amiable Dobson with little choice
but to run for mayor.
29/1/99
Ken Livingstone Promises to Follow the Party
Line
- London Mayor favourite makes humble pledge to PM Blair
LONDON Mayor hopeful Ken Livingstone MP has promised to obey
the party line if he is selected to run as Labour's candidate
in the forthcoming elections.
Livingstone made the pledge in a letter to The Guardian newspaper.
He praises Blair for leading a great reforming government. Labour's
party hierarchy have previously sought to edge the Brent East
MP out of their selection process as he is seen as too much of
a 'loose cannon'.
"The Government has taken on one of my main criticisms,
which is that the Mayor would have had too much power".
Ken told GLR radio following publication of the letter.
Problem for the doctors of spin is that "Red Ken's"
no-nonsense style is very popular with the electorate. After
all there are not many politicians who seek to reduce the powers
of an office for which they are running.
In poll after poll he has trounced the other declared runners,
including Labour poodles Glenda Jackson and Chris Smith MPs,
plus candidates from other parties such as the Liberal Simon
Hughes MP and Tory peer Jeffrey Archer.
What do you think?
Should Londoners get the chance to vote for Ken as Mayor?
- Have your say today on our News
Talkback bulletin board. Click
here...
(15/1/99)
Norman's Assembly Gets Heritage Approval
- Foster designed home for London Assembly gets English Heritage
backing
- Tories reveal one member one vote Mayor selection procedure
ENGLISH Heritage have announced their backing for trendy architect
Norman Foster's London Assembly plans.
Foster proposes a modernist building situated near London
Bridge on the South Bank of the Thames opposite the Tower of
London. Other designs are also in the frame, but the backing
of snobby English Heritage is sure to give Foster's plans a significant
boost. Norman claims the location will help shift London's power
axis south of the river.
In a separate move the Conservatives have announced their
procedure for selecting a Tory candidate for the London Mayor
election. They promise mass meetings followed by a postal ballot
based on one member one vote (OMOV). The move could help Jeffrey
Archer's prospects of gaining the Tory nomination.
(16/12/98)
Leaked Report Reveals Labour's Battle for
London
- London Labour Party condemns national leadership's bid to thwart
Ken Livingstone
IN the Commons yesterday Tory MP Richard Ottaway revealed
the content of an alleged internal report by the London Labour
Party (LLP) which condemned party bosses.
Chief among the LLP's concerns is the perceived campaign to
block Ken Livingstone's bid for the post of London Mayor. Indeed
Ottaway said it scoffed at attempts to block the Brent East MP's
challenge, claiming Livingstone would fight 'to the wire'.
The Tory MP said: 'Just when London needs a clear, cohesive
voice...they go and blow it'.
London Mayor and Assembly
- Archive News
What do you think?
Should Labour block Ken Livingstone's bid for London Mayor?
- Have your say today on our News
Talkback bulletin board.
(4/12/98)
Rush for Mayor's Job as London Bill Published
- New candidates touted as plans revealed
FOLLOWING yesterday's publication of the Greater London Authority
Bill more candidates are being touted as the rush for the Mayor's
post continues.
Latest politician to enter the fray is former Labour MP, now
TV chat show host, Robert Kilroy-Silk. In true self-effacing
style he claims 'close friends are trying to persuade me to stand'.
Front runners remain (in descending order) Ken Livingstone MP,
peer Jeffrey Archer, Tony Banks MP, Glenda Jackson MP and Simon
Hughes MP. The latter may choose not to stand if he elects to
fight Paddy Ashdown for leadership of the Liberal Democrats.
Outsiders include British Airways boss Robert Ayling, broadcaster
Trevor Phillips and Steven Norris MP.
The new Bill promises to provide a 'world class mayor' and
assembly. Critics point to the lack of tax raising power to argue
that the new institution's will be little more than a pretty
talking shop.
(9/11/98)
Labour HQ In Bid To Thwart Livingstone
- Party apparatchiks reveal 'self-nomination' system to
vet candidates
KEN Livingstone, Labour MP for Brent East, faces a new hurdle
in his attempt to become the new Mayor of London.
Labour bosses have revealed that they will prepare a list
of 'self-nominated' candidates who will then be vetted by a central
committee. This is at odds with the normal system for candidate
selection which involves participants seeking nomination from
as many individual constituency parties as possible. Labour HQ
worry that Livingstone would win many nominations thus gathering
unstoppable momentum for his mayoral bid.
In scenes reminiscing the excesses of Stalin's push for power,
Labour hacks are said to be poring over articles and comments
by the errant left winger. They hope to gather together a collection
of statements showing the disloyalty of 'Red Ken'.
- LondonNet Comment
HAVING hijacked a party, 'New Labour's' modernisers now want
to remove its democratic structure.
For all the talk of inclusion and openness there are occasions
when the people's party seems to be run by a clique acting as
an all powerful central committee or politburo. Labour has always
prided itself on pushing the boundaries of suffrage, after all
it was a Labour government who finally brought women voting parity
with men. This democratic tradition was reflected too in the
party.
While other parties used their annual conferences as PR opportunities
by the coast, Labour had genuine debates where members and unions
had the power to re-focus party policy. That edge has now all
but vanished.
The other key area where individual members could play their
part in shaping their party was in candidate selection. Here
the local constituencies were king. Now their selection role
has been usurped by the imposition of centrally approved candidate
lists.
This is not about Ken Livingstone. It is about the rapid withering
away of the democratic principles of the party. The social democrat
takeover of the worker's party is now so embedded that ordinary
citizens have been excluded from the big debate. Labour once
represented the only path for working class people to enter Parliament.
Now they would stand a better chance getting nominated as a token
'oik' for Hague's Tories. Trouble is of course they wouldn't
get elected. But that as they say is democracy.
(5/11/98)
Ken Livingstone Threat to Blair
- Red Ken refuses to rule out standing as independent
in London Mayor fight
LONDON Mayor front runner Ken Livingstone MP has failed to
rule out standing as independent in the upcoming election.
The move follows strong signals from Labour HQ that they would
seek any candidate as long as it was not Livingstone, the former
Greater London Council. Speaking to London radio station GLR
the MP for Brent East said he did not expect the Labour Party
to block his candidature but if it did he refused to rule out
standing anyway.
Livingstone has headed the capital's choice of candidates
since the announcement was made that there would be a new London
mayor.
German System For London Poll
- Assembly vote to use electoral list and super-constituencies
LONDONERS will get to vote in a German style party list election
for the first time in British history.
The electorate will have two votes in the poll for the London
assembly. The first vote will be for a member representing one
of 14 London "super-constituencies". The second will
be for a party-sponsored candidate on a list made up of individuals
from across the political spectrum.
The dual system was first introduced by the Allies into the
new Federal Republic of Germany's constitution after the war.
The constituency element favours large parties in first past
the post elections. The second allows smaller party representation
such as the Greens and the FDP-liberals in the Bundestag (German
Parliament).
Ken Goes On-line In Mayor Campaign
- Livingstone launches website with campaign manifesto
LONDON Mayor candidate Ken Livingstone has launched his own
website.
The Brent East MP's site includes details of his regular surgeries
and the manifesto for his mayoral campaign. Although often identified
as "Old Labour", Livingstone has a record of adopting
new technology.
The MP's site can be found at
http://www.poptel.org.uk/ken-livingstone/.
(17/8/98)
Mayor's New Planning Role
- New powers to block building projects revealed
LONDON's new Mayor will have wide ranging powers to block
building projects across the capital.
The new Mayor for London , set to be elected in 2000, will
have the power to refuse controversial building schemes. The
mayor's remit will be to safeguard the interests of Londoners
and the city as a whole.
It is anticipated that the new mayor may review between 100-300
planning decisions a year under the new arrangement. Most applications
will still be decided by local councils across the metropolis.
(7/8/98)
Red Ken's Green Manifesto
- Mayor candidate Livingstone launches eco-friendly
campaign
FORMER leader of the Greater London Council, Ken Livingstone
MP, has launched his manifesto for the upcoming mayoral elections.
The Brent East MP has called for wider powers for the soon
to be elected Greater London Authority. Livingstone fears that
the small size of the new Assembly will lead to domination by
the Mayor's office.
As part of his green manifesto he promises free entry to Kew
Gardens and London Zoo. The MP plans to raise new taxes through
increased parking charges and a tax on arrivals at Heathrow.
Livingstone's vision of a new Millennium London will not go
down well with his Labour Party bosses. They are determined to
block his campaign. This may cause a dogfight with London's Labour
Party rank and file who along with the capital's public, back
maverick Livingstone's bid. (4/8/98)
Wanted: Desirable City Address
- Victoria House heads short list for new London
Assembly
A SHORT LIST of sites for the new London Assembly has been
announced
Camelford House, Canary Wharf, Dean Ryle Street Building,
London Bridge City, Regent's Place, St George's Court, Vauxhall
Cross and Victoria House are named as possible homes.
Minister for London Nick Raynsford MP drew up the shortlist
and the choice will be made at the end of the year.
Victoria House is the peoples' favourite according to a telephone
poll conducted by the BBC's Newsroom Southeast programme. 25
per cent of viewers said Victoria was there chosen home for London's
Assembly. (31/7/98)
Internet Kiosks On Demand
- Take Net to the streets
- Make Mayor telecom facilitator
LondonNet believes candidates in the forthcoming mayor election
should agree to follow the example of Amsterdam and Singapore
and install public internet kiosks on street corners in a bold
move that would speak volumes on London's attempts to portray
itself as a modern world capital.
While Amsterdam plans to increase its phonecard driven kiosk
count from the experimental 25 currently available, one New York
telecommunications company is already said to have plans to install
over 1000 on the streets of the Big Apple.
Meanwhile British Telecom have snubbed the idea, reportedly
doubting the practicability of the kiosks. That attitude has
to change if London is not to be let behind in the next millennium
and the new Mayor, whoever he or she may be, will be in a great
position to insist London stays at the telecom cutting edge.
London Decides
Red London Votes Yes - 7 May 98 Referendum
75 per cent want London Mayor and Assembly
AFTER months of hot air from politicians and pundits Londoners
finally got their chance to decide the future of London's democracy.
75 per cent of Londoners said they wanted a Mayor and Assembly
for the capital, with over a third of the electorate casting
their vote. Elections for the post of Mayor and seats on the
Assembly will take place in 2000.
Council Elections: Labour gains Brent, holds Croydon
In the council elections Labour made important in-roads into
the Liberal democrat vote and held steady against the nationwide
slight-swing back to the Tories.
Labour gained overall control of Brent council and fought
off a strong challenge from the Tories in Croydon to hold the
SE London borough.
LondonNet Comment
Following the euphoria of last May's landslide victory, many
radicals have been dismayed by the centrist course steered by
Blair's New Labour Government.
However, for all the compromises and cop-outs there has been
an equal measure of social justice and democratic reform. Scotland
will have a Parliament. Wales will have an Assembly. London too
needs a common voice, a co-ordinated and cohesive oracle pushing
and cajoling the capital into the next millennium.
LondonNet has many criticisms of the shape and form of the
proposed mayor and assembly system, but the plans are a step
in the right direction and we believe they deserve your support.
In the council elections many may have felt that the time
was ripe for a protest vote against the Government. We disagree.
Take a look over your shoulder at the Tory party ripping itself
to pieces if you need convincing. There is no credible opposition
and thankfully Labour has, overall, governed imaginatively, responsibly
and openly.
Rather than register a protest, for once you could show your
support for a party which is governing better than any in a generation.
Grant Blows in for Glenda
- Stiff lipped actor just the job for
Jackson
HUGH GRANT lent a helping hand to Glenda Jackson in her bid
to become the first elected mayor of London.
Grant met Jackson, a former Hollywood actor herself, at the
Notting Hill Film Project to publicise London as a centre for
film making, an industry held as an example of one which would
be helped by a strong mayor.
Grant, famous for getting himself arrested after being given
a blowjob by an LA hooker as well as for his role as an upper
class English buffoon in a succession of ropey movies, is in
the capital to push his latest venture, a sequel to Four Weddings
and a Funeral.
 Blair in bother over
Ken
- TV debate gives PM chance to out his side of story
TONY BLAIR faces tough questioning on the Ken Livingstone
issue tonight when he addresses a televised meeting on the proposals
for London's first elected mayor.
Blair and his allies on the right of the Labour party are
rumoured to be searching for procedural ways to stop left winger
Livingstone winning the Labour ticket for the Mayoral elections.
But the prime minister will now face increasing protest as poll
after poll puts Livingstone ahead of any other Labour hopeful.
The most recent poll gives Red Ken an approval rating of 55%
with former actress Glenda Jackson, reckoned to be the official
Labour runner, on 47%. Jackson would almost certainly lose out
to Livingstone if candidates were chosen by Labour party members,
a method of selection the leadership has so far shied away from,
despite the announcement that the Tory candidate will be chosen
by its membership.
Meanwhile, London club boss Peter Stringfellow has said that
he has not ruled himself out of the race. Stringfellow, owner
of the club that bears his name plus several lap dancing venues,
said that he would be a serious candidate who would argue for
a total massacre of the famous pigeons on Trafalgar Square.
Enter Jackson Stage Right
- Actress set for Mayor role
HOLLYWOOD heroine Glenda Jackson has emerged as the new front
runner in the race to become the first democratically elected
Mayor of London.
Jackson is said to be ready to declare her interest in the
new post early next month and the Oscar winning actress has been
tipped to become the Labour Party's official candidate ahead
of rival Labourite Ken Livingstone. The veteran leftwinger has
upset the national party leadership with outspoken attacks on
Prime Minister Tony Blair and it is thought he will become the
victim of a party machine stitch up to keep him off a planned
shortlist.
"He is so offside that it would not appropriate to put
him on a shortlist," said one senior party source.
With Livingstone out of the way, Jackson would appear to have
a pretty clear path to the post given the fact that the Labour
candidate is likely to win the election with the rival Conservatives
in disarray.
Blair Stays Stum on Livingstone
- 'Stonewall' Tony keeps Mayor
views secret
PRIME MINISTER Tony Blair has refused to clear up the controversy
surrounding Ken Livingstone's bid to become Mayor of London.
"We are not discussing that," said Blair quickly
when quizzed about the Livingstone situation on Wednesday. But
while the self-styled champion of open government is not prepared
to voice his opinion on Livingstone in public, behind the scenes
Blair is rumoured to be seeking ways to block the veteran left
winger from becoming the Labour Party's candidate.
Candidates said to be favourable to the Labour leader include
former Oscar winning actress Glenda Jackson, Health Secretary
Frank Dobson and broadcaster Trevor Phillips.
Major Mayor No Go
- former PM rules himself out
LONDON's populace breathed a collective sigh of relief with
the news that former UK Prime Minister John Major had ruled himself
out of the race to become the capital's first elected Mayor.
In typically archaic language, Major quashed recent speculation,
first reported here on LondonNet, that he was set to stand for
the new position. "If nominated, I will not accept. If elected
I will not stand," Major said.
Major's hopes of landing the job were in any case slim as
he is remembered in London for being the leader of a government
that consistently failed to invest in the capital's decaying
transport system and one that abolished the last elective city
wide body, the GLC.
Mayor Muddle for Blair
ONE of the leading candidates to become the new leader of
London has called the idea of an all-powerful mayor "absolutely
barmy".
Ken Livingstone, the leftwing maverick who ranks second in
most polls to become the capital's first directly elected mayor,
believes London should be controlled by a democratic assembly
rather than one person. Livingstone is pressing UK Prime Minister
Tony Blair to change the terms of the referendum on the mayor
issue which takes place next May. So far Blair has said that
Londoners will be asked whether they want an elected mayor plus
assembly, or just an elected mayor. Livingstone wants a third
question on the ballot paper to ask if people want just the elected
body.
"Tony is saying that Londoners cannot be trusted,"
Livingstone said. "I find that overwhelmingly embarrassing
and absolutely barmy." (November)
COMMENT:
London Needs a Voice
LondonNet applauds Labour's commitment to a mayor and council
for London.
Londoner's were cynically robbed of their city-wide democracy
in the Thatcher 80s. Then leader of the Greater London Council,
Labour's Ken Livingstone, proved too much for the Tories to bear
so they abolished the capital's legislature without any consultation
with the people of London.
Polls since have confirmed that a consistent majority of Londoners,
rich and poor, want a representative voice for their city. Even
the capital's business community have identified the need for
one body to run London's transport system, currently administered
by a mish mash of local councils and quangos.
The new body must be fully accountable to the cross section
of interests that make up our vibrant and cosmopolitan city.
It should focus on promoting London back to it's rightful position
as the most exciting and prosperous metropolis on the planet.
Your Views:
Tell us what you think about the proposals for London's mayor
and council?
mayor@londonnet.co.uk
Including:
LondonNet's Election Night
Lead | Final Result
- Seats | Labour's
best ever result, the Tories worst since 1832 | Tony Blair on victory: "A new dawn
has broken...", Tony Blair Manifesto | John Major accepts defeat: "Politics
is a rough old trade..."
| Our view on election day | The news from the Election & Campaign
Summary
see also: The
BBC's Election97 site or : The
ITN news and election pages
Free Newsletter
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