|
One week since he was ousted from office, former mayor Ken Livingstone appears to be in denial over his defeat - even turning up at City Hall today
In an apparent attempt to overshadow Boris Johnson's first meeting with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, he attended today’s inaugural assembly meeting saying he wouldn't give up on London and would be attending as many meetings and Mayoral question times as possible. Ken back fighting Writing in today’s Guardian the Labour man speaks of a party that done "better in London that nationally", he boasts of increasing his first preference votes and receiving more second preference than eventual winner Boris Johnson. The latter revealing only that there are more Greens in London than British National Party supporters - both who pledged their second preferences to the two main rivals.
Look on the bright side or more arrogance?
Livingstone continued to look on the bright side of Labour's worst election results in 40 years. Instead of addressing the issues and reasons why voters deserted them for the Conservatives, the former mayor concentrated on Labour gaining a seat on the assembly, claimed there was no "stay at home" protest from Labour voters and the parties support from big business in the city. It smacks of the type of arrogance London voters saw in the early stages of the mayoral campaign. It's widely accepted that Livingstone fatally underestimated Johnson and his attitude in debates and hustings and the result reflected this.
Hailed achievements
Boris Johnson on his acceptance speech commended Livingstone on the work done so far in establishing the office and London governance and Ken didn't miss an opportunity to reel off the list of achievements on "snaring" the Olympics for cash and efforts on the environment and fighting racism. His final paragraph was indicative of the man and his attitude, taking a swipe at the man who beat him in a fair race: "The new London administration represents decline - economic, social, cultural, and environmental. In 2012 Labour must return at the head of a progressive administration and restore London as the number one capital city in the world.
|
