by Jonathan Roberts
Dear Ken,
I write as a Labour party and trade union member. I have spent many evenings in dusty, cold community centres with left of centre colleagues arguing over the minutes of last month’s branch meetings. I have walked more miles than I care to remember on the Labour doorstep. I have stuffed so many envelopes that I feel as though I’ve single-handedly kept my postman in employment.
I do it because I believe Labour values can help people. But I am not, now, doing any of these things for you.
Your supporters will say I’m disloyal to the Labour Party, but don’t seem to mind you campaigning against our candidate in Tower Hamlets.
Your supporters cheered you when you called tax avoiders “rich bastards”, but they don’t seem to mind the £50,000 you have allegedly avoided yourself.
Your supporters criticise Boris Johnson as a “part time Mayor” for churning out a weekly article for the Telegraph, but they don’t seem to mind that you were an MP and a writer for the Independent during substantial parts of your own Mayoral tenure.
Your supporters sing about how you speak the truth, but don’t seem to mind how independent fact-checking organisations regularly describe your claims as “fiction”.
Your supporters were delighted when you announced you would reintroduce the EMA for London, giving hope to thousands of kids, but they don’t seem to mind that the Mayor has no power to reintroduce EMA at all. Nor do they seem to mind you making a promise you knew full well you would be unlikely to deliver on.
But do you know what Ken? I mind. I do. Your relentless cynicism and negativity is matched only by your hypocrisy. And I mind all three.
It bothers me that people think you are the last bastion of Labourness. It bothers me that you think you are the last bastion of Labourness. It bothers me that because I am a proud member of this party, I am expected to give up countless hours of my life to fight through the rain and cold to campaign for a man who has made so many anti-west comments that Iranian state television gave him his own TV show.
Some in our society are untouchable as a result of their past contributions. I willingly forgive Sir Paul McCartney’s dismal modern-day efforts because in his day he was a genius. Some afford you that same forgiveness because of your hugely positive past contributions in fighting fascism and homophobia. But you are not untouchable Ken. You are a politician seeking election, and the rules still apply to you.
London is one of the greatest cities in the world. And maybe I’m still too young and optimistic, or maybe I’ve just watched too much West Wing, but I want to be inspired. I want to believe. I want to walk into that voting booth and know “this guy is the real deal”. I don’t feel that with you. On May 3rd I will get on a tube and go to the office. I’ll put in a decent day’s work and then go home in the evening. Whatever I do, I won’t be stopping off to vote. I won’t support any other candidate because they do not match my values. But I won’t be supporting you because yours don’t match them either. I love Labour, but more importantly I love London and my country. I do not think you are good for either.
Yours sincerely,
Jonathan Roberts
Jonathan Roberts was Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Thirsk and Malton at the last election
Tags: 2012 London Mayoral election, Jonathan Roberts, Ken Livingstone
So it looks like Ken is going to win and the right wing of the party throws it toys out the pram.
Well if the right aren’t needed to win an election what is the point of them.
Good grief a Labour supporter who isn’t blinded by tribal stupidity.
Great article – this is how normal people think and if a few more Labour supporters espoused views similar to this the party may be doing better in the polls…
Jonathan I am a Labour Party member. I don’t do much, deliver leaflets for the local party, that sort of thing. But I won’t do anything for Livingstone. And I won’t vote for him.
But go and vote for assembly members. They’ll need all the support they can get.
Looks like someone’s had a “Manish Sood” moment.
Well said.
I disagree with your politics – but not your principles.
Blokes like you and I have to make sure that ***** like Livingtone – in all parties – remain accountable.
If into the bargain they learn some humility, then so much the better.
Good piece. You neglect to mention, however, Ken’s strong ties to hard-line Islamic extremists whose views cannot be squared with Labour’s progressive values. Al Qaradawi, for example, promotes the homophobia and fascism that you state Ken once fought against. A bewildering individual and yes, a hypocrite in the extreme.
Fantastic letter, really sums up my sentiments exactly.
Ken Livingstone is a hypocrite with a tendency to shoot his mouth off, often offensively without thinking through the consequences, and has some very dodgy friends indeed.
But as Mayor he gavce us the Oyster card, the Congestion Charge, set up the Boris Bikes scheme, his then-opponent Stephen Norris now credits him with winning the Olympics for London, and he also brought the Sultan’s Elephant to London, which probably gave me and my family our happiest weekend here. He also kncoked £1000 off my travel bill the first year of being Mayor and I enjoyed significant savings over what t had been before in the years after.
I’m not voting for what Ken says or thinks. I’m voting for what he did at mayor, and hoping he’ll do similar next time. Boris has ably kept things rolling along, but without the drive to innovate than Ken has.
Simples.
Ouch, this comes after the New Statesman turned on Ken this morning and the Observer on Sunday. Only Livingstone’s apparatchiks still think London Labour picked the right candidate, they didn’t. Oona King would of had a good chance of beating Boris in May as something new but Ken is promising things he clearly can’t deliver and the public aren’t as stupid as Ken and his apparatchiks think they are.
I am a life-long tory and would no more vote for the current labour party then I would eat my only child, but I did vote for Ken in the first mayoral election. I liked the way he stood up to the Blair junta and I liked what he was saying. However, since then, he has revealed himself for what he is – a hypocritical, lying, anti-semitic, sometimes homophobic fascist (and before anyone says fascists are right wing remember Hitler was a National Socialist). I think Boris is all show and Paddick is a no hoper so I won’t vote for them but anyone who votes for Ken needs to examine their conscience.
Ken is a legend, and in my opinion the letter writer on here should be expelled from the party.
Now what about a Letter to Gordon Brown? Millions in earnings into a Ltd company and nothing paid in tax.
What about a call for a trial for Gordon and Ed Balls for failure. The deficit and debt are their failure.
Hell, we can even take a leaf out of the book and make it a retrospective crime. Just like Barclays.
As someone from completely the opposite side of the political spectrum I encourage you to go and vote in the assembly elections and in the mayoral elections just a box which says “non of the above” and tick it for the mayoral slip.
Works for me when noone on the ballot sheet represents my views
And so should all those here that agree with him, some would say traitors.
Very well written .
I also feel the same about Ed .
I didn’t vote for him and nobody I know did either.
Hard to see how Ken can get floating voters to swing behind him when even Labour supporters hold him in such contempt.
Meanwhile in my bit of London Ken’s campaign is generating more activists than I’ve ever seen – and getting a tremendous response on the doorstep.
No wonder Labour doesn’t win enough elections with creeps like Jonathan Roberts around and groups like Labour Uncut who would rather lose than have anyone to the left of Denis Healey in power.
And don’t you control your comments Some of it is just libellous.
I’d rather read Conservative Home, they occasionally have liberal views there.
Seems Dave Hollins can’t cope with criticism – he wants you to “control your comment.” How like a lefty.
“I’m not voting for what Ken says or thinks. I’m voting for what he did at mayor, and hoping he’ll do similar next time.”
Raise the council tax precept every year? Boris never did.
Dear Jonathon Roberts, can I ask you to read what Paddick is saying, watch some of his videos & try & think about him as though he wasnt “the other side”. I think you might find he does have some values you share.
Who is this guy ? Really? lol who cares what he thinks go out and deliver leaflets get the message across pretty simple.
Great piece. I’m not voting either, in fact I’m so disgusted by politicians in London and the mess they make of this city that I’ve even stopped bothering to register to vote.
Jonathan, well said. Your principled stand is to be admired by decent people of all aspects of the political spectrum. A less-blinkered approach from the supporters of all parties would, perhaps, give our political ‘masters’ the kick up the rear so many of them need. Politicians take note; ask not what your country can do for you, rather what YOU can do for your country!
Thirsk and Malton? Lol, that’s not in London.
It looks like Ken might win – if you want to win next time you stand for Parliament, try being a local candidate.
Great letter, those in disagreement need to open their eyes. Ken’s campaign is nothing to do with London getting a Labour Mayor, it’s solely about getting Ken as mayor. Ken would turn his back on Labour if it advantaged him.
Rich Johnston: Ken “set up the Boris bikes scheme” Hows that? Can you tell me exactly what Ken did to set up the scheme?
Ken had a survey done about the bikes one month before the 2008 election. Sure he talked about it, but Boris has cycled all his life, and certainly did not need Ken to remind him that a bike hire scheme would be a good idea. I have talked about a bike hire scheme for yours. Should I claim responsibility. Talking and doing are very different things.
Sadly this sounds like one of Red Ken’s big fat fibs. However, if you have the evidence of how Ken “set up” the scheme, please do tell.
the future, I don’t know waht wing of the party jonathon roberts is, Remember that Kens 3 biggest supporters are Denis Mcshane, Tessa jowell and Stehpen pound, all blairites, and Neil Kinnock Dennis skinner and Micharl cashman all voted agositn Ken beign able to rejoin in 2004.
As for Livingstone winnign without the right of the parties support, If Livingstone does win, it’ll be on a very low turnout, remember ken got 600,000 more votes the time he lost than the times he won, it was Just the tory vote was millions more than beofre, and if he wins it’ll be with less votes than in 2008
I’m a Labour Party member and a regular canvasser.
I will not be canvassing or voting for Ken Livingstone. He disgusts me on every level.
Oh, and don’t tell me to be loyal to him – where was Ken Livingstone’s loyalty to Labour when he ran against our party’s candidate? Where was Ken Livingstone’s loyalty to Labour when he canvassed for Lutfur Rahman?
If Ken Livingstone wins, then people will think that he is Labour. If I thought Ken Livingstone WAS Labour, I wouldn’t vote Labour.
Ken Livingstone’s support for the Islamist candidate in Tower Hamlets Mayoral election,Lutfur Rahman, was enough for me. How could the Labour party allow Livingstone to remain in the Labour party after he campaigned against a Labour candidate ?
I am amazed at the amount of non Labour voices who say nothing about the mess this country is in as a result of this clueless Govt but are willing to comment on someone like Ken who despite everything delivers for Londoners everytime. Those like Jonathan Roberts who pretend to be Labour have probably crossed the floor by now and if not should do so pronto as nothing is holding them back, may be happy with the present Mayor who has done nothing other than raise fares, should try thinking about the many low paid workers struggling to pay fares merely to get to work. Self interest is hard to put aside at times like this for some but Ken’s appointment is not about those individuals on here ready to slag him off but about Londoners who are struggling under this Govt and the present mayor. Go Ken!
if milliband had any sense he’d drop livingstone as the labour candidate.
sure he stands a better chance of winning than anyone, but the price for a win isn’t worth paying. come general election time he would be the most prominent labour politician and so cost thousands of votes.
Angela, just googled and got this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/09/transport.world1
LondonStatto, the amount I saved on transport more than made up for it.
I quite enjoyed the Thames Festival thing. But it was no Sultan’s Elephant. That was astounding.
A hypocritical socialist is hardly new.
Polly Toynbee preaches about tax havens that her own employer uses.
Dianne Abbott sent her son to a private school that she pretends to despise.
Tony Blair is in robber baron territory with his new found, offshore, wealth.
Even ‘moral compass’ man himself has set up a charity to disguise his earnings.
So what’s the fuss? Ken is as hypocritical as anyone else.
Was he a good mayor?
Not bad.
Is Boris better?
For me he is. But mainly because he doesn’t do all that dreary socialist pc nonsense. Red Ken very quickly became grey Ken.
Red Ken does his red soundbites but he was invariably more practical and reasonable in office. Hence Tony Blair’s terrible fear of the return of the ‘loony left’ councils ruining his carefully crafted new labour project, that he expelled Ken.
But once he realised Ken had grown up and was a decent leader he welcomed him back. if not with open arms, at least with open cheque book.
So I’d never vote for Ken. Not in a million years. but if was to be mayor, i wouldn’t flee the city either.
Michael Thomas exemplifies exactly why Labour will never be elected in this country if the likes of people with those views support the party.
Labour currently seems to want to alienate normal working class voters by opposing any cuts in benefits and supporting mass immigration and aligning themselves with stupid causes.
The sooner the likes of Livingston and other creeps like him are booted out of the party the better…
Never underestimate the desire of the Labour party right wingers/new labour to destroy any trace of left wing in the party..they should join the Con/Lib coalition where they would feel at home.
I will not vote for Ken. He has become everything he opposed. For someone who is not a homophobe he makes some homophobic comments.
I will most certainly vote for the assembly candidate.
Bill quango M.P lets face facts Blair invited Livingstone back in (at kinnoc, Skinner srejections) becuase Blair was worire dhe’d lose the 2005 lelection and was doing things he didn’t want to do but needed to do to try to get laobur vote up, blair didn’t rally support the fox hunting ban but had it as he knowe the left would like it. Thatrcher did the same, with the anglo irish agreement.
Lue akeusr recenly said that the 2001 election reuslt was more inpressive than 1997, as it was on labours record, remember livingtone didn’t even endorse alobur at the 2001 election, (nor did he need too) but ti show his lack of commitmetn to the party ,even i would of thought he’d prefer a laobur gov;t than a Tory one.
I am so depressed with the mayoral election – there’s no-one I really want to vote for but I disagree on principle with not voting. Where is the third way????
Ken Livingstone has never been a Labour politician, he has only ever been a Ken Livingstone politician.
His track record from the first time he knifed the GLC Leader in the back to his courting of every voting bloc he can find, from homophobic Islamist preachers to gay activists speaks volumes and is designed to achieve one thing and one thing alone. Power for Ken Livingstone
What ever political party one supports there will come a time when you disagree with a decision or a politician. It is up to us to stand up and have the courage to say what we think is wrong.
Well done, a very accomplished article.
As a Conservative I’m just shocked at some of the spiteful comments on this post that would rather close the argument than actually debate whether Ken is the right choice for the candidacy and the city. Anyone who is willing to step out of the party line and open up the internal debate should be applauded. I wish you the best of luck Jonathan finding another seat to fight and win in future elections.
Thank god for this – I actually wrote expressing these exact sentiments to Ed, and never received a reply. A man paid from for pockets of Ahmadinejad, on that vile racist channel which attempted to cover up massacres in Iran and Syria. He’s a hypocrite of the highest order who should be put out to pasture. I would be out knocking on doors for Oona King, inside I am constantly texted by Edide Izzard asking me to vote for Ken. Christ! I almost, almost sent my membership back when the party picked Ken. And I have to get emails everyday askign for support. Who am I going to vote for? Who the hell?
If you agree that Livingstone is a repulsive hypocrite who should never run London again then it’s no use just abstaining. He is buying himself hundreds of thousands of votes in “certain communities”. To avoid seeing him taking all the credit at the Olympics and generally messing up our city as he pays back the votes his promises bought, you need to actually vote for Boris. Go on, it won’t kill you and your protest won’t be in vain.
And if you think Livingstone did some wonderful things as mayor last time around, then remember how crappy things were when he came into office, especially on the transport system. An idiot could have a positive impact there.
Shouldn’t Ken have been thrown out of the Labour party for canvassing for Lutfer Rahman? Isn’t it within the party rules that if a member supports a candidate from an outside party against the official Labour candidate, that he be expelled from the party?
Labour is ignoring its own rules in order to have “their man” as mayor, which is deplorable.
Added to which, the mayoral election is much more about the individual than the party, if voting trends are anything to go by. Boris is a much more likeable figure than Ken, and despite people saying that Londoners have struggled while he’s been mayor, the reality is that a lot of people think they would struggle much more under Ken. My Tory-hating wife voted for Boris without a qualm last time, and I’ve little doubt she will do so again this time.
I’m a member of my local Conservative Future, currently at university, and have a surprisingly good rapport with the Labour group on campus along with various other political entities. In the various conversations with them in the past 3 years the issue of Ken has been raised, and with out exception every single person I spoke to says they didn’t like him. One of the more senior members of the Labour Youth who is also a member of the LGBT society also said that due to his fondness for various radical clerics that they don’t trust him either. There are a few issues we see eye to eye on and Livingstone is absolutley one of them. Although we are several hundred miles away in Yorkshire there is a massive distrust of him from within whatever political party they were.
All of Ken’s hypocrisy, previously broken promises, and lies are well documented, and this letter certainly highlights many of them. A lot of people also don’t like Boris, for various reasons. This begs the question, why are they the only serious contenders in this election. Surely the other candidates can’t be that bad, just because they’re not so well known? Or is it because the electorate are too stupid, or too tribal, to consider anyone other than Boris or Ken?
@Jamie says: March 8, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Not to mention the fact that Ken goes weak at the knees for the dictator Chavez. Labour lost me after 30 years thanks to Iraq and your assault on my freedom. I see no reason to return as matters stand – but well done to Mr. Roberts for telling it how it is about this nauseating narcissistic (and I mean that in the clinical, personality disordered sense) hypocrite of hypocrites. Frankly, anyone voting for him needs to take a long hard look at him or her self.
Jamie,
Ken Actually said VOTE LUFTHUR ,but under neath in very small letters’But only for your second choice, oh and don’t forget to vote for whoever is the labour perosn for your first choice’ there were several spoofs from Blairites saying VOTE BORIS, but only for your second choice adn vote for who ever was the laobur candidate for your first choice,
Another Question is how amy of the laobur members who can’t birng themselves to vote for ken, won’t vote for the local labour candidate and for the Assembly, I seem to recall that Norman tebbit pointe dout that it wasn’t in the Tories rules to vote for the tories at the European election in 2009, Maybe it’s not in the Laoubr parties rules to vote for someone other than the Laobur candidate for the assembly, Saying that, i’m sure there are some good GLA candidates who don’t like ken and some who got their through All black, all female shortlists who are even worse than Ken,
Why hold back?