by Atul Hatwal
Zac Goldsmith’s campaign was a disgrace. But not for the reason many in Labour think and the party is about to learn the wrong lesson as a result.
The consensus is that Goldsmith’s attacks on Khan’s links to extremists and innuendos about his radicalism – a barely coded insinuation about Labour’s candidate being an Islamist – backfired.
Londoners resiled from the evident racism and prejudice
That much is true.
However, there is a distinction between the principle and practice of Goldsmith’s campaign strategy.
Several within Labour are busily convincing themselves that the principle of raising Khan’s connections to unsavoury characters was itself an inflammatory act (just a few examples here, here and here.)
Wrong.
It is legitimate to hold a Mayoral candidate accountable for their connections. As a voter, I would want to know if Zac Goldsmith was linked in any way with fascists and far right agitators.
A Labour campaign that publicised these links would only be doing its job.
The work of all the main parties to expose the racists, reactionaries and fantasists that populate Ukip’s ranks has been a public service.
Voters need to know who is asking for their mandate.
