Why I will be voting for Ken

20 comments from readers

Egg
24 January 2008 at 12:41

"The forthcoming elections for the next mayor of London will throw the black and Asian communities from the margins of electoral politics into a tornado of an intensity such as we have never experienced before."

Give me a break!

Darcus Howe emits enough hot air to keep one of Branson's balloons going the full transatlantic schlep. Doesn't he realise the race-monger industry was privatised years ago? But more importantly, for the sake of his own bacon, how does Howe square his lame duck support for Ken Living-in-the-stone-age with the New Statesman's political editor, Martin Bright's position? Wasn't it Mr Bright I clocked on C4's Dispatches on Monday night doing a hatchet job on Red-faced Ken?

Howe's not only out of step with most Londoners (of any ethnic background), he's also out of step with his colleagues in Fleet Street and Tellyland. Get a grip Darcus: the 80s ship of political deadbeats is sinking, so grab a life jacket!

terryuno
24 January 2008 at 15:28

What about Polish. Russian, South American, Spanish. French, American, Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish. Irish, Scottish, Canadian, Estonian, Ukrainian, English etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, Londoners. The mayor of London should represent all people of London.The idea that the mayor should favor particular communities is outdated and racist.

epitomy
24 January 2008 at 15:42

As a Black Londoner I agree with you Darcus. Having watched the screaming headlines denouncing Ken for supporting black/irish/gay rights and others from the 80s - you can see that this latest campaign is the same old guard that supported Thatcher from fleet street, whipping up hysteria and slinging mud to install Boris.

I am hoping that the black communities and those who understand that racism is intolerable in a world class city like london will only be doubly motivated to keep Boris out of office come this May.

For me, the drop in racist attacks over the last few years speaks more volumes than a lifetime's subscription to the evening standard. Less racist attacks, together with lower crime generally is the kind of issue that the black community, and all Londoners will care more about - and this is thanks to Ken's increased policing drive.

To have achieved this in London when racist attacks are rising nationally is proof of Ken's effectiveness as Mayor.

In sharp contrast, Boris' understanding of race relations is so inept, he has not yet understood why the term 'picanninies' is an insult to black people. (he apologised in a cynical attempt to take the heat out of the can but no one, including the editor of the New Nation, is buying it because he said that black people failed to understand the context in which he said it. What context makes an offensive term acceptable Boris? Particularly from someone running for the Mayor of London office?)

If you want to see what happens when the Tories show their true colours, you only need look at the difference in approach to the freedom pass; the Tories wanted to abolish it, Ken wants to make it free 24 hours. Not much mileage there for the Evening Standard to scream about - unless it was going to expose the Tories.

terryuno
24 January 2008 at 16:22

For me, the drop in racist attacks over the last few years speaks more volumes than a lifetime's subscription to the evening standard. Less racist attacks, together with lower crime generally is the kind of issue that the black community, and all Londoners will care more about - and this is thanks to Ken's increased policing drive

Its a pity racist attacks against white and other non blacks weren't declining. I spoken to dozens of people who had to leave london because their children were continually being robbed and assaulted at knifepoint.

epitomy
24 January 2008 at 18:03

Its a pity that when money is given to black community groups in an attempt to combat the the sense of disengagement that comes from the higher levels of poverty and the lower standards of living, that Ken is dragged across the coals by the Uneven Standard.

But that kind of attack is the text book response from the Sun in the 80s and is exactly what Darcus is talking about.

Making young people of all back grounds feel part of society means that those who would fall into a life of crime are less likely to do so - which is why Ken keeps lobbying for more youth service provisions, which the government has agreed to. The result is not as instant as electrocution with taser gun (no doubt the weapon of choice for the likes of the Standard) but I would wager that this engagement might have more of an impact in the Long term.

terryuno
24 January 2008 at 18:45

Terryuno - Why I will be voting for Boris

I will be voting for Boris because London needs a politician who is honest and will represent all Londoners and not just minorities and special interest groups.

I also think Boris will tackle the evil of street robberies and knife and gun crime, which is blighting the quality of life for all londoners. Notice that Kens and his race advisor (whatever that is) Lee Jasper have had nothing to say about this but had plenty to say about racism in the big brother household.

I think all sensible white people and all other Londoners should do the same if they really care for their childrens future.

swatantra nandanwar
24 January 2008 at 22:04

For once I agree with Darcus Howe. Maybe because Ken's a Londoner and knows, loves and understands London, inner and outer. Howe is right , Ken understands the racial and cultural mix that is London and has helped over the years to give voice to those communities to express thmselves and gain confidence. And not just black Londoners, but all races, nationalities and creeds. But its the conservative forces of reaction that want to undo all the good that has been achieved in the name of equality over the years, and drive us back to the racial tensions and polarised society of the 70's. Londoners cannot afford to let that happen. The ES has mounted a vicious campaign and regretably a NS journalist has lent his name to it. Shameful.

Stiles
25 January 2008 at 10:52

Darcus' s articles are often the best thing in the Statesman. I am particularly glad to see this one given that Martin Bright has been in the forefront of the anti-Ken campaign. To Mr Egg, Martin Bright is out of step with the readership, it is Bright who should resign or be sacked

Jason
25 January 2008 at 16:04

I would like to add to epitomy's point about the decline in racially-motivated attacks going down being a remarkable achievement considering the (regrettable) national trend. It is also remarkable considering that London has been the victim of Islamist terror attacks, which, in the days following 7/7 especially, seemed to hold a frightening potential to spawn a backlash against London's Muslim communities.

However it seems that, in part thanks to Ken's uniting policies, this possible denigration has been largely avoided.

terryuno
25 January 2008 at 19:58

The majority of racially motivated attacks are on white people. There has been a big increase in northern cities like Blackburn and Oldham and Bradford.

epitomy
27 January 2008 at 17:30

terryuno - thats you voting for boris (with your cuckoo-land view on racist attacks that flies in the face of home office statistics and every other possible indicator on the issue), and the renowned sexist Peter stringfellow!

Entertaining support but not exactly what I would call a winning alliance in a city like London?

Robin37
28 January 2008 at 07:13

Epitomy I am curious sir what exactly is a Black Londoner is it something like a White Russian?

Where can we get or see Black Londoners?

Robin37
28 January 2008 at 07:15

I see race attacks are mentioned in these posts what exactly are race attacks are they when black people attack white people or when white people attack black people?

terryuno
28 January 2008 at 13:47

I see race attacks are mentioned in these posts what exactly are race attacks are they when black people attack white people or when white people attack black people?

Seems like a race attack is only in the extremely rare event of a white person attacking a black person.

Jason
28 January 2008 at 15:47

terryuno can you provide actual sourced evidence as to this sudden wave of anti-white violence sweeping the country?

Quickly now, or we'll presume you're one of those wannabe-martyrs for the 'oppressed' white Cristian heterosexual male.

terryuno
28 January 2008 at 17:06

I consider the scores of robberies on women and children and men happening everyday in London to be race attacks.

They would definitlly be deemed as race attacks if white boys were attacking black women, children and men.

Purple
28 January 2008 at 19:02

terryuno - Ignorance is bliss, before you comment on racial issues in the capital, I suggest you research your responses as they are often misinformed and sound familiar to the rhetoric found in BNP and NF leaflets.

Ken Livingston has no particular soft spot for 'black Londoners' he however has insight enough, to understand that for this town to work with all the various ethnicities who occupy it and more specifically to assist those from working class backgrounds (this issue is also about class), everybody needs to have a voice - I have worked on GLA advisory boards and have yet to see a preference given to 'black Londoners' - I however have been exposed during my conversations at the GLA and through thorough research that I have undertaken; that there is a disproportionate representation of black people in the media as criminals, knife wielding, psychotic gun hungry aggressive beings; this is clearly symptomatic of the covert racism and classism (seeing that a high percentage of black people are working class) which operates in the UK.

If terryuno is so worried about being attacked in London I suggest he moves to Glasgow, where its less ethnically mixed and has the highest rate of gun and gang crime in the UK (he should feel right at home!)

terryuno
29 January 2008 at 14:06

In response to Purple, the media actually plays down crime in London. They now only report when someone is murdered. I get my information not from the media but talking to people leaving London because they won't put up with family members being repeatedly robbed. I was speaking to a women friend yesterday, who was robbed by 5 black youths in a planned operation. She is now scared to go out and is thinking of leaving London. Is this really the kind of London anybody wants to live whatever colour they are.

Bridget Fox
03 February 2008 at 12:38

Darcus is wrong to thank Ken Livinsgstone for the Freedom Pass. The Freedom Pass is funded by London's boroughs from their own budgets.

WORKER
18 April 2008 at 12:31

i will be voting for ken and also i will be voting for george galloway for the london asembly, george galloway has suffered at the hands of the right wing media for years, he stands up for the marginalized and the worker all across the capital. GO RED KEN AND GALLOWAY.. A FORMIDABLE FORMATION.