Live webchat with Ken Livingstone, TODAY 11.15am to 12.15pm

[FrancesMumsnet]

In the run up to the London Mayoral elections in May, we're very pleased to announce that Ken Livingstone will be joining us for a live webchat on Wednesday 18th April from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm. You can read more about Kens plans for London on his Mumsnet blog here.

Ken Livingstone was London's first elected mayor between 2000 and 2008. He was born in Streatham in 1945, attending Tulse Hill Comprehensive and working as a lab technician at Chester Beatty cancer research unit. Since becoming the MP for Brent East he has lived in Cricklewood.

Join us for the webchat and make your voice heard about what you want to see from the capital's next Mayor. He's keen to hear your views and answer your questions. As ever, if you can't make it, please post up your advance questions here.

Thanks, MNHQ

Thank you for answering my question Ken. One women on the Conservative candidate list- that's shocking! No wonder Boris dodged the question.

Hi Ken

What's your biggest gripe about the Tube?

Do you like Boris's hair?

I must say I feel very disillusioned about the Olympics now, which has only served to further highlight the differences between those who have, and those who don't, in my mind.

I'm not convinced 'there is the money there' at all I'm afraid, but thanks for your answer. Is that tax issue the big elephant in the room however

@dogindisguise

Will you extend the congestion charge beyond its current zone to help improve London's terrible air pollution and tackle traffic congestion?

Over 4000 people die prematurely each year in London because of pollution, on average losing 11 years off their life each. The EU is about to fine London £300 million becuase we have the worst air quality in Europe. This would mean £100 on a band D council tax! The congestion charge zone is too small to solve London's air quality problems so extending it isn't the answer and I won't extend it.
Almost the first thing I'd do is to meet the EU environment commissioner to see if we can work together to avoid this fine and work together to improve air quality.

I'm fed up with the leaflets through my door, addressed to me personally they are a HUGE waste of money in my opinion.

I didn't know about the air quality or fine, Wow!

@Shakey1500

Hi Ken

What's your biggest gripe about the Tube?

Do you like Boris's hair?

Hi Shakey1500 it's the almost daily delays on the Jubliee lines which always make me late for meetings (not to mention the exortionate cost these days!).

Not all gentlemen prefer Blondes....!

@Shakey1500

Hi Ken

What's your biggest gripe about the Tube?

Do you like Boris's hair?

Hi Shakey1500 it's the almost daily delays on the Jubliee lines which always make me late for meetings (not to mention the exortionate cost these days!).

Not all gentlemen prefer Blondes....!

Solo, I never look at political leaflets I bin them, I do my own research.

Arf!

@AstroidPrincess

Oh can I ask another one. My partner and I both wanted to attend the olympics, but the prices of tickets were quite outrageous. Do you feel that the Olympics are really the 'People's Olympics' when most Londoners couldn't afford a ticket, and even if they could, wouldn't even be able to get tickets for the events they wanted to see?

I didn't get any tickets either, AstroidPrincess! But, the reason I bid for the Olympics was to get the investment in the East End of London and without that we would never have had the London Overground upgrade and DLR extensions to Stratford international and Woolwich, and there's 3000 homes available to Londoners after the athletes go home.

So do I Sophie which makes it even more of a waste of money. I also hate the way it's actually addressed to me!

Boris was also out of touch when he answered my complaint about the replacement of bendy buses with routemasters. He said he would urge bus drivers to be more buggy friendly. That's a pointless endeavour when the simple fact is that a bendy bus had space for up to six buggies (if people had nippy little McClarens) while a routemaster fits two or three, leaving me often at the bus stop. I just get the feeling Boris never took these buses himself.

How are you going to fight the smears, Ken?

No one has asked this one so far so I will.

Ken, Boris was asked for his version of the "Lift" incident, do you want to comment on his version of events, on the webchat we had with him?

@bobthebuddha

Do you think operating via a limited company rather than PAYE if you're the 'brand' and the only source of income generation for your company is consistent with a socialist stance? Doesn't PAYE provide more tax revenue for schools, hospitals and welfare?

Now all the candidates have published their tax returns you can see I've paid 35%. Boris paid 41% but then he does earn £500k a year. The Tories are trying to make this election about everything apart from who will make Londoners better off, and their persistent attempts to talk about tax are just a diversion from the real issues of the election.

Yy please answer Bob's question about your tax affairs.

Thanks for answering my questions and I hope you win Ken! We need someone in who cares about ordinary Londoners. I miss you on LBC on Saturdays though!

@TheBlackShiksa

Could you clarify what you meant when you said you were going to "make London a beacon for Islam"?

That isn't my view - I want London to be a beacon of tolerance and good community relations. I won't put one religion or belief over any other.

X post sorry

Ken are you going to answer the question about your personal tax arrangements?

x-posts, sorry!

@LineRunner

How are you going to fight the smears, Ken?

Good question LineRunner ! By just coming on mumsnet, doing TV debates and answering questions honestly.