Ken Livingston is obviously out of touch...

[Strix]

In this BBC article, a Livingston spokesman says "Boris Johnson lost his temper because he lost the debate - he talked about cable cars, not cutting fares and the squeeze on Londoners."

But, during the exchange with Boris, Livingston said "Nobody in Britain employs people and pays income tax on the money they pay them."

Really, Ken? How do you think people pay for their (employee) childcare? Yes, that's right, it comes out of their taxed income. And, these people are indeed feeling the squeeze.

I do beilieve it is Ken who is out of touch with Londoners who are feeling the squeeze.

7% knocked off my train fare is nothing compared to the tax I pay on the money I then use to pay my childcare. How about you help working parents who are really struggling to pay their childcare OUT OF THEIR TAXED INCOME.

Red Ken, you are indeed out of touch.

Did he actually say that? Burk.
Mind you his ideas on tax somewhat odd- its not illegal to use a service company but It does sit at odds with some of his ideas.

oops... forgot the link.

This article: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17598941

I saw this interview and was so incensed on this point I emailed the programme like some bonkers "disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" type. It adds proof to my theory that old Ken is out to lunch. It's such an obvious, unforced error.

Ken's a raving ultra leftie socialist. So of course he's happy to tax the rich to give to the poor. Just so long as those rules don't apply to his good self of course.......

It still astonishes me that Labour didn't pick Oona King.

Or, for that matter, Diane Abbott. Yes, she has crackpot views even for a member of the Labour party, and a history of unedifying racial outbursts - but she has the right "celebrity profile" for the Mayor job and no SERIOUS negatives like Ken with Qaradawi.

I think they didn't pick them because they wanted to win. They need a big figure such as Ken to take on the even bigger figure of Boris.

Also, Ken is not seen as being a New Labour toady, just as Boris is not a Tory toady, so Ken has more appeal than the usual New Labour spinner.

claig London polls show that Boris is more popular than the Tories, whilst Ken is less popular than Labour.

A "generic" Labour figure should easily be able to beat a "generic" Tory in London - Labour routinely outpolls the Tories there.

It is Ken's negatives which make him such a disastrous choice.

Yes I can imagine that Boris is more popular than the Tories, but I find it hard to believe that anyone can be less popular than Labour, particularly Ken, who has the image of being his own man rather than a spinned puppet.

'A "generic" Labour figure should easily be able to beat a "generic" Tory in London - Labour routinely outpolls the Tories there.'

Isn't that what Labour thought about Bradford?
No New Labour puppet will be able to beat a larger than life, loveable rogue character like Boris. Ken is the only leftie big enough to stand a chance.

Here is some analysis of the Ken problem from a Labour-affiliated website

labour-uncut.co.uk/2012/03/23/ken-livingstones-crumbling-labour-flank/

The public is disillusioned with teh parties; it feels that they are "our of touch" and listen to lobbyists more than to the people. Both Ken and Boris are quasi maverick figures, which is why they have more appeal than lobbied spinners with their sumptious dinners.

claig I agree that "generics" are dangerous in Mayoral campaigns, where strong personalities are very important. My favourite example is the election of the Mayor of Hartlepool a few years ago. There, a nondescript Labour nonentity (somewhat like Red Ed) was defeated by a monkey promising free bananas:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Drummond

Yes that is interesting analysis. But it presupposes that "Labour supporters" are the key factor that counts. Lots of the left are not New Labour supporters and they will probably vote for Ken. Some floating voters may not like Boris's style and may also prefer Ken. Relying on "Labour supporters" to do as expected is a mistake, as was shown in Bradford.

Yes, a very good example of the people making wise choices. The monkey was no spinner, which is why he was a certain winner.

I think Boris will also get most Lib Dem and UKIP second preferences. Ken will probably get most Green second preferences.

I think that in Mayoral elections, people generally vote for personality rather than the parties which they already see as 'out of touch' and unconcerned with the people's views. You can see how out of touch they are by reading the blogs in some of today's papers which had a strong focus on bicycles etc., when the people are suffering under the greatest austerity since the 1930s. Bicycle lanes is the sort of thing that spinners can promise, which is why the people won't vote for them.

Funny how you lot seem to be labouring (pun intended) under the misapprehension that Ken is still a socialist or even vaguely of the left. If he was he wouldn't still be in the Labour party. He's one of your smokey mirrors and part of the "least worst" strategy. Doesn't mean he can't be victim of smears and spin though in an effort to portray him as an pseudo enemy.

I think the Lib Dems have shot themselves in the foot nationally. Brian Paddock, a charming individual though he is, is a bit of a one-trick pony. He focuses on policing because that is where his expertise lies. He flounders in all other areas. Added to that he has the weight of the disappointment in the Lib Dem's inability to reign in the worst excesses of the tories.

Personally I don't like Boris. He's shown himself, like his mate Dave, to be completely incapable of choosing good people. How many of his appointees have been disgraced or had to resign so far? It's quite a few I think. Also his most popular achievements e.g. the Boris bikes have actually been Ken's ideas that were already in place when Boris took power. I'm also reliably informed by friends who work there that Boris is not liked by the rank and file, which makes pushing through policies difficulty if you can't get your team onside.

Ken, on the other hand, is past it. I really wish Labour had chosen someone else because this is just looking like a re-run of the last election. This time the Express is not quite as blatant in it's anti-Ken campaign as it was the last time, but there are still lots of smears floating around. It makes the whole campaign distasteful and sleazy.

I have to say I'm disillusioned with the whole thing. It's the same old 'Born to Rule vs the Man Of the People' trope with not a female in sight. I may well compromise and vote Green. At least they have the courage to put up a female for the job.