Campaign Double

Livingstone launches his campaign officially later this morning at the Royal Festvial Hall. As Matthew Taylor reports he will say:

"Some people attempt to portray this election as about personality - a Celebrity Big Brother in which the biggest issue that needs to be discussed is less than 400 bendy buses, a fraction of the bus service. It is not. The stakes are very high. It is about the most vital issues for the future of London affecting the lives of all Londoners for years. I believe Londoners do not want to turn the clock back - by a majority they want to continue to move forwards together."

Team Ken has played down yesterday's poll, saying that YouGov always scores them low. We all should play it down - it's just one poll and there's a long, long way to go - but Livingstone has to shift the debate away from the Jasper affair and the wider failings that the Standard and Team Johnson want voters to conclude it symbolises. Another thing: the poll's small print showed that Livingstone's strongest support is among 45-to-54 year olds. That's my age group, the people who've grown up with him. But, as predicted, the younger and the older prefer The Blond, and so does a majority of women. Ken needs to extend his reach. There's lots of work to do.

Johnson isn't holding a similar event today, but he has invited journalists to stroll down the Thames to meet him at City Hall after the mayor's is over. That could be very interesting. I'll be there as well as at Ken's do. Last night, Team Boris issued a press release - I can't see it at their site, but will link to it later if I can - which amounts to a speech pulling together the most effective threads of his candidacy so far: public safety, proper and devolved use mayoral power, "listening to Londoners", value for money and, most of all, the alleged tiredness and complacency of the present regime. I quote:

"London’s current Mayor, whose job it should be to champion our great city and its people no longer seems able or willing to stand up for those who call London home. Whilst he did a few good things when he was first elected he has lost interest in Londoners. Ken Livingstone seems more interested in looking after his friends and cronies, fighting his own political causes and playing divisive political games. He spends taxpayers’ money as if it was his or Labour’s own - on trips for meetings with foreign dictators or the pet projects of his closest friends and political allies.Once we might have forgiven Ken Livingstone for the odd foible, he seemed after all to care for London. But the occasional questionable action has become the many. His passion for London has withered as his obsession with power for its own sake has grown."

Agree with it or not, it is a strong, coherent message. For Johnson, the challenge is to convince Londoners he's up to the job of delivering on its promises. He too has plenty to keep him occupied. Now, where's my Oyster card?

Comments

[Phil Taylor]

Dave,

You can read Boris' call to arms here:

http://philtaylor.org.uk/?p=1184