Reconfirmed: Ken Livingstone Will Seek Mayoralty In 2012

He's hinted broadly at it several times, but now it's been twice confirmed. After telling me last night that reports that he'd declared his mayoral ambitions in speech he gave in Ruislip last weekend were accurate, he's now issued a statement to the Guardian to the same effect. The Guardian could quote only part of it but I have the full statement below:

"I am not going to take any definitive decision until Labour opens the nomination process after the 2010 general election. But I am in politics to get things done. As Mayor from 2000-2008 I pursued an integrated policy - economic, social, cultural and environmental - based on making London the most international and diverse city in the world.

That greatly expanded the range of choice available to Londoners and allowed not only economic success but ground breaking policies of free and subsidised travel for poorer Londoners, an almost 60 per cent decrease in racist attacks when they were rising in the rest of the country, and some of the most advanced environmental policies in the world. The fact that Labour on 1 May 2008 was 20 per cent behind nationally, its worst result for 40 years, and in London I was only 6 per cent behind, with my vote going up by over 200,000, strengthens my belief in these policies.

Obviously everyone respects the decision of the electorate. But it is already clear that Boris Johnson's Tory regime is one of decline of London - economic decline, social decline, cultural decline, and environmental decline. This is the real root of the incompetence it has shown in its first two months in office. I believe this will become increasingly obvious and therefore I will use the normal methods of democratic debate to convince electors that the previous policies were successful and the new ones will fail.

My priority at present is to prevent the disaster for Britain, in particular for the less well off, of a Tory government in 2010. But if a Mayoral election were held tomorrow I would put my name forward for it and if nothing changes I will put my name forward to run in 2012. Meanwhile I will continue to point out the decline of London under Boris Johnson."

Is Livingstone challenging a good idea? Cif is running a poll.

Comments

[Adam]

I think it would all depend on who else came forward. At present the only suggestions have been:

1. Alan Sugar - God help us
2. Oona King - I'm pretty sure she's ruled out coming back into politics
3. Jon Cruddas - still seems a bit of a long shot
4. John Biggs - this rumour is gathering apace and I wouldn't be surprised if he went for it
5. Ken

Of course if Labour are beaten nationally by a landslide then there is going to be a lot of out of work MPs so I expect there will be a lot of competition when the time comes.

I still think that there is room for an independent challenger to come in and win it. Of course with so much competition for the Labour candidature that candidate could well end up being Ken.

[angela]

John Biggs has all the brains of a jackass, the charm of a mamba and the charisma of a stuffed vulture, so I hope he goes for it.

[Frankie Roberto]

It's a long way off, so we'll have to wait and see. But if Johnson's mayoralty really is a disaster (as judged by progressive Londoners), then Ken standing again would be welcomed.

The big question though is whether Boris will get his way with a 2-term limit imposed on the Mayor's position, which would effectively rule out Ken from standing. A Labour government wouldn't allow this law change to happen, but a Tory government might.

[Gregg]

I think any government would be reluctant to pass such a term limit for Mayor of London, because they'd face demands to do the same with the post of Prime Minister.

[angela]

I will place a bet right now to anyone brave enough to take it that Boris Johnson will beat any of the candidates in the above list. I will place £50 on Boris to win and that is the faith I have in him. ANY TAKERS?

ps. I shouldn't have lost my temper and been so rude about John Biggs. It is not civilised and I am sorry.

[Spicy]

"I will place £50 on Boris to win and that is the faith I have in him."

You might want to assure yourself that Boris will actually run in the elction before making rash offers. If the conversations I have been having with Tory MPs in the past few weeks hold any water, this is a bet you will assuredly lose.

[angela]

Spicy, why is that? Share your knowledge, we would all like to know.