[A-List] UK state: London mayoral campaign

["Keaney Michael" <Michael.Keaney@xxxxxx>]

The emergence of the deeply unimpressive Tony Banks as a potential rival
to Ken Livingstone for the London mayoral election in 2004 is the latest
development in what is looking like a very much more dangerous (for
Livingstone) campaign than in 2000. For a start Livingstone has lost his
rebel image to a large extent, and can be got at for having made
compromises and for enjoying himself too much. Recent stories involving
his attendance at elite parties have not helped him. He has been
assiduous in his courting of the left, but the weight of the government
has been against him from the start (if not before), as with the (Gordon
Brown-inspired) ridiculous insistence on a deeply unpopular
privatisation of London Underground. Therefore his results look paltry.
The control freaks in the Labour leadership appear to have realised that
they can achieve a lot more by having someone who may not fit their
mould but who, nevertheless, can be relied upon to toe the party line
when it counts. So, just as Dennis Skinner voted against Livingstone's
readmission to the Labour Party on the grounds that Livingstone broke
party rules (quite unlike those who went to grotesque lengths to ensure
Livingstone did not win the Labour selection process, of course), Banks
can similarly be relied upon to score points against Livingstone as a
party loyalist. Both Banks and Skinner are members of the tiny rump
Socialist Campaign Group of MPs, which has around 30 members and at
least 30 different political positions, judging from its inability to
agree over Livingstone, the euro, and various other key issues.
Livingstone still writes regularly for the SCGN's monthly newspaper
(unlike Banks and Skinner, suggesting an editorial factionalism), but
his latest contribution is a sign of weakness on his part, as he is
forced to cover himself by playing up the strengths of his current
deputy, Nicky Gavron, who is running against Banks to secure the party
nomination. It is possible that similar dirty tricks may be employed by
the party machine against Gavron if she becomes too closely identified
with Livingstone. Livingstone himself may have calculated that the best
way to engineer another debacle within the Labour Party is to campaign
on behalf of Gavron, thereby discrediting her in the eyes of Blair and
co., who then rush to ensure an "anyone but Gavron" candidate, which
Livingstone can then exploit as yet another example of control freakery
and state centralism riding roughshod over Londoners. It's good
spectator sport, but much more is at stake than the fate of one flawed
individual, not least the future of London's infrastructure and the
symbolism of a successful left alternative to and independent of New
Labour.


Banks aims to oust old ally as London mayor

Patrick Wintour, chief political correspondent
Thursday September 12, 2002
The Guardian

Tony Banks, the former sports minister, has decided he wants to stand as
Labour candidate for London mayor in an attempt to oust Ken Livingstone,
a one-time ally at the old Greater London council.

Mr Banks and Mr Livingstone fell out decades ago, and a contest between
them would be lively and bruising.

The Conservatives are expected to select Steve Norris, opening the
possibility of the Tories winning the mayoralty with the left's vote
split.

Mr Banks, MP for West Ham, announced his decision to stand with only two
days to the deadline for the close of Labour nominations tomorrow.

He said yesterday: "You need someone who can create a climate of
cooperation and trust with the Labour government, but at the same time
maintain a degree of independence on behalf of Londoners. I am very much
a party loyalist, and can have an independent point of view.

"There is a lot of redefining and strengthening of the position of mayor
that is needed."

His chief rival for the nomination will be Nicky Gavron, London's deputy
mayor and someone who has worked closely with Mr Livingstone. She has
said that, if selected, she would recommend Labour members vote for Mr
Livingstone as their second preference in the contest, still 18 months
away. She challenged Mr Banks to make the same commitment yesterday.

Ms Gavron has picked up backing from an impressive array of London MPs,
as well as endorsements from London union leaderships.

Mr Banks, a fierce opponent of fox hunting and an avid Chelsea football
club supporter, has been on the backbenches since losing his job as
sports minister. He used to be an ideological soul mate of Mr
Livingstone, but fell out when the then GLC leader cut its budget as
part of enforced rate capping. Their relationship deteriorated further
in parliament. Mr Livingstone, who was denied readmission to the Labour
party in the summer, yesterday responded to Mr Banks' intervention by
saying: "This will give a clear choice between a Labour candidate who
wants to cooperate with me, and one who wants to campaign against me.
Nicky Gavron has worked with me closely for two years as deputy mayor
and has called for a second preference vote for me in the mayoral poll.
I hope Labour members will support her."

Labour's poll will probably take place next month. The unions have half
the vote and the London party membership the remaining half.

Bob Shannon, former mayor of Harrow in Essex, is to submit his
nomination papers to the Labour party today. Mr Shannon, 54, is an
Amicus national official and rightwinger.