[A-List] UK state: London mayoral election

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

More gossip from the "diary" column of the FT, featuring good news regarding
the poor performance of Tony "Reg Varney" Banks' efforts to succeed Ken
Livingstone...


Observer - UK
Financial Times: November 4 2002

Little labour for deputy Nicky

Nicky Gavron, the deputy mayor of London, seems to be establishing a hefty
lead over Tony Banks, the former sports minister, in Labour's selection race
for the dubious honour of taking on Ken Livingstone in 2004.

Gavron, who was appointed deputy mayor by Livingstone in an attempt to
broaden his power base after he won as an independent, has cleaned up the
union vote and needs to do only moderately well in the separate ballot of
individual party members to win the nomination.

Much of her success reflects her claim to have played a substantial role in
running the capital for the past two years, during which she has been deputy
mayor and a leading member of the London Assembly, the body supposed to hold
Red Ken to account.

So Observer was surprised to learn, from the mayor himself, that Gavron's
executive activity has amounted to, er, one decision - about the licensing
of pigeon food sales in Trafalgar Square.

Gavron's less than impressive decision-making record was wormed out of
Livingstone by Darren Johnson, the Green party's assembly leader, in a
written question tabled last week. Poor Ken, who is desperate to see Gavron
beat off the more menacing Banks, was compelled to answer by assembly rules.

Still, the news supports Gavron's claim that she could work with Ken if she
wins the nomination but not the election. The relationship obviously causes
Livingstone no discomfort. He just does everything himself.