Should Labour look for another London Mayor candidate?

[T_i_B]

Obviously not if you ask me, but Martin Bright's recent hatchet job on Ken Livingstone does appear to be causing quite a bit of commotion so I thought that I might as well bring post his latest diatribe here.

I don't think Mr Bright quite remembers what happened the last time Labour tried this strategy. Ken stood as an independent and won anyway. If that were to happen again either Ken would win again or Boris would be the next mayor. I don't think Martin Bright has quite thought this one through.

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/martin_bright/2008/01/the_taint_of_association_1.html

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Yeah, but with Boris already neck and neck with Ken

in a poll taken before some of the latest stuff, there's a good chance Boris will get in if Labour keep Ken. I highly doubt Ken would win as an independent this time. But Labour haven't a big profile candidate to use instead. I think they're stuffed, basically - only some huge dirt on Boris, or a big-time gaffe (which you can never rule out with him, of course) can make Labour seem safe with Ken.

[Morris Onions]

2. Yes. Ken is suffering from bunker syndrome. He has...

the same holier than thou, fuck you - I know best, air about him as was observed in the latter days of the Thatcher & Blair administrations.

I think he's washed up.

He's achieved some good things in London but they are more than cancelled out by the negatives in my very humble opinion.

And he is drinking heavily, by his own admission.

Time for Tubby Bye Byes Ken.

[fedsron2us]

3. Livingstone made a lot of enemies in the Labour party

when he quit to run as an independent and won. Many suspect that he only returned to the fold because he knew that was unlikely to repeat that trick twice. Of course, some people have not forgotten or forgiven the way he become head of the GLC in the first place.

[non sociopath skin]

4. So bottom line, guys, you reckon it's worth letting in Bonking Boris ...

... to get rid of Ken?

The Skin

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Not so much 'worth it' as "think Boris will get in, whatever Labour do" (nt)