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'''Ken Livingstone''' is a [[left (politics)|left]]-wing member of  the [[United Kingdom]]'s [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], and  a former [[Member of Parliament (UK)| Member of Parliament]]. He was [[Mayor of London]] from 2000 to 2008 and is a prospective candidate in 2012. He is a colourful and outspoken politician, known for his sharp wit and for his willingness to speak openly on controversial issues. He was a vigorous opponent of the policies of former [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Margaret Thatcher]], and of many of those of [[Tony Blair]], especially of the [[Iraq War|war in Iraq]]. He also has a long history of campaigning against [[racism]]. His willingness to openly express his opposition to Labour Party policies have made him often unpopular with senior figures within the Party, but has won him considerable support from "grassroots" Party members and also from an electorate attracted to the idea of an independent-minded leader.


'''Ken Livingstone''' is a left-wing member of the United Kingdom's [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour party]], and  a former [[Member of Parliament (UK)| Member of Parliament]]. He was  [[Mayor of London]] from 2000 to 2008 and is a prospective candidate for re-election in 2012. He is a colourful and outspoken politician, known for his sharp wit and for his willingness to speak openly on controversial issues. He was a vigorous opponent of the policies of [[Margaret Thatcher]], and of many of those of [[Tony Blair}}, especially of the war in Iraq. He has a long history of campaigning against [[racism]]. His willingness to openly express his opposition to Labout Party policies have made him often unpopular with senior figures within the Party, but has won him considerable support from "grassroots" Party members and also from an electorate attracted to the idea of an independent-minded leader.
Ken Livingstone first came to attention as leader of the [[Greater London Council]] (GLC) in 1981; the Labour Party of that time had been out of government for a decade, and was regarded by many as too left- wing to be electable. Yet Ken Livingstone's left-wing, confrontational approach to the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] government of Margaret Thatcher proved popular within [[London]], and his power there ended only when the Thatcher Government abolished the GLC.


Ken Livingstone first came to attention as leader of the Greater London Council (GLC) in 1981; the Labour Party of that time had been out of government for a decade, and was regarded by many as too left wing to be electable. Yet Ken Livingstone's left wing, confrontational approach to the Consercvative government of Margaret Thatcher proved popular within London, and his power there ended only when the Thatcher Government abolished the GLC.
Ken Livingstone joined the Labour Party in 1969 and became secretary of the Norwood Young [[socialism|Socialists]]. He was elected to [[Lambeth]] Council in 1971, and to the Greater London Council in 1973. In 1985 he was elected to Parliament as Labour member for [[London Borough of Brent|Brent]] East, and in the [[1987 United Kingdom genera election|1987 general election]] he retained the [[constituency]] for Labour. In November 1999, he was defeated in a contest to select the Labour party's candidate in the election for the newly-created post of Mayor of London by [[Frank Dobson]], the candidate favoured by Tony Blair. He responded by leaving the Labour Party and standing as an [[independent (politician)|independent]], and in May 2000 he was elected Mayor of London, a post that he held until 2008, when he was defeated by [[Boris Johnson]], the Conservative Party's candidate. He is again the Labour Party candidate for Mayor in the next election, to be held in 2012.<ref>''BBC News'': '[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11400442 Profile: Ken Livingstone]'.</ref>


Ken Livingstone joined the Labour Party in 1969 and became secretary of the Norwood Young Socialists. He was elected to Lambeth Council in 1971, and  to the Greater London Council in 1973. In 1985  he was elected to Parliament as Labour member for Brent East, and in the 1987 general election he retained the constituency for Labour. In  November 1999, he was defeated in  a contest to select  the  Labour party's candidate in the election of the newly-created post of Mayor of London by Frank Dobson, the candidate favoured by Tony Blair. He responded by leaving the Labour party and standing as an independent, and in May 2000 he was elected Mayor of London, a post that he held until 2008, when he was defeated by Boris Johnson, the Conservative Party's candidate. He is again the Labour Party candidate for Mayor for the next election, to be held in 2012.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11400442 Profile: Ken Livingstone] BBC News</ref>
His previous performance as Mayor was generally regarded as satisfactory,<ref>[http://capibus.co.uk/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemId=301, ''Londoners' Attitudes Towards The Mayor And Other Issues'', IPSOS poll, 31 March 2006]</ref> although his introduction of [[congestion charge]]s has had a mixed reception. However, in matters other than his conduct as Mayor of London, he has been a controversial figure. He has been a supporter of [[communism|communist]] regimes in [[Cuba]] and [[Venezuela]],<ref>[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/30999?threaded=1&var=1&p=13 ''Livingstone lambasts U.S. campaign against Chavez'', Yahoo mukto-mona, 19 February 2006]</ref> an opponent of [[Labour Party (UK)#'New Labour'|New Labour]], and of [[Gordon Brown]]'s economic policies (having said in 1998 that "Gordon is not up to his job ... Britain is now heading towards a recession entirely of Gordon's making".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/6211476.stm. Andrew Cryan, BBC Politics Show, 8 December 2006]</ref>) In a 2007 interview,<ref>''Prospect'' magazine: '[http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2007/04/interviewkenlivingstone/ Simon Parker Interview: Ken Livingstone]'. 29th April 2007.</ref> he praised the [[Islamic fundamentalism|fundamentalist Islamic]] cleric, [[Yusuf al-Qaradawi]].<ref>[http://www.fpri.org/enotes/201001.helfonts.islammodernityqaradawi.html Samuel Helfont: ''Islam and Islamism Today: the Case of Yusuf al-Qaradawi'', Foreign Policy Research Institute, January 2010].</ref><ref>[http://www.investigativeproject.org/profile/167 ''Yusuf al-Qaradawi'', Investigative Project on Terrorism].</ref> He has attacked the policies of Israel's government
<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/04/gaza-israel-hamas-palestinians Ken Livingstone: ''Europe must take the initiative'', The Guardian, Sunday 4 January 2009]</ref>, and has been suspended from office for comparing a Jewish journalist to a concentration camp guard.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4746016.stm. ''Mayor is suspended over Nazi jibe'', BBC News, 24 February 2006]</ref>


His previous performance as Mayor was  generally regarded as satisfactory<ref>[http://capibus.co.uk/researchpublications/researcharchive/poll.aspx?oItemId=301, ''Londoners' Attitudes Towards The Mayor And Other Issues'', IPSOS poll, 31 March 2006]</ref>, although his introduction of congestion charges has had a mixed reception.  However, in matters other than his conduct as Mayor of London,  he has been a controversial figure.  He has been a supporter of communist regimes in Cuba and Venezuela<ref>[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/30999?threaded=1&var=1&p=13 ''Livingstone lambasts U.S. campaign against Chavez'', Yahoo mukto-mona, 19 February 2006]</ref>  and an opponent of [[Labour Party (UK)#'New Labour'|New Labour]], and of [[Gordon Brown]]'s economic policies (having  said in 1998 that "Gordon is not up to his job ... Britain is now heading towards a recession entirely of Gordon's making"<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/6211476.stm. Andrew Cryan, BBC Politics Show, 8 December 2006]</ref>). In a 2007 interview<ref>[http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/2007/04/interviewkenlivingstone/ Simon Parker ''Interview: Ken Livingstone'', Prospect magazine,  29th April 2007]</ref>, he praised the fundamentalist Islamic cleric, Yusuf al-Qaradawi<ref>[http://www.fpri.org/enotes/201001.helfonts.islammodernityqaradawi.html Samuel Helfont: ''Islam and Islamism Today: the Case of Yusuf al-Qaradawi'', Foreign Policy Research Institute, January 2010]</ref><ref>[http://www.investigativeproject.org/profile/167 ''Yusuf al-Qaradawi'', Investigative Project on Terorism]</ref>. He has attacked  the policies of Israel's government
==Footnotes==
<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/04/gaza-israel-hamas-palestiniansKen Livingstone: ''Europe must take the initiative'',  The Guardian.co.uk, Sunday 4 January 2009]</ref>,  and has been suspended from office for  comparing a Jewish journalist to a concentration camp guard<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4746016.stm. ''Mayor is suspended over Nazi jibe'', BBC News, 24 February 2006]</ref>.
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Ken Livingstone is a left-wing member of the United Kingdom's Labour Party, and a former Member of Parliament. He was Mayor of London from 2000 to 2008 and is a prospective candidate in 2012. He is a colourful and outspoken politician, known for his sharp wit and for his willingness to speak openly on controversial issues. He was a vigorous opponent of the policies of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and of many of those of Tony Blair, especially of the war in Iraq. He also has a long history of campaigning against racism. His willingness to openly express his opposition to Labour Party policies have made him often unpopular with senior figures within the Party, but has won him considerable support from "grassroots" Party members and also from an electorate attracted to the idea of an independent-minded leader.

Ken Livingstone first came to attention as leader of the Greater London Council (GLC) in 1981; the Labour Party of that time had been out of government for a decade, and was regarded by many as too left- wing to be electable. Yet Ken Livingstone's left-wing, confrontational approach to the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher proved popular within London, and his power there ended only when the Thatcher Government abolished the GLC.

Ken Livingstone joined the Labour Party in 1969 and became secretary of the Norwood Young Socialists. He was elected to Lambeth Council in 1971, and to the Greater London Council in 1973. In 1985 he was elected to Parliament as Labour member for Brent East, and in the 1987 general election he retained the constituency for Labour. In November 1999, he was defeated in a contest to select the Labour party's candidate in the election for the newly-created post of Mayor of London by Frank Dobson, the candidate favoured by Tony Blair. He responded by leaving the Labour Party and standing as an independent, and in May 2000 he was elected Mayor of London, a post that he held until 2008, when he was defeated by Boris Johnson, the Conservative Party's candidate. He is again the Labour Party candidate for Mayor in the next election, to be held in 2012.[1]

His previous performance as Mayor was generally regarded as satisfactory,[2] although his introduction of congestion charges has had a mixed reception. However, in matters other than his conduct as Mayor of London, he has been a controversial figure. He has been a supporter of communist regimes in Cuba and Venezuela,[3] an opponent of New Labour, and of Gordon Brown's economic policies (having said in 1998 that "Gordon is not up to his job ... Britain is now heading towards a recession entirely of Gordon's making".[4]) In a 2007 interview,[5] he praised the fundamentalist Islamic cleric, Yusuf al-Qaradawi.[6][7] He has attacked the policies of Israel's government [8], and has been suspended from office for comparing a Jewish journalist to a concentration camp guard.[9]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ BBC News: 'Profile: Ken Livingstone'.
  2. ↑ Londoners' Attitudes Towards The Mayor And Other Issues, IPSOS poll, 31 March 2006
  3. ↑ Livingstone lambasts U.S. campaign against Chavez, Yahoo mukto-mona, 19 February 2006
  4. ↑ Andrew Cryan, BBC Politics Show, 8 December 2006
  5. ↑ Prospect magazine: 'Simon Parker Interview: Ken Livingstone'. 29th April 2007.
  6. ↑ Samuel Helfont: Islam and Islamism Today: the Case of Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Foreign Policy Research Institute, January 2010.
  7. ↑ Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Investigative Project on Terrorism.
  8. ↑ Ken Livingstone: Europe must take the initiative, The Guardian, Sunday 4 January 2009
  9. ↑ Mayor is suspended over Nazi jibe, BBC News, 24 February 2006
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