Ken Livingstone has no shame
Peter Hoskin 11:06am
Ok, so Political Betting covered this yesterday - among others - but the words "Magpie Mayor" emblazoned across the front of last night's Evening Standard reminded me to give it a Coffee House mention. Basically - as this Standard article details - Ken Livingstone is planning to steal Boris's policy ideas, including that of the "Payback London" scheme. Worse still, Ken unabashedly admits to this. Here's what he had to say in a debate the other night:
"I'm stealing your policies. What sort of idiot, when they hear a good idea, wouldn't take it on board?"
Does Ken really think this will ingratiate him with Londoners?
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Comments
David Mallory
April 2nd, 2008 12:21pmI suspect he probably does and there's a chance he may be right.
To the extent that people vote policies at all (and in a contest like this, that's not very much, by the way), they don't really care who came up with them first.
And in terms of personality and character - the lens through which any policy pronouncements are seen, if they are seen at all - such a non-tribal acceptance of good ideas from his opponents could well be seen as A Good Thing.
Jonny Mac
April 2nd, 2008 12:23pmSorry, don't buy this. If it's a good idea, why not use it in the best interests of Londoners? And why is it 'even worse' to do this openly and brazenly - rather than (I assume) secretly? Btw, I'm not a Ken stooge - I hope Boris thrashes him. But of all the things he can be attacked on, I don't see why this should be highlighted.
David
April 2nd, 2008 12:54pmKen's fervent supporters have been going around saying that Boris has no policies, therefore isn't a serious candidate.
Ken's just blown a hole in that. They must be so grateful to their chosen man.
Verity
April 2nd, 2008 2:42pmDavid Mallory - Agreed. This feeds directly into Livingstone's Cheeky Chappie image and will benefit him.
Kevyn Bodman
April 2nd, 2008 3:27pmI'm suspicious of 'bi-partisanship' as if it's always a good thing, I'm suspicious of Livingstone as a 'Cheeky Chappie' and I hope Boris wins.
BUT
'What sort of idiot,when they hear a good idea, wouldn't take it on board?'
This won't hurt Livingstone at all.
Chuck Unsworth
April 2nd, 2008 7:25pmI couldn't care less if Livingstone steals Johnson's ideas (although one might ask why he didn't think of them for himself over the years). What really gets me is his trusted 'associates' blatantly stealing my money.
Nicholas
April 2nd, 2008 8:46pmDevious communist subversive. The "cheeky chappie" characterisation is about as true to life as avuncular "Uncle Joe' was to Stalin.
Don't give political extremists like Livingstone power.