The Ken has five kids by three different women story isn't going to determine the result of the mayoral election
James Forsyth 8:14pm
I have very little time for Ken Livingstone but I can’t think that tonight’s revelation about his private life is going to make much of a difference to his political fortunes. I expect the fuss will die down fairy fast as none of the usual ingredients required to keep this kind of story going are present. First of all, Ken can’t be accused of hypocrisy—he is hardly a family values politician. Second, none of the other major campaigns are going to want to go anywhere near this story.





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Comments
Max Kaye
April 3rd, 2008 8:36pmIt is none of my business. (Unless I'm paying for the little bastards).
Tess
April 3rd, 2008 8:56pm'...he is hardly a family values politician.' You can say that again!
Chuck Unsworth
April 3rd, 2008 8:58pmStill, it does indicate where he keeps his brains...
TrevorH
April 3rd, 2008 9:46pmIts just the BBCs attempt at being even handed.
Pathetic.
Ken is a nasty piece of work and this does confirm that but its nothing to do with the election.
However despite what Ken says, privacy is not the same as secrecy and it does raise questions about the media and public scrutiny if this important aspect of Livingstones life has been unknown until now. Politicians are entitled to a private life but the basic facts of our history ought not to be a closed book. But Ken has never campaigned on this so its not a 'political' scandal.
D Short
April 3rd, 2008 11:30pmThis is news to me, and believe me because of a connection I have, it is something that has been very, very secret for a long time. So secret that people who have worked with him closely for 20 years or more thought he had become a first time father just a few years ago and that that was why he started taking driving lessons.
Very strange indeed.
Austin Barry
April 4th, 2008 7:37amThe generosity of women never ceases to amaze me.
Ian C
April 4th, 2008 9:40amDon't underestimate the ability of such revelations to do damage - especially if it has been kept deliberately under wraps. The press could have a field day if it has because it will again frustrate Ken to camera constantly, instead of allowing him to deal with election issues.
Ken Livingunderastone
April 4th, 2008 10:28amJust remember. Pondlife has feelings also.
Alex R
April 4th, 2008 10:33amThink you're wrong. This will have an impact on how people view him. He might not place a high priority on values, but others do.
Peter Winslow
April 4th, 2008 11:24amI agree that this will have an impact on how people view Ken, but it will also remind the voters of the other candidates' records when it comes to relationships, children etc. So what matters isn't just whether Ken's natural voters mind about what he's done - since Boris's voters might well mind more about what Boris has done, once they are reminded of it. Hence the total disinclination of the Tories to go anywhere near this story.
Caroline
April 4th, 2008 11:50amKen said "Clearly, I don't think anybody in this city is shocked about what consenting adults do" Obviously not - as the reporting of Boris’s lurid love-life has demonstrated.
Archie Wedderspoon
April 4th, 2008 12:59pmLivingstone is obviously a dark horse, but his antecedents are so disgusting that this makes no difference to the way I think of him. I note however that he claims to have done nothing immoral, which seems to me to be drawing a bit of a long bow.