Latest news with #KenLivingstone
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
London is no longer Starmer's personal fiefdom
It has long been claimed that London is a Labour city. This can be easily disputed: a quick look at history shows our capital city's political past has been anything but uniform. Even the recent memory of Mayoral elections paints a picture of intellectual diversity. Boris Johnson defeated Ken Livingstone twice; this cemented his reputation as a Heineken Tory who could reach parts of the country other members of his party couldn' Livingstone himself trounced New Labour in the 2000 Mayoral election, humiliating them into third place (although he was later readmitted by 2004). One could also point out that, in the 1980s, the SDP-Liberal Alliance took safe seats from Labour (Bermondsey and Woolwich) and helped the Tories to win Labour seats in Lewisham, Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon. Still, London's reputation as a Labour fiefdom is sealed in the minds of many: every constituency in inner-city London apart from Jeremy Corbyn's Islington North is currently held by a Labour MP. For how much longer can this dominance be sustained? A few weeks ago, Zarah Sultana left the Labour Party and announced she was co-founding a new party with Corbyn. The warning signs of a split had been there for months. A group called 'Collective' aimed at creating such a party, and various Left, Green and Muslim groups – such as TUSC, Liverpool Community Independents, Just Stop Oil, The Muslim Vote – have been involved in this process. There have also been whispers outside the Labour Party tent. Zack Polanski is the favourite to win this summer's Green party leadership contest. Standing on a Corbynite ticket, Polanski has won the support of Corbynistas such as Owen Jones, Grace Blakeley and Michael Chessum. Polanski himself has spoken warmly of Corbyn and Sultana and has voiced support for Clive Lewis, the Left-wing Labour MP for Norwich South to join the Green Party. The Right should resist the temptation to roll its eyes, remembering all too well that Corbyn oversaw the worst Labour defeat in its history less than a decade ago. While a new Left party has no chance of forming a national government, it could lead to a significant realignment in British politics. It would be the first time since a Leader of the Labour Party set up a new political party since Ramsay MacDonald was expelled and formed National Labour back in 1931. 2024 was the best ever result for forces to the Left of Labour in British political history, surpassing the Communists in the 1930s. According to the think tank More in Common, a new party led by Corbyn – without a name, funding or even official formation – already garners 10 per cent of the vote. Nowhere would this popularity be more concentrated than in London. One MRP poll shows that a new Corbyn party would win 10 seats, taking three directly from Labour (Ilford North, Ilford South and Bethnal Green and Stepney). A pact with the Greens would place many more red seats under threat. A Corbyn-Green alliance in Hackney South and Shoreditch would currently obtain 45.7 per cent of the vote against Labour's 37.2 per cent. In Lewisham North, meanwhile, Labour would get 35.8 per cent and the Red-Green coalition would get 41.8 per cent. Labour would also lose out in Peckham, Tottenham, Poplar and Limehouse. Holborn and St Pancras – the constituency represented by the Prime Minister – would be too close for comfort: according to current projections, Starmer would return 35.7 per cent of the vote, but Corbyn and the Greens combined would take 33.9 per cent. One of the ironies is that such a result would be put down to growing 'diversity' of London, with some ethnic minority (British Muslims in particular) voters backing candidates that may hem to their sectarian concerns. But while some of the affluent white ex-Corbynistas in Hackney and Peckham will show up again at the polls for 'Magic Grandpa' Jez, black voters are still more likely to stay loyal to Keir Starmer's Labour Party. It's not just Labour's Left flank that looks set to jump ship. The rising stature of the Reform party could see the Labour Party vote essentially extinguished in working class East London. This would be psychologically catastrophic for Labour. The East End was home to Matchworkers' Strike, the 1889 Dockers' Strike and the Battle of Cable Street in 1936. George Lansbury lived in Bow Road and Clement Attlee was mayor of Stepney and MP for Limehouse. For the Labour Party to cease to have any representation in an area of huge symbolism for the party and the movement would be the urban equivalent of the collapse of Scotland and the northern 'red wall'. One should of course be careful of putting too much store in polling. But as next year's local elections in London draw near, Starmer should beware: there are many willing to take advantage of his complacency. If he fails to respond to the danger, the legend of a forever red London will be impossible to sustain. The party of Keir Hardie – who was a West Ham South MP – may soon find itself boxed out of our nation's capital.
The Guardian
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Twenty years on from the 7/7 bombings, London's mayor is fighting for unity
It was a pleasure to read the recounting of the spirit of unity shown by Ken Livingstone following the 7/7 attacks (These words of defiant unity followed the horror of the 7/7 bombings. Imagine what we would hear today instead, 7 July). That sense of acceptance and solidarity is part of what drew me to London in the first place. I understand the frustration some feel towards the so-called 'London bubble' or 'metropolitan elite', but this city remains a place where people from all backgrounds can feel celebrated and connected. While I understand the point Hugh Muir makes in his piece, Livingstone's message still resonates today with our current mayor. Sadiq Khan continues to champion London's diversity as a source of strength. You can't travel a stop on the underground without seeing a poster from the mayor's office proclaiming: 'You are welcome'. He remains a leading voice for doing what he believes is right, whether through messages of unity or by pushing forward policies that may be unpopular, like Ulez, but ultimately benefit the majority of Londoners. Sadiq is by no means perfect, but at a time when Labour's guiding compass appears to be crumbling under Keir Starmer's weak leadership, it is heartening to have a mayor who still carries forward the inclusive message Livingstone delivered so powerfully two decades BylettLondon Thank you, Hugh Muir, for reminding me what we have lost in the last 20 years and that it is vital we do our utmost to build and celebrate diverse communities. Let's display enthusiasm for and interest in others and – if we can't do that – let us at the very least show tolerance for our fellow human beings. Despair and submission are not viable ScarnellLeigh-on-Sea, Essex Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sadiq Khan to scrap congestion charge discount for locals without electric cars
Sir Sadiq Khan has proposed a 20pc rise in London's congestion charge and plans to scrap a discount for people who live within the zone unless they drive an electric vehicle (EV). Transport for London (TfL), which is overseen by the Mayor, plans to raise the daily charge for driving in central London from £15 to £18 from January 2026. It will be the first increase since 2020, when the fee climbed from £11.50. TfL also plans to close the residents' discount scheme to new entrants unless they drive an EV. Currently, locals can qualify for a 90pc discount, a policy that has been in place since the congestion charge was introduced in 2003 by Ken Livingstone. But under the new plans, anyone who moves to a property within the zone from March 2027 will have to own an EV to avoid paying the full driving charge. TfL said the changes would 'encourage the uptake of electric vehicles and promote sustainable travel across the capital'. However, the plans may prove controversial given the relatively weak uptake of EVs in the UK. One in five cars sold in March were EVs but that was below government targets. At the current pace, it will take years for the market to switch to fully electric vehicles. TfL is also proposing to increase the congestion charge annually in line with public transport fares, which typically rise each year in line with inflation. It said there would be more than 2,200 extra cars on the roads unless the charge increased. Seb Dance, the deputy mayor for transport, said: 'We must support Londoners and businesses to use greener and more sustainable travel. That's why I'm pleased we're proposing that substantial incentives remain in place for Londoners who switch to cleaner vehicles.' However, Susan Hall, leader of the City Hall Conservative Group, said: 'The war on motorists is alive and kicking under the dreadful mayoralty of Sadiq Khan.' The changes come as TfL faces a budget shortfall of £23m this financial year, with Rachel Reeves's increase in National Insurance contributions putting pressure on the transport authority. The Department for Transport previously announced that TfL would receive an additional £500m in government funding this year. TfL's public consultation on the proposed changes will run until Aug 4. London has the most congested roads in Europe, a title it has held for four years in a row. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sadiq Khan to scrap congestion charge discount for locals without electric cars
Sir Sadiq Khan has proposed a 20pc rise in London's congestion charge and plans to scrap a discount for people who live within the zone unless they drive an electric vehicle (EV). Transport for London (TfL), which is overseen by the Mayor, plans to raise the daily charge for driving in central London from £15 to £18 from January 2026. It will be the first increase since 2020, when the fee climbed from £11.50. TfL also plans to close the residents' discount scheme to new entrants unless they drive an EV. Currently, locals can qualify for a 90pc discount, a policy that has been in place since the congestion charge was introduced in 2003 by Ken Livingstone. But under the new plans, anyone who moves to a property within the zone from March 2027 will have to own an EV to avoid paying the full driving charge. TfL said the changes would 'encourage the uptake of electric vehicles and promote sustainable travel across the capital'. However, the plans may prove controversial given the relatively weak uptake of EVs in the UK. One in five cars sold in March were EVs but that was below government targets. At the current pace, it will take years for the market to switch to fully electric vehicles. TfL is also proposing to increase the congestion charge annually in line with public transport fares, which typically rise each year in line with inflation. It said there would be more than 2,200 extra cars on the roads unless the charge increased. Seb Dance, the deputy mayor for transport, said: 'We must support Londoners and businesses to use greener and more sustainable travel. That's why I'm pleased we're proposing that substantial incentives remain in place for Londoners who switch to cleaner vehicles.' The changes come as TfL faces a budget shortfall of £23m this financial year, with Rachel Reeves's increase in National Insurance contributions putting pressure on the transport authority. The Department for Transport previously announced that TfL would receive an additional £500m in government funding this year. TfL's public consultation on the proposed changes will run until Aug 4. London has the most congested roads in Europe, a title it has held for four years in a row. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In pictures: 25 years of London's mayors in action
Twenty-five years ago this month, the first mayor of London was elected. Three men have held the office. Ken Livingstone was elected in 2000 as an independent candidate and then won for Labour in 2004. He was denied a third term in office in 2008 by Conservative Boris Johnson, who was succeeded after two terms in 2016 by the incumbent, Labour's Sadiq Khan. The three mayors have at least one thing in common - an eye for a photo opportunity. To celebrate 25 years of London's mayors, here are some memorable images. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Khan wins historic third term as Mayor of London Mayor of London: Two decades in the spotlight Is London's mayoralty in crisis? Mayor of London
