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It's the first London mayoral election hustings – all over again It's the first London mayoral election hustings – all over again
(40 minutes later)
At first glance it was Groundhog Day in the London mayoral election. Four years after Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone and the Liberal Democrat candidate, Brian Paddick, faced an audience of older voters at a hustings organised by Age UK, here were Boris, Ken and Brian facing them again at the Friends Meeting House opposite Euston Station. At first glance, it was Groundhog Day in the London mayoral election. Four years after Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone and the Liberal Democrat candidate, Brian Paddick, faced an audience of older voters at a hustings organised by Age UK, here were Boris, Ken and Brian facing them again at the Friends Meeting House opposite Euston station.
Yet the first such hustings of the 2012 contest was not quite the Groundhog event that Mayor Boris claimed. This time he is the incumbent with a (thinnish) Conservative record to defend in thin Tory times. It was enough to bring out the hunched-shoulders side of the mayor's personality when he looks shiftily like a man being hunted by an irate father with a shotgun – or his party leader. Yet the first such hustings of the 2012 contest was not quite the Groundhog event that Mayor Boris claimed. This time he is the incumbent with a (thinnish) Conservative record to defend in thin Tory times.
As for Candidate Ken, instead of sounding like an exhausted old has-been after eight years in City Hall he appeared to be a revitalised old has-been, taking bites out of his rival with well-honed skill. It is 30 years since he first got hold of the capital's cheque book and it shows. It was enough to bring out the hunched-shoulders side of the mayor's personality when he looks shiftily like a man being hunted by an irate father with a shotgun – or his party leader.
As for Candidate Ken, instead of sounding like an exhausted old has-been after eight years in City Hall, he appeared to be a revitalised old has-been, taking bites out of his rival with well-honed skill. It is 30 years since he first got hold of the capital's cheque book and it shows.
With 10 weeks still to go it is early days, but if Johnson's jokes were good (they usually are), Livingstone's were better, and the political barbs more effective.With 10 weeks still to go it is early days, but if Johnson's jokes were good (they usually are), Livingstone's were better, and the political barbs more effective.
In the opening salvos, Johnson suggested Livingstone was in the pocket of the RMT union which holds the tube to ransom and recalled he'd spent £37,000 visiting Fidel Castro. Livingstone retaliated with the kind of micro-detail about home insulation and free bus passes that are beneath the mayor's attention.In the opening salvos, Johnson suggested Livingstone was in the pocket of the RMT union which holds the tube to ransom and recalled he'd spent £37,000 visiting Fidel Castro. Livingstone retaliated with the kind of micro-detail about home insulation and free bus passes that are beneath the mayor's attention.
But he was not all nerdy. Perhaps the mayor had been too busy to innovate since 2008 because he had other things on his plate – like the £250,000-a-year column he still writes for the Daily Telegraph, Livingstone mused unkindly. As Johnson shrank beneath his trademark tea cosy hairdo, pantomime cries of "Ooh" rose from the oldsters, a good cross-section of 200 multi-everything Londoners packed into an upstairs room. But he was not all nerdy. Perhaps the mayor had been too busy to innovate since 2008 because he had other things on his plate – like the £250,000-a-year column he still writes for the Daily Telegraph, Livingstone mused unkindly. As Johnson shrank beneath his trademark tea cosy hairdo, pantomime cries of "Ooh" rose from the oldsters, a good cross-section of 200 Londoners packed into an upstairs room.
"As mayor I got by on £140,000 ... if you cannot live on £140,000 you must have a very interesting lifestyle," observed Ken in an innuendo-packed sentence. As a Labour flier being handed out to the oldies reminded them, in an exuberant moment the mayor had called the £250,000 "chicken feed," a phrase repeated by Livingstone who theatrically produced an "I will be a full-time mayor" pledge card. "I've left a space for you to sign, Boris." Huge laughter."As mayor I got by on £140,000 ... if you cannot live on £140,000 you must have a very interesting lifestyle," observed Ken in an innuendo-packed sentence. As a Labour flier being handed out to the oldies reminded them, in an exuberant moment the mayor had called the £250,000 "chicken feed," a phrase repeated by Livingstone who theatrically produced an "I will be a full-time mayor" pledge card. "I've left a space for you to sign, Boris." Huge laughter.
Unless Lynton (dog-whistle) Crosby, the Australian political strategist who was watching the banter, can come up with a good killer rebuttal, his candidate will have to endure this routine on every hustings until 3 May. It is a grim prospect for all concerned.Unless Lynton (dog-whistle) Crosby, the Australian political strategist who was watching the banter, can come up with a good killer rebuttal, his candidate will have to endure this routine on every hustings until 3 May. It is a grim prospect for all concerned.
Yet the one you had to feel really sorry for was former Met copper Brian (" I love bendy buses") Paddick, the Marx Brother they always forget. Yet the one you had to feel really sorry for was former Met copper Brian ("I love bendy buses") Paddick, the Marx Brother they always forget.
Even here things were not what they were last time. Paddick is no standup comic, but he is a lot better than he was and held his own with some corny shtick for the OAPs about always consulting a "secret agent". She turned out to be his wise old mum in Sutton, who is 92 and scared to go out after the riots. Young Brian spoke so warmly of his mother that we all wished she was the candidate.Even here things were not what they were last time. Paddick is no standup comic, but he is a lot better than he was and held his own with some corny shtick for the OAPs about always consulting a "secret agent". She turned out to be his wise old mum in Sutton, who is 92 and scared to go out after the riots. Young Brian spoke so warmly of his mother that we all wished she was the candidate.
Even here Paddick, a mere 53 but with tennis elbow already, was shamelessly outbid for the oldie vote by Livingstone. At 66 he revealed that he was now a victim of ageist attacks. Assorted City Hall Tories had dismissed him as a game old boy,his candidacy commendably ambitious for his age. Johnson, 47, had likened him to "Voldemart brought from his lair." Even here Paddick, a mere 53 but with tennis elbow already, was shamelessly outbid for the oldie vote by Livingstone. At 66 he revealed that he was now a victim of ageist attacks.
Assorted City Hall Tories had dismissed him as a game old boy,his candidacy commendably ambitious for his age. Johnson, 47, had likened him to "Voldemort brought from his lair."
What Livingstone thinks is that ministers want everyone to work longer and he's trying to do "his bit".What Livingstone thinks is that ministers want everyone to work longer and he's trying to do "his bit".
In the twilight of a long career he has finally become the Ronald Reagan of the campaign, determined not to exploit the youth and inexperience of his opponents while ruthlessly doing so.In the twilight of a long career he has finally become the Ronald Reagan of the campaign, determined not to exploit the youth and inexperience of his opponents while ruthlessly doing so.
In their voracious demands for better buses, safer streets, more social care, ever-freer travel and an end to ageist discrimination, the oldsters were as bad as teenagers, albeit generally more polite. Naturally the candidates pandered to them all. Old folk remember to vote.In their voracious demands for better buses, safer streets, more social care, ever-freer travel and an end to ageist discrimination, the oldsters were as bad as teenagers, albeit generally more polite. Naturally the candidates pandered to them all. Old folk remember to vote.