Talk:Ken Livingstone

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Ken recently got in the news again by comparing the Tiannamen Sq massacre to the poll tax riots in London in 1990. This should be mentioned along with his other bon mots. That was really a strange one even for Ken - no-one got shot at, much less killed, by the police in London in the Poll Tax riots, in contrast to the massacre at TS. And the poll tax riots were an aggressive protest against what was seen as an unjust tax, not a peaceful process against a Communist/Fascist gvt. Then Ken dredged up something from the early C19 and came up with some really windy waffle about how he was just saying dodgy things had happened in every city. JRJW April 06.

I'm not sure. Babajobu 17:38, 24 March 2006 (UTC)

Not sure what? Ken did say these things, maybe his old socialists ideas coming out, but it sounds notable enough to be included to me, SqueakBox 14:38, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

No he didn't- he compared Tiannamen Square to the Peterloo massacre of 1819, where British Troops killed 11 people for protesting for the right to vote. Source: [1] (skip to about half way through.)81.104.175.188 21:13, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

amsterdamaged says... I take great exception to the assertation that "the poll tax riots were an aggressive protest". Where they? I was there and from what I saw (and it appears that others agree) the violence occured once a great number of people where unable to leave Trafalgar Square. This, because the Police had blocked the exits and a number of mounted police rode at speed into the crowds. Perhaps you might like to refer to the article entitled "Poll Tax Riots" in Wikipedia? I also believe that "windy waffle" although poetic is not helpful to any cogent arguement. You might not like what he said, but his suggestion that "There is no such thing as one country with a perfect record." is surely correct? http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/londonmayor/display.var.728790.0.ken_compares_tax_riots_to_tiananmen_square_massacre.php)

[edit] Chavez's snub

Should we mention that his recent planned trip to Venezuela was called off at short notice after Chavez refused to meet him  ? -- Beardo 03:49, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

Chavez didn't refuse to meet him. He was simply otherwise engaged. Livingstone later pulled off an oil deal with Chavez.SmokeyTheCat 10:10, 22 February 2007 (UTC)

This article has been nominated to be checked for its neutrality. Discussion of this nomination can be found on the talk page.

There are several sections in the article that appear to have been written by Mr Livingstone's own press office.

Are there? This seems like a fair article to me. There are plenty of negative things said about the subject.SmokeyTheCat 10:23, 2 March 2007 (UTC)

A few NPOVs:

- (As Livingstone's subsequent election as Mayor would show this was false. Kinnock was unelectable; Livingstone was not.)

- Tony Blair said that Livingstone as mayor would be a "disaster" for London. He was wrong.

- Dobson ... foolishly based his campaign on claims that Livingstone was an egomaniac 134.151.33.106 16:57, 2 March 2007 (UTC)

Those first two are verifiable facts. Blair did say that. Events proved him wrong. Kinnock *was* unelectable; Livingstone was not. Dunno about the Dobson quote. SmokeyTheCat 10:48, 5 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Better photo

Any ideas on how we can get a better photo of Livingstone? None of the ones used give a good, clear likeness.--A bit iffy 12:10, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Agreed that one is needed - also for London. London Mayor's office has been emailed to see if they can submit one - the issue with the previous one appeared to be lack of public domain confirmation. MarkThomas 12:51, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Is this photo okay? Seems a fair image. Could it be a bit bigger? SmokeyTheCat 12:17, 21 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Abolition of the GLC

The article says "The Conservative Party... forged ahead with their long-standing plan to abolish the GLC" Is this correct? It's a long time ago now but my recollection is that it was very much a spur of the moment idea during the election campaign. BTLizard 11:18, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

This could get very complicated! Yes, it was a spur of the moment thing to put abolition in the manifesto. However, there had been a long build up of pressure from the outer London boroughs to get rid of the GLC; the Marshall report in 1979 had considered abolition and only narrowly recommended against it. I know of one presentation to a London history conference which makes the point very forcefully that to regard the abolition of the GLC as a Thatcher-motivated act of spite against Livingstone is good politics but ahistorical. The GLC would have been abolished anyway, by any Conservative governmnent sooner or later, because the outer London boroughs simply did not see the need for it and did not get enough out of it. A bit of wordsmithing called for I think. Fys. “Ta fys aym”. 13:57, 28 March 2007 (UTC)