Lib Dems urged to back Ken
The Liberal Democrats have been urged to support Ken Livingstone’s bid for the mayoral election in order to build a “progressive insurance policy” against Boris Johnson.
Sunder Katwala, general secretary of the Fabian Society, has written to senior Liberal Democrats urging them to call on Lib Dems in London to place Mr Livingstone as their second choice on May 1st.
If none of the candidates receives 50 per cent of the vote on first preferences then the London election will be decided by second preference votes.
With ten per cent of Londoners planning to back the Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick, his second preference votes could determine who out of Mr Livingstone and Mr Johnson is elected mayor of London.
Unless senior Liberal Democrats offer a lead “the likely outcome is that LibDem second preferences will divide equally enough to see Boris Johnson elected as mayor by the back door,” writes Mr Katwala.
In an open letter to Nick Clegg and eight London Lib Dem MPs, he continues: “While Labour and the Liberal Democrats have several legitimate policy differences about London’s future, the current mayor has a creditable record on several key Liberal Democrat concerns – notably the environment and climate change, public transport, child poverty and inequality in London – which few expect the Conservative candidate Boris Johnson to match were he elected mayor.”
Mr Paddick is yet to comment on who his voters should list as their second preference.
A formal pact between the Lib Dems and Labour seems impossible as Mr Livingstone has already urged his voters to list the Green Party’s Sian Berry as their second preference.
The mayor in return will win the second preferences of the two per cent of Londoners planning to back Ms Berry.
The BNP has in turn encouraged its supporters to back the “clown” Mr Johnson second, but the Conservative candidate has been at pains to reject their support.
Former Cabinet minister Peter Hain has urged the Liberal Democrats to consider an informal pact, arguing it could strengthen their case for electoral reform, crucial for Lib Dem success in Westminster elections.
