Livingstone ‘finished’ as politician, says biographer
As Ken Livingstone concedes defeat to Boris Johnson in the election for London’s mayor, his biographer tells Channel 4 News the Labour politician is “finished politically”.
With a career on London’s political scene stretching back to the seventies, Ken Livingstone is a familiar name to the capital’s voters.
After leading the Greater London Council for five years until it was disbanded by Margaret Thatcher in 1986, Mr Livingstone sought the Labour nomination in 1999 to be the first elected mayor of London.
With his candidacy opposed by Tony Blair, he fought the election as an independent – and won in 2000. He was re-elected in 2004, but lost to Boris Johnson in 2008.
Personality contest
But where now for the 66-year-old politician?
Andrew Hosken, author of Ken: The Ups and Downs of Ken Livingstone, told Channel 4 News: “I think Ken is finished politically – he has been around an awfully long time and it is hard to see him returning to the backbenches. He did that for 30 years and he didn’t like it.”
“Perhaps he may go to the House of Lords – perhaps we will see Lord Livingstone of Brent East.
Ken used to be more popular than his party, but it’s very unlikely he will be selected again. Andrew Hosken, Livingstone biographer
Mr Hosken believes there was a time when, like Boris Johnson, Mr Livingstone was actually better liked by the electorate than the party he represented.
“Boris Johnson is more popular than his party – that’s why he does well in the mayoral race. Ken used to be more popular than his party, but it’s very unlikely he will be selected again.
“The thing about the mayoral race is that it is about personality, and Boris is a much bigger one.
“Ken’s accusations about Boris not paying enough income tax looked a bit scrappy too.”
And Mr Livingstone appeared to confirm Andrew Hosken’s prediction last night after conceding defeat to Boris Johnson. “This is my last election” he told candidates and supporters at City Hall.