Ken overtakes Boris in race for Mayor


by Don Paskini    
10:39 am - March 23rd 2011

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A new poll out today shows a big increase over the past few months in support for Ken Livingstone, helping him take the lead in the race to be Mayor of London:

Ken Livingstone 46 (+11 since October)
Boris Johnson 44 (no change since October)

When second preferences are reallocated, Ken leads 51-49.

Last September, the Evening Standard’s headlines declared “Boris to be Mayor again”, after a poll showed him way ahead of Ken. I wonder how they’ll cover this poll?

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About the author
Don Paskini is deputy-editor of LC. He also blogs at donpaskini. He is on twitter as @donpaskini
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Reader comments


1. Jonn

It’s early days – another 14 months to go, remember.

My instinct is that the race is wide open. There’s a good chunk of the electorate that hates Livingstone, but it’s probably no bigger than the chunk that hates Johnson. I suspect the result will depend on two things: a relatively small pool of swing voters and turnout.

2. Don Paskini

“There’s a good chunk of the electorate that hates Livingstone, but it’s probably no bigger than the chunk that hates Johnson. I suspect the result will depend on two things: a relatively small pool of swing voters and turnout.”

Both have a few vocal critics, but polling suggests that they are both amongst the most popular politicians (not much competition, admittedly).

56% thought Ken did a good job as Mayor, compared to 36% who disagree, and Boris had 58% good job/34% bad job last October. That’s way ahead of Cameron/Miliband/Clegg.

Agree that turnout will be crucial.

3. Jonn

@2 Hmmm. I suppose I’ll have to accept that polling beats anecdotes

I also wonder how big an impact national politics will have. If the coalition are still this unpopular – or, very possibly, more unpopular – in 14 months’ time, I suspect they’ll struggle to get the vote out. Plus, a lot of people might vote for Ken just to piss off the national government.

4. Dave

So the commie loving, Islamist fanboy who openly befriends and embraces doctrines, beliefs and individuals who are the very opposite of anything remotely liberal could get back running the capital of the country…and this is a good thing is it?

How liberal.

5. Richard.E.Craig

I wish Ken the best of luck. He is a man who seems to speak from his heart. No man is perfect but the desire to make society perfect is a noble.
regards Richard

6. Dave

To make society perfect!!!???
What via the unholy alliance between Communism (killed more than National Socialism could ever dream of) and Islam?

That’s all Livingstone stands for. Wake up you idiot.

7. buddyhell

Livingstone is a “commie”? That’s news to me.

Nurse! The screens!

8. Richard

@Dave, I see you are a defender of National Socialism.Your Führer David Cameron and his girl friend Angela Merkel would be most delighted…Tschüß.

9. Dave

Another moron.

Yes…Saying ‘bunch of cunts A’ killed more people than ‘bunch of cunts B’ means I must be a supporter of ‘bunch of cunts B’.

Of course.
So logical really.

Or could it be that leftist hypocrites who bleat on about ‘fascism’ and ‘Nazis’ like to forget that their spiritual homeland raped freedom and liberty even more than those ‘fascists’ they whine about so much actually did.

I call you hypocrites. You call me a Nazi lover. HEY HO.

10. Jimmy

“That’s all Livingstone stands for. Wake up you idiot.”

Rubbish. The only thing Livingstone stands for is Livingstone.

Relax he’ll lose.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

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  2. James McLaughlin

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  3. Sarah Rochford

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  4. David McMillan

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  7. DaveHill

    Ken overtakes Boris in race for Mayor | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/mwTmBCx via @libcon

  8. Rick Muir

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  9. LVSC

    RT @DaveHill: Ken overtakes Boris in race for Mayor | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/mwTmBCx via @libcon

  10. George Woods

    RT @DaveHill Ken overtakes Boris in race for Mayor | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/mwTmBCx via @libcon

  11. Typecat

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  12. Mary-Louise Clews

    RT @libcon: Ken overtakes Boris in race for Mayor http://bit.ly/e1g9ja

  13. Daniel Pitt

    Ken overtakes Boris in London mayoral race http://bit.ly/e1g9ja #ConDemNation #Budget2011

  14. blogs of the world

    My instinct is that the race is wide open. There's a good chunk of the electorate that hat… http://reduce.li/4gv5r0 #race





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