Greens back Ken for second preference


1:49 pm - March 28th 2012

by Jim Jepps    


Tweet       Share on Tumblr

At a special meeting on Monday night London Green Party made the decision to recommend a second preference vote for Ken Livingstone for Mayor, after their own candidate, Jenny Jones.

Livingstone attended the meeting and was grilled by London Greens on topics as diverse as domestic violence, the financial system, and the record of Labour councils as well as more traditional environmental topics like air pollution, walking and cycling and incineration.

Although many at the meeting were skeptical when Ken claimed that the election of Ed Miliband proved that New Labour was dead they also appreciated that his environmental record was head and shoulders above that of Boris Johnson.

The Greens formally backed a second preference vote for Livingstone after debating whether associating with Labour would cost them votes by associating with a “toxic brand”.

A number of members pointed out that their experience of Labour was not a happy one and they had no wish for the decision to be misrepresented, as it has sometimes been in 2008, as an endorsement for Labour as a whole.

Others thought the priority had to be to get Johnson out and that Livingstone was the only candidate placed to do that.

After a robust but friendly debate members voted by a ratio of just over two to one to back a second preference for Labour’s candidate.

  Tweet   Share on Tumblr   submit to reddit  


About the author
Jim Jepps is a socialist in the Green Party and formerly blogged at the Daily (Maybe). He currently writes on London politics, community and the environment at Big Smoke.
· Other posts by


Story Filed Under: News

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


Reader comments


1. Joe

Green first ken second is definitely the way I’m going.

2. Joe Mortimer

Jen then Ken! Remember it 🙂 A good Green then Labour vote would strengthen the left as a whole and send a strong message that London wants strong environmental AND social policies (which both Jenny and Ken support) .

3. Jimmy

Many Labour members will also be recommending a second preference for him.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Greens back Ken for second preference http://t.co/OWnP3faY

  2. LLPaulJ

    Will be how I'm voting, anyway RT @libcon: Greens back Ken for second preference http://t.co/GRvpchT5

  3. ROBERT THE GREAT

    Greens back Ken for second preference http://t.co/OWnP3faY

  4. ellispritchard

    Greens back Ken for second preference http://t.co/OWnP3faY

  5. Graham Ward

    Greens back Ken for second preference http://t.co/OWnP3faY

  6. Patron Press - #P2

    #UK : Greens back Ken for second preference http://t.co/s3DhAE5o

  7. George Czernuszka

    #UK : Greens back Ken for second preference http://t.co/s3DhAE5o

  8. Jason Brickley

    Greens back Ken for second preference http://t.co/4ENCMHzM

  9. Jim Jepps

    Greens back Ken for second preference | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/AWRbsI0Z via @libcon

  10. Simon King

    Greens back Ken for second preference http://t.co/OWnP3faY





Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.