Gavin’s Gaily Gigest

Sunder Katwala, Secretary-General of the Fabian Society*, has written to the Liberal Democrats’ eight London MPs (as well as Nick Clegg and Sarah Ludford MEP) urging them to use their second choice votes in the upcoming London mayoral election to support Ken Livingstone. This follows Peter Hain’s barely veiled threat that supporting Ken is the only way we will get voting reform for elections to the House of Commons to which we have all giggled heartily and the inexorable rise of Boris Johnson in the polls.

Here’s a radical idea for all the London Labour supporters bricking it at the prospect of a Boris mayoralty. Why don’t you let all of the parties make their case to the electorate and let them decide who they are going to vote for? This should include the Greens, who you have ruthlessly co-opted so Islington-types can vote Green but be assured they get Red. I realise this sounds a bit too much democracy for your sensitive New Labour ears and we are all aware that you have a natural disdain for this disgusting capitalist ideal. So instead we can call it "citizen engagement", "a Big Listen" or some other catchy buzz-word which you can tell your friends about in your next wine bar circle jerk. Please, despite your natural paternalist instincts, leave the voters alone and let them make their own decisions.

You can express your second choice preference over at Lib Dem Voice. My own position is that Ken Livingstone has been Mayor too long for any good and so I would vote for Boris.

* That spittoon from yesterday is coming in handy.