Ken Livingstone

Let's hope there's an innocent explanation for his absence. From our friends at NO2ID:

Tue, 8th Apr 2008 — NO2ID London Mayoral Hustings on

THE DATABASE STATE

As well as housing Whitehall, London has many information and identity management systems of its own. How do candidates feel about the civil liberties and privacy implications of the Oyster Card, congestion charging, telephone parking? Would they support or oppose national ID schemes as mayor? What is their attitude to the database state?

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Had a coffee with Martin Bright this morning. He is very angry with me for signing the Compass letter in support of Livingstone and made his feelings known in his blog. Meanwhile Sunder Katwala who heads up the Fabians has written his, longer version, of why I signed, like me he rejects the letter's Compass statement's criticism of journalists on the left (aka in this instance Martin Bright) who criticise Ken. I've put my case. We also talked about the drink issue and my distinction between politicians taking whatever they need to stiffen their nerves - but not to tolerate drug use that incapacitates them or makes them feel sorry for themselves. More important, perhaps, Martin and I agree that even if elected Ken may not last the course of another four years. Who should replace him? Not an ex-Cabinet minister. Please! The political establishment (and I include media reporters in this) still do not understand what is happening with devolution. London demands a different kind of politics. It is an executive post not a ministerial one. A point I've made before. It should be a stepping stone to national politics not a consolation prize. Livingstone has made the impact he has, not because he was an MP or is a "maverick" as Sunder describes him, but because he was formed by running the GLC. It was there that he came to the view that in executive terms one looks for "the best person for the job anywhere in the world and pay them accordingly". Eyebrows have been raised at my suggestion that a better left candidate would have been Neal Lawson. Should Sunder be drafted? The position needs someone with executive abilities and a political will to mobilise a wide range of constituencies outside the usual party routines.

Anthony Barnett: I signed the statement in support of Ken Livingstone organised by Compass - in my personal capacity and after hesitating. I don't think Boris will necessarily be a "horror and embarrassment" as it states. Indeed, if we are to have a Tory from his generation and old school in No 10, I think I'd prefer him as Prime Minister to David Cameron as he is bolder. More important I think that Livingstone should have passed on the torch. Eight years is enough. Indeed the ideal candidate to have succeeded him on the left would be Neal Lawson who created Compass. And I certainly do not think that others on the left who have a case against Ken should be criticised on the grounds of giving comfort to the enemy. But the passage that struck a chord for me was this:

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Political Betting has a good short summary of,

The big political news in the UK this morning...[is] the future of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, following the resignation yesterday of the £2000 a day consultant whose job it is to deal with the media on his behalf.