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Ken Livingstone
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Livingstone at the World Economic Forum in 2008
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| Mayor of London | |
| In office 4 May 2000 – 3 May 2008 |
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| Deputy | Nicky Gavron Jenny Jones< Nicky Gavron |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Boris Johnson |
| Leader of the Greater London Council | |
| In office 17 May 1981 – 31 March 1986 |
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| Deputy | Illtyd Harrington John McDonnell Michael Ward |
| Preceded by | Horace Cutler |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Member of Parliament for Brent East |
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| In office 11 June 1987 – 14 May 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Reg Freeson |
| Succeeded by | Paul Daisley |
| Councillor for the Lambeth London Borough Council | |
| In office 13 May 1971 – 4 May 1978 |
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| Ward | Knight's Hill |
| Councillor for the Greater London Council | |
| In office 12 April 1973 – 31 March 1986 |
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| Divisions | Norwood (1973–1977) Hackney North and Stoke Newington (1977–1981) Paddington (1981–1986) |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kenneth Robert Livingstone
17 June 1945 Lambeth, London, England |
| Political party | Independent (2018–present; 2000–2003) |
| Other political affiliations |
Labour (1968–2000; 2003–2018) |
| Spouses |
Christine Chapman
(m. 1973; div. 1982)Emma Beal
(m. 2009) |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Philippa Fawcett Teacher Training College |
Kenneth Robert Livingstone (born 17 June 1945) is a retired English politician. He was the Leader of the Greater London Council (GLC) from 1981 until it was closed down in 1986. He then became the first Mayor of London when the job was created in 2000, serving until 2008. He was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Brent East from 1987 to 2001. He was a member of the Labour Party for most of his career.
Livingstone was born in Lambeth, South London. He joined the Labour Party in 1968. He was elected to the GLC in 1973 and became its leader in 1981. He tried to make London Underground fares cheaper, but this plan was stopped by the courts. He also worked to help women and minority groups. The media called him "Red Ken" because of his socialist views. He was a strong opponent of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, whose government closed down the GLC in 1986.
After the GLC was abolished, Livingstone became an MP for Brent East in 1987. He supported campaigns against racism. He later disagreed with Tony Blair's "New Labour" ideas, which moved the party closer to the political middle.
In 2000, Livingstone ran for Mayor of London as an independent candidate and won. As Mayor, he introduced the London congestion charge, the Oyster card, and new articulated buses. He also helped London win its bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. He was praised for his leadership after the 7 July 2005 London bombings. He was re-elected as Mayor in 2004 as the Labour candidate. He lost the mayoral elections in 2008 and 2012 to Boris Johnson. Livingstone retired from politics in 2023 due to Alzheimer's disease.
Livingstone was a controversial figure. His supporters praised his work for women, LGBT people, and ethnic minorities in London. However, critics raised concerns about some of his decisions and connections.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Childhood and Youth: 1945–1967
Ken Livingstone was born in Streatham, South London, on 17 June 1945. His family was working class. His mother, Ethel, was a dancer before World War II. His father, Robert, was a Merchant Navy ship's master.
His parents were "working class Tories" but had open-minded views on race. The family was Christian, but Livingstone became an atheist at age 11.
The family moved to a Tulse Hill council housing estate. Livingstone went to St. Leonard's Primary School. After failing his 11-plus exam, he attended Tulse Hill Comprehensive School in 1956. He was shy and sometimes skipped school. His teacher, Philip Hobsbaum, encouraged debates, which sparked Livingstone's interest in politics.
He became interested in amphibians and reptiles, keeping many as pets. He earned four O-levels in English Literature, English Language, Geography, and Art.
From 1962 to 1970, he worked as a technician at a cancer research lab in Fulham. He cared for animals used in experiments. Most technicians there were socialists. Livingstone helped start a union branch to fight job cuts. His left-wing views grew stronger when Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson was elected in 1964. In 1966, he traveled to West Africa. He also joined anti-Vietnam War protests.
Early Political Steps: 1968–1970
Livingstone joined the Labour Party in March 1968, at age 23. He felt it was the best way to make political changes in the UK.
He quickly became active in his local Labour branch in Norwood. He became chair and secretary of the Norwood Young Socialists. He also gained spots on important party committees. He went to night school to get more qualifications. In September 1970, he started a teacher training course. He married Christine Chapman in 1973.
Livingstone worked to help Labour win seats in the Lambeth London Borough Council. He encouraged members of the Brixton branch of the Black Panthers to join Labour.
Lambeth Housing Committee: 1971–1973
In 1971, Livingstone and his allies focused on winning key seats in Lambeth. Public unhappiness with the Conservative government helped Labour win control of the borough. Livingstone's father died that year.
Livingstone became vice-chairman of the Housing Committee on the Lambeth Council. He worked to change the housing system. He cancelled planned rent increases for council housing. He also helped homeless families find homes by allowing them to use empty houses. He increased the number of private properties bought by the council to turn into public housing. However, many of his reforms were stopped by the central government.
Livingstone became involved with some left-wing groups within Labour. He learned from Ted Knight to oppose British troops in Northern Ireland. In April 1973, Livingstone lost a vote to become chairman of the Housing Committee. Many of his reforms were then undone.
First Years on the Greater London Council: 1973–1977
In June 1972, Livingstone was chosen as the Labour candidate for Norwood in the Greater London Council (GLC) election. In 1973, he won the seat. Labour gained control of the GLC. Livingstone was one of about 16 strong left-wing members.
He continued as a Lambeth councillor. He spoke out against the Lambeth council's treatment of homeless people. He found evidence that the council was giving the best housing to white families. He made this public, and it was reported in the South London Press. He resigned from the Housing Committee in December 1973 because the council did not keep its promises to rehouse homeless families.
Livingstone was seen as a radical by the GLC's Labour leaders. He was given a less important role on the Film Viewing Board. In March 1974, he was elected to the Greater London Labour Party executive. This group helped create Labour's plans for the GLC. He became Vice Chairman of the GLC's Housing Management Committee. But he was fired in April 1975 for opposing cuts to the GLC's house-building budget.
For the 1977 GLC elections, Livingstone moved to a safer Labour seat in Hackney North and Stoke Newington. This helped him remain on the GLC, even though the Conservatives took control under Horace Cutler.
Hampstead and National Politics: 1977–1980
Livingstone moved to West Hampstead, north London. In June 1977, he was chosen as the Labour candidate for the Hampstead constituency. He became active in the London Borough of Camden politics. He was elected Chair of Camden's Housing Committee. He made radical changes, like freezing rents and making council housing meetings more open. Some colleagues criticized him for being too ambitious.
In 1979, Labour faced internal struggles. Livingstone joined activists who wanted more say in the party. He helped form the Socialist Campaign for a Labour Victory (SCLV). They published a paper called Socialist Organiser, which criticized Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan.
In January 1979, Britain had many public sector worker strikes, known as the "Winter of Discontent." Livingstone supported the striking council employees in Camden. He urged the council to meet their demands. A government accountant claimed this was illegal, but the court case against Livingstone was dismissed.
In the May 1979 general election, Livingstone lost in Hampstead. Callaghan's government lost to the Conservatives, and Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister. Livingstone blamed Labour's loss on its policies. He called for more party democracy and a socialist approach. He became a key figure on the left wing of the Labour Party, alongside Tony Benn.
Leading the Greater London Council
Becoming GLC Leader: 1979–1981
Livingstone planned to take over the GLC. In October 1979, he held a meeting called "Taking over the GLC." He also started a newsletter, the London Labour Briefing. He encouraged socialists to run in the upcoming GLC election.
In April 1980, Livingstone ran for leader of London Labour but lost to Andrew McIntosh. In September 1980, Livingstone separated from his wife Christine. He later divorced in 1982 and started a relationship with Kate Allen.
Livingstone focused on winning the GLC election. He ran for the Paddington seat, which he won in May 1981. The Conservatives warned that a Labour victory would lead to a "Marxist takeover." But the media coverage did not stop Labour from winning control of the GLC in May 1981.
Within 24 hours, Livingstone replaced McIntosh as Head of the GLC. He won the leadership vote by 30 votes to 20. The left-wing group also took control of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA).
The media criticized Livingstone's takeover. The Daily Mail called him a "left wing extremist." The Sun nicknamed him "Red Ken." Margaret Thatcher claimed he was plotting against democracy.
GLC Leader: 1981–1983
Livingstone started making changes at County Hall, the GLC headquarters, on 8 May 1981. He opened the building for public meetings, earning it the nickname "the People's Palace." He wanted to challenge Thatcher's government.
The mainstream media remained hostile towards him. The Sun tried to find scandalous information about him but failed. They focused on his hobby of keeping amphibians, which other media outlets mocked. The satirical magazine Private Eye called him "Ken Leninspart" and falsely claimed he received money from Libya. Livingstone sued them for libel, and they apologized and paid him £15,000.
In 1982, Livingstone made new appointments to the GLC. John McDonnell became finance chair, and Valerie Wise chaired the new Women's Committee. Livingstone tried to become the Labour candidate for Brent East but missed the deadline. In 1983, he started co-hosting a TV chat show.
Fares Fair and Transport Policy
The 1981 Labour manifesto for London promised to create jobs and cut London Transport fares. Livingstone's administration focused on these goals. They introduced "Fares Fair" in October 1981, cutting London Underground fares by 32%. To pay for this, they planned to increase local taxes.
However, the legality of "Fares Fair" was challenged in court by the Conservative leader of Bromley council. The courts ruled that the GLC was not allowed to run London Transport at a loss. The House of Lords finally ruled against the policy in December 1981, ending "Fares Fair." Livingstone believed the court's decision was politically motivated.
Livingstone then campaigned to change the law to make "Fares Fair" legal. While the full policy was stopped, the new system of flat fares within ticket zones and the Travelcard ticket continued. The GLC later managed to reduce fares by a smaller amount (25%), which was ruled legal in January 1983.
GLEB and Nuclear Disarmament
Livingstone's administration created the Greater London Enterprise Board (GLEB). Its goal was to create jobs by investing in London's industries. The GLC also took a strong stand on nuclear disarmament, declaring London a "nuclear-free zone." In May 1981, the GLC stopped spending money on nuclear war defense plans. They also published the names of politicians who would survive in bunkers during a nuclear attack. Thatcher's government strongly criticized these actions.
Republicanism, Ireland, and Controversies
Livingstone was a republican and did not support the monarchy. He turned down an invitation to the royal wedding in July 1981. He also allowed Irish republican protesters to hold a vigil at County Hall during the wedding. These actions brought strong criticism from the press.
His administration supported the People's March for Jobs, an anti-unemployment protest. They let the marchers sleep in County Hall. Critics said Livingstone was illegally using public money for political causes. In January 1982, the GLC put a sign on County Hall showing the number of unemployed people in London.
Livingstone supported Irish reunification. He met with the mother of an imprisoned Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) member who was on hunger strike. He said the British government's fight against the IRA was "the last colonial war." He was criticized for these comments.
Livingstone agreed to meet Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Féin, in December 1982. This caused outrage, especially after a bombing by another Irish group. Home Secretary Willie Whitelaw banned Adams from entering Britain. In February 1983, Livingstone visited Adams in West Belfast. In July 1983, Adams finally came to London and met Livingstone. In August, Livingstone controversially compared Britain's occupation of Ireland to the Holocaust. He also supported Fidel Castro's government in Cuba.
During the Falklands War in 1982, Livingstone said the islands belonged to Argentina, not its military rulers. After Britain won, he made sarcastic comments about the victory. The GLC declared 1983 "Peace Year" and supported nuclear disarmament. They also banned the Territorial Army from marching past County Hall. The GLC then declared 1984 "Anti-Racism Year."
Livingstone's controversial statements led some Labour members to leave the party. However, his appearances on TV and radio helped him gain public support. People liked his directness and humor.
Abolition of the GLC: 1983–1986
The 1983 general election was bad for Labour, and Margaret Thatcher won a second term. Thatcher's government wanted to abolish the GLC, calling it "Labour-dominated, high-spending and at odds with the government's view of the world."
The GLC spent £11 million on a campaign to fight the abolition. They used the slogan "say no to no say." They pointed out that London would be the only capital in Western Europe without an elected body. The campaign was successful, and polls showed most Londoners wanted to keep the GLC. In March 1984, 20,000 public servants went on strike to support the GLC.
Despite this, the Local Government Act 1985 to abolish the GLC passed in June 1984. Livingstone and three other GLC members resigned to force new elections on the issue, but they were re-elected.
The GLC was officially closed on 31 March 1986. Livingstone marked the occasion with a free concert. After this, he visited Australia, Israel, and Zimbabwe. He also went on a trek to Mount Everest base camp.
Member of Parliament
Livingstone became the Labour candidate for Brent East and won the seat in the 1987 general election. Thatcher remained Prime Minister. Livingstone found the Houses of Parliament uncomfortable. He was often at odds with other Labour MPs.
In his first speech to Parliament in July 1987, Livingstone made allegations about a former intelligence operative in Northern Ireland. Thatcher called his claims "utterly contemptible." In September 1987, Livingstone was elected to Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC). He opposed British involvement in the Gulf War in January 1991.
In the 1992 general election, Labour lost again. Neil Kinnock resigned as Labour leader. Livingstone ran for leader but lost to John Smith. After Smith died in 1994, Tony Blair became leader. Livingstone predicted Blair would be "the most right-wing leader" in Labour history. Livingstone fought against Blair's attempts to change Labour's socialist principles. He also criticized Blair's plans to privatize the London Underground.
Livingstone continued to work with left-wing groups. He became involved with the Anti-Racist Alliance. They campaigned on issues like the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence.
As his political influence in Parliament decreased, Livingstone took on more media work. He wrote an autobiography and articles for newspapers. He also appeared on TV and radio shows. He wrote a column for The Sun where he often discussed his love for amphibians. He was appointed vice president of the London Zoological Society.
Mayor of London
Mayoral Election: 2000
By 1996, many people wanted directly-elected mayors for large UK cities like London. The idea of a London mayor and a Greater London Authority (GLA) was in Labour's 1997 election plan. A public vote in May 1998 showed strong support for the idea. The first mayoral election was set for May 2000. In March 1998, Livingstone said he wanted to be the Labour candidate.
However, Tony Blair did not want Livingstone as Mayor. Blair's team tried to stop him from being selected. They encouraged Frank Dobson to run instead. Blair changed the voting rules to help Dobson win the Labour candidacy. Dobson won with 51% of the votes, to Livingstone's 48%.
Livingstone then decided to run as an independent candidate. He said he was forced to choose between his party and Londoners' democratic rights. Polls showed strong support for him among London voters. Many celebrities supported his campaign. In March 2000, Livingstone apologized to Parliament for not properly reporting his outside earnings.
The election took place on 4 May 2000. Livingstone won with 58% of the votes. Conservative candidate Steven Norris came second, and Dobson third. Livingstone began his acceptance speech by saying, "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted 14 years ago..."
First Mayoral Term: 2000–04
Livingstone became Mayor with a strong public mandate. He earned an annual salary of £87,000. The Mayor oversees bodies like the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London (TfL), and the London Fire Brigade. He was watched by the elected London Assembly. Livingstone appointed many of his trusted advisers to key roles. In 2002, some accused him of favoring his friends. The Mayor's office moved to the new City Hall in July 2002.
Livingstone spent much of his first two years setting up the Mayoral system. He also fought against the government's plans to upgrade the London Underground using a public–private partnership (PPP). He believed it was too expensive and unsafe. Trade unions supported his view and went on strike. Livingstone appointed Bob Kiley as transport commissioner. They argued for the upgrade to be done by the state. They sued the government, but lost. The Underground was privatized in January 2003.
Livingstone's administration decided to replace the old Routemaster buses. These iconic buses were seen as unsafe and not accessible for wheelchairs. The last Routemaster was removed in December 2005. They were replaced by new low-floor, double-decker or articulated "bendy buses". These new buses could carry more passengers. By early 2006, London had the largest accessible bus fleet in the world.
To help the environment, Livingstone created the London Hydrogen Partnership and the London Energy Partnership. His Energy Strategy aimed to reduce London's carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010.
Livingstone worked to clear pigeons from Trafalgar Square. He also made the north side of the Square a pedestrian area with a cafe and public toilets. He started an annual Saint Patrick's Day festival. He also brought back London's free anti-racism music festival, now called Rise: London United. He continued to support LGBT rights. In 2001, he set up Britain's first register for same-sex couples.
Livingstone's relationship with Kate Allen ended in November 2001. He then started a relationship with Emma Beal. They had two children, Thomas (born 2002) and Mia (born 2004).
In February 2003, Livingstone's administration introduced the London congestion charge. Drivers had to pay £5 a day to drive in central London. This was meant to reduce traffic. Livingstone himself used the London Underground for work. The policy was opposed by businesses and the government. However, it successfully reduced traffic by 20% by 2007. To encourage public transport, the Oyster card system was introduced in June 2003. Bus and Underground travel became free for people aged 11 to 18.
In 2002, Livingstone supported London's bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. He insisted the Games should be in the East End to help renew the area. London was shortlisted in May 2004, and later won the bid. Another major project, the London Plan, was launched in February 2004. It aimed to build 30,000 new homes a year to solve the city's housing shortage.
Livingstone encouraged racial equality and celebrated London's multiculturalism. He opposed the UK's involvement in the Iraq War. In November 2003, he called US President George W. Bush "the greatest threat to life on this planet." He also held an alternative "Peace Reception" at City Hall for anti-war activists.
Livingstone's success with the congestion charge led Tony Blair to let him rejoin the Labour Party. He ran as Labour's mayoral candidate in 2004. In the 2004 London mayoral election, Livingstone won again on 10 June 2004. He received 55% of the votes after second preferences were counted.
Second Mayoral Term: 2004–08
Livingstone worked to improve ties with London's Muslim community. In July 2004, he attended a conference with an Islamist cleric, Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Livingstone believed al-Qaradawi's influence could help prevent radicalization. This meeting was criticized by some Jewish and LGBT groups.
Livingstone continued to support London's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. He played a key role in getting support from Russia. On 6 July 2005, London was announced as the winner, leading to widespread celebration.
After the 7 July 2005 London bombings, Livingstone was praised for his calm leadership. He launched a campaign to celebrate London's multiculturalism.
In March 2006, Livingstone criticized foreign embassies for not paying the congestion charge. He called the US diplomat Robert Tuttle a "chiselling little crook." In February 2007, the congestion charge zone was expanded westward, despite opposition. In October 2007, the government approved Crossrail, a £16 billion project to build a new train line under central London.
Livingstone also supported the construction of skyscrapers in London, including 30 St Mary Axe and The Shard. He believed this was needed for office space. However, Prince Charles criticized this, worrying about historic skylines.
In May 2006, Livingstone welcomed Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to London. He later became president of the pro-Chávez Venezuelan Information Centre. In November 2006, Livingstone visited Chávez in Latin America. In August 2007, Venezuela agreed to provide £16 million worth of free oil to TfL each year. This would help fund half-priced bus fares for Londoners on benefits. In return, London would share its expertise in transport and other services.
Livingstone helped organize the first "Eid in the Square" event in Trafalgar Square in October 2006. In May 2007, he attended a conference of major world cities to discuss environmental issues. He urged other cities to adopt congestion charging. In August 2007, he publicly apologized on behalf of London for its role in the Atlantic slave trade. He gave an emotional speech, saying that the resistance of enslaved people, not just white philanthropy, ended the trade.
A week later, he attended the unveiling of the statue of Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square. He met with Nelson Mandela. In June 2007, he criticized plans for the UK's first Thames Water Desalination Plant at Beckton. He called it a "retrograde step" and said people should use less water.
Livingstone ran for Mayor again in the 2008 election, against Conservative candidate Boris Johnson. Livingstone took Johnson seriously as an opponent.
The election took place in May 2008. Johnson won with 53.2% of the votes, to Livingstone's 46.8%.
After Being Mayor
Unsuccessful Election and Retirement: 2008–2014
After losing, Mayor Johnson praised Livingstone's "considerable achievements." Johnson's administration reversed some of Livingstone's policies, like the Venezuelan oil deal. Livingstone continued to advise on urban planning in Caracas, Venezuela.
In January 2009, Livingstone called for the EU and UK to recall their ambassadors to Israel due to the Gaza War. From 2009 to 2011, he hosted a book review program for the Iranian news channel Press TV. In July 2010, he criticized spending cuts by David Cameron's government.
2012 Mayoral Election
Livingstone ran as Labour's candidate for the 2012 London mayoral election, again challenging Johnson. Johnson won with 1,054,811 votes, to Livingstone's 992,273. After this loss, Livingstone announced his retirement from politics. He continued to criticize Johnson.
Supporting Jeremy Corbyn: 2015–2020
In May 2015, Livingstone supported Sadiq Khan for the 2016 London mayoral election. In July, he supported Jeremy Corbyn in the 2015 Labour Party leadership election. After Corbyn became Labour leader, Livingstone was a key ally.
Retirement: 2020–Present
In January 2022, Livingstone said he wanted to join the Green Party of England and Wales. However, his application was rejected.
In September 2023, his family announced that Livingstone had retired from public life. This was due to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Political Beliefs
Livingstone was part of the left wing of the Labour Party. He described himself as a socialist. In 1987, he said, "politics is my religion. It's my moral framework." He believed that society should be more cooperative and focus on human relationships. He consistently opposed the actions of the Israeli government.
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock once said Livingstone could only be defined as a Kennist. Livingstone's understanding of politics was influenced by his studies of animal behavior. He believed that human society needs to adopt values like cooperation, similar to how hunter-gatherers lived.
Personal Life
Historian Alwyn W. Turner described Livingstone as a "gifted communicator" with a "mischievous sense of humour." Biographer John Carvel noted his "talent for public speaking." Many who worked with him said he was an excellent boss. Journalist Jenny McCartney said he was "hard to dislike" in person, with a calm and humorous style.
Livingstone identifies as English. He became an atheist at age eleven, choosing "rational science" over religious belief. He is known for his love of gardening and keeping newts. He was the first person to breed the Western Dwarf Clawed Frog in captivity. He is also a big fan of The Godfather films.
Family
Livingstone preferred to keep his family life private. He has five children.
He married Christine Pamela Chapman in 1973; they divorced in 1982. He then had a relationship with Kate Allen, and they separated in 2001. He later started a relationship with Emma Beal, his office manager. They have a son and a daughter together. Livingstone and Beal married on 26 September 2009 at London Zoo. They live in North London.
Livingstone also had three children (a boy and two girls) with two other women before 2000. He said one friend wanted children and he agreed to be the father.
Legacy and Influence
Livingstone was a "polarizing and controversial figure" throughout his career. He was known for taking risks. Supporters called him the "People's Ken" and praised his ability to connect with working-class Londoners. He was widely recognized for improving the status of minority groups in London. He was also seen as a strong leader at City Hall.
During his time as Mayor, he faced accusations of favoring his chosen aides. Some also claimed there was a culture of bullying at City Hall, though others denied this.
In the 1980s, the TV show Spitting Image featured a puppet of Livingstone. In 1990, the BBC show The Comic Strip had an episode about him. Kate Bush wrote a song called "Ken" for the episode.
See also
In Spanish: Ken Livingstone para niños
