James Forsyth James Forsyth

Has anyone endorsed Ken enthusiastically?

The three press endorsements of Ken Livingstone that have appeared in recent days have one overarching theme in common:  a complete lack of enthusiasm for Livingstone. The Observer even urges its readers to withhold their first preference votes from Ken to send him a message. Its backing comes with heavy caveats. Indeed, one would not expect to read this kind of paragraph in an endorsement editorial:

“But Ken’s able choice of words is matched by an appalling choice in friends. He has let himself be wooed – and in one case bankrolled – by property developers with much to gain from access to City Hall. When faced with allegations of corruption involving Lee Jasper, one of his advisers, Mr Livingstone’s response was abrasive, petulant and dishonest: he accused Mr Jasper’s critics of racism. 

Most damaging to Ken’s credentials as leader of a cosmopolitan city, he publicly embraced Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a religious zealot and apologist for suicide bombers.”

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