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Poll day photograph was used without permission
• ON Friday I was told of election leaflets which the Liberal Democrats circulated round, it appears, NW3 in its entirety.
This was done on Thursday May 1, polling day.
These plead for a vote for the Lib Dems in those elections – “Give your support TODAY to the local Lib Dem team” – immediately beneath this plea is a photograph of two Lib Dems undeniably identified, and me, granted labelled as the chair of the South End Green Association, but very obviously included in the Lib Dem propaganda.
I take very great exception to this because, as I have indicated previously in the press and to all political parties, the South End Green Association has no specific political affiliations and clearly the committee members, while obviously supporting various political parties, do not express those in public.
When I was invited to attend the presentation of petitions at Downing Street I thought it would be good publicity for the cause of our post office at South End Green.
I made it quite clear that I was not there in a political role and ensured that the local paper in which the photograph appeared, did not make it a political coup.
How dare the Lib Dems include it in their election publicity, without asking me? Not that they would have got consent, which they almost certainly realised. That makes it even more underhand and seems to characterise much of their electioneering.
It was not circulated until polling day, not giving forewarning so that I could have ensured that it was not circulated with a picture that featured me.
The South End Green Association exists to promote the life and environment of the community local to the Green – our catchment area covers Hampstead Town and Gospel Oak wards – we are currently very well served by our local councillors in both wards. They serve us well because they too care for the area they represent – but they know better than to bring politics into their efforts for us.
I am waiting for a public apology.
Pam Gilby
Chairwoman
South End Green Association, NW3
Note this record turnout
• AMID all the coverage of the Conservative gains in the London-wide election on May 1, it should not be forgotten that there was a by-election for a seat on Camden Council on the same day, triggered by the resignation of a Conservative councillor.
With a record turnout for this ward of 56 per cent the voters of Highgate ignored the “Boris bandwagon” and instead elected the Green Party candidate, local resident Alex Goodman.
This is both a recognition of the quality of the candidate and his clear vision for the future of the area, and a welcome endorsement by the voters of Highgate of the good work done by the two, existing Green Party councillors.
The Green Party understands it is a privilege to receive any vote, and would particularly like to thank all those who gave us their support in the by-election.
I am confident that Alex will be an excellent local councillor, and that having three Green Party councillors on the council will allow us to argue and work more effectively for a better, greener community.
On behalf of the London party I would also like to thank the large numbers of people who voted Green in the assembly list and for Miranda Dunn in the Camden and Barnet constituency or supported our mayoral candidate.
More than 43,000 extra people voted Green in the assembly list compared with 2004.
This strong support ensured that our two hard-working and effective assembly members, Jenny Jones and Darren Johnson, retained their seats.
In the election for London mayor, the Green Party candidate, Kentish Town-based Sian Berry, received either a first or second preference from 16.65 per cent of voters – one person in every six who voted across London.
This shows the Green Party is not only thriving in Camden, but clearly established as the fourth party in London as a whole, closing fast on the Liberal Democrats as the third party.
Edward Milford
Co-ordinator, Camden Green Party, Duke’s Head Yard, N6
Tactics and lost support
• THE ugly politics of patronage, self-interest and the playing up of ethnic resentments to win votes has brought defeat to mayor Ken Livingstone.
Similar tactics eroded electoral support for the Labour Party in Brent and Camden, both former stamping grounds of Mr Livingstone and his colleagues.
Despite the flawed and confusing supplementary voting system used for the mayoral elections, Londoners made decisions which reflect the city’s political make-up
Gethin Sheppard
Chatsworth Road,
NW2
Scrutinise the record
• NOW that Ken Livingstone has lost his office as Mayor of London it is worth recounting some of his exploits.
He has set his stamp upon that office and remained outspoken. He is gifted with the “common touch” to our advantage.
He upset Margaret Thatcher who, in revenge, abolished the Greater London Council in 1986.
He crossed Tony Blair and stood as an independent in 2000 in the initial election.
By frankly speaking his opinion of the Daily Mail and the Evening Standard he upset the proprietor.
They had their revenge by indulging in a vitriolic press campaign against him.
Their attitude went far beyond “fair comment” as they blatantly favoured Boris Johnson and damned Ken again and yet again.
Who recalls the comment made by Rudyard Kipling about power without responsibility – the prerogative of the harlot through the ages?
The office of Mayor of London is the most scrutinised one yet established, demanding the sole attention of its incumbent.
Does this not clash with being MP for Henley?
A man cannot serve two masters…
Skip Murphy
Prince of Wales Road,
NW1
Standing up for the poor
• THANK you Ken Livingstone for what you did for us and thank you to all the decent people who voted for you.
London mayors will come and go but, Ken, you will always be remembered because you stood up for the poor.
R Williams
address supplied, NW3
Listening a little late
• THE government says that it is going to listen to the voters following the Thursday May 1 elections.
What a pity they did not listen to us when we marched in our millions against the unprovoked invasion of Iraq.
Had they done so, one million dead Iraqis would still be alive; four million refugees would still have homes; 12,500 Iraqi women would not have been murdered in so called “honour killings” and we would not be paying £5 a gallon for petrol.
Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have a lot to answer for but it is a pity that it is Ken Livingstone who has paid the electoral price.
Richard Cotton
Weavers Way, NW1
A new age?
• IN recent weeks Boris Johnson has grown so much in stature.
With a talented administration selected purely on merit, he could be the breath of fresh air our city so desperately needs.
As Boris said at his acceptance speech, the time has come to put the interest of our city first and party politics second.
A new age where the best interest of the people overrides the best interest of the party?
Nic Careem
Falkland Road, NW5
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