Ken Livingstone warns Ed Miliband over courting Blairite wing
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Labour leader Ed Miliband should stop trying to court the Blairite wing of the party, mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone said today.
But he claimed Mr Miliband could be the next Prime Minister and "transform Britain in a way that we haven't seen for a very long time".
Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Livingstone, who lost to Tory candidate Boris Johnson last week in the race to become London Mayor, said working-class people had become "disillusioned" at the last Labour government's failure to create "good jobs".
He said that, for the last 30 years, Britain had taken a "wrong turning", adding Mr Miliband was now "getting the economic strategy right".
Mr Livingstone said the current Government had "got away" with claims that the last Labour administration had saddled the country with debt.
He said: "For 30 years, Britain has taken a wrong turning. Inequality of wealth has doubled. We were told if we deregulated, if we liberated the banks, the whole economy would rise and there would be a trickle-down effect.
"Sadly, Tony Blair bought into that, New Labour bought into that. I think we are at a turning point in politics now. We have to make something that somebody wants to buy, we won't just be able to rip off a bit of commission on all the financial transactions.
"I think a lot of the disillusion amongst working-class people, whatever their colour, is that the last Labour government didn't create good jobs for working-class people."
Mr Livingstone added: "If I have one criticism of Ed Miliband - and as well as being a friend, I think he is genuinely a Labour leader who will transform Britain in a way that we haven't seen for a very long time - (it) is that I think he is far too concerned about carrying the discredited old Blairite wing with him."
And Mr Livingstone dismissed any suggestion that he planned to join the House of Lords.
Asked whether he would accept a peerage, he said: "Oh God, no, spare me that. I've been punished enough."
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments