Ken Livingstone must show he’s prepared to admit mistakes

It seemed back in 2008 that the Labour phenomenon that is Ken Livingstone was finished. At nearly 63 and after a bitter campaign, many believed Boris Johnson had finally driven the fatal stake through his heart.

But this is Ken. He almost believes the mayoralty is his by right. His emotional acceptance of the Labour nomination showed what it means to him.

Immediately after his loss to Johnson, to almost universal derision, he began turning up at City Hall armed with a notebook. He made the same calculation he had in 1979 following Margaret Thatcher's first triumph; that Tory cuts would make her so unpopular, Labour would triumph at the 1981 London elections. Sound familiar?

Johnson will have to rely on his apparent popularity and put as much distance between himself and the Coalition as possible. Recent pronouncements suggest he is doing just that.
Although it may look like a re-run of Bojo v Red Ken — and Livingstone has already started the personal attacks — the 2012 battle will be markedly different.

Livingstone must convince Londoners that he has learned from his mistakes. He may be older, but is he wiser? His loyalty to aides and refusal to apologise when things went wrong cost him dear. Sorry can be the hardest word, but voters demand contrition.

Johnson's brilliant Australian strategist Lynton Crosby, again running his campaign, exploited his rival's perceived neglect of the suburbs. The former mayor indicated in his acceptance speech he would not make this mistake again. Nor will he ignore public concerns about crime — a key battleground.

In 2008, he came across as tired and compromised. He will be almost 67 by polling day, and will have to persuade people he's new and improved. He has come back from the dead before — but even Lazarus only managed it once.

Andrew Hosken is author of Ken, The Ups and Downs of Ken Livingstone