Livingstone Rejoining Labour Will Be Remarriage Of Political Convenience - Hughes

12.00.00am GMT Tue 6th Jan 2004

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes today called on Londoners to vote for a principled Mayor in the June 2004 Mayoral elections.

Mr Hughes said: "Ken Livingstone's possible readmission to the Labour Party will leave many who voted for him feeling cheated and unsure of what Mr Livingstone stands for."

"If Mr Livingstone is readmitted to the Labour Party, this will not be a remarriage of principle made in heaven but a remarriage of convenience very much made on earth. There is no evidence that either Mr Livingstone or Labour have changed their ways since they were last a couple, or that Londoners will see any benefits of such an unprincipled new match."

"It will take much more than a new declaration of vows for the public to believe that a Livingstone-Labour remarriage will be more than a ceremony designed to hide embarrassment and to see a fractious couple through to the Mayoral election.

"I much look forward to hearing Mr Livingstone's views on New Labour policies such as tuition fees and the war in Iraq. And, having taken the Labour Government to court over funding for the Tube at an estimated cost to Londoners of £4 million, is Ken Livingstone going to say he now supports that policy as well, or is it for Gordon Brown to admit he was wrong?

"If Labour wants Mr Livingstone to stand for re-election under New Labour colours then presumably he will, at last, be expected to sign up to their policies as well."