LIVINGSTONE SUFFERING FROM THE THATCHER PROBLEM OF DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR

11.04.41am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 28th Sep 2005

Commenting on Ken Livingstone's comments about running for a fourth term as London Mayor, Leader of the London Assembly Liberal Democrats, Graham Tope, said:-

"It appears that Margaret Thatcher and Ken Livingstone share the same delusions of grandeur in their own political immortality.

"Mr Livingstone should know better than to make long term predictions about his own future. Margaret Thatcher made the same mistake by declaring she would go on and on and look what happened to her.

"The Mayor should have learnt from his nemesis mistake and not take Londoners for granted in such an arrogant way. As the Mayor should realise, all too often in politics, pride comes before a fall."

ENDS

Notes to editor

Below are extracts taken from Ken Livingstone in his submission to the Government's White Paper on the establishment of the Greater London Authority:

"The Government should also reconsider its decision not to have term limits for the mayor. So much of the American experience of directly elected mayors shows it gets progressively more difficult to defeat a well-dug-in incumbent who has been able to establish extensive system of patronage."

"As recent experience in Paris shows, corruption tends to flourish the longer an incumbent is able to hold on to power."

"In a city that changes as rapidly as London it is hard to believe that a mayor who has served two terms will have the freshness of approach that is required to stay abreast of such a dynamic city."

"I therefore recommend that no mayor should serve more than two terms."

"If I am lucky enough to be elected as London's first mayor and bearing in mind I have already served 5 years as leader of the GLA, I would not seek to serve more than one term."