Being
Read at Headingley LitFest: Being
Red: A Politics for the Future by Ken Livingstone
You
usually introduce a famous national speaker with “Needs no
introduction” ... but perhaps Ken Livingstone does, as in the flesh
he is well-mannered, unflappable, polite and absolutely nothing like
many in the (Tory) media would have you believe from their campaigns
over the years of 'monstering' one of Britain's most successful and
proudly left-wing pragmatic politicians. As he said, “Demonising
people sells papers.” As it costs at least £100,000 to sue, the
libel laws work only for the rich. He is not.
Coming
up from London for the day, Ken treated a packed lunchtime audience
in Leeds University Union to a tour de force, showing his
encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of the Labour Party, his wide
reading and his grasp of 'It's the economy, stupid' (Clinton
campaign slogan, Bill not Hillary, in 1992). He has edited and
produced the
'Socialist Economic Bulletin' since 1983. He really knows his
stuff.
He
answered questions on his early influences growing up in post-war
London where going out to work after leaving school (to become a lab
technician in a cancer hospital) was what you had to do to support
the family. He became more and more involved in Labour politics just
as many party members were leaving in disillusion with Harold Wilson.
As he says, “Not many rats join a sinking ship.”
Promotion
came rapidly and he ended up at the age of 35 in 1981 the youngest
Leader of the Greater London Council, governing 8 million Londoners
before also becoming the last Leader in 1986 as the democratic
stratum of local government was ruthlessly abolished by Margaret
Thatcher, principally to get rid of him!
He
worked hard to become MP for Brent East and finally the first Mayor
of London in 2000, famously only just beaten in 2008 by his nemesis
Boris Johnson during the height of the unpopularity of the then Brown
government that followed the Blair years and the Iraq war fallout.
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| Ken Livingstone and Sally Bavage Photo by Richard Wilcocks |
He is modest about the extraordinary list of his achievements and much more keen to discuss with the audience his suggestions for how to rebuild the Labour party, based on his knowledge of history and theapplication of economics. He calls himself a 'numbers nerd' in his longer memoir 'You Can't Say That' but his sharp focus on using data not cant, economic theory not political sophistry, common senses not windbaggery are exactly what Jeremy Corbyn and the rejuvenated Labour Party need now.
Despite
a sore throat, he cheerfully kept the audience gripped with his
answers on issues such as Trident, housing, inward investment,
terrorist threats, the need for more regulation of landlord sharks
and rip-off privatising companies, transport, tax avoidance, attacks
on trade unionists (“The right to strike pre-dated the right to
vote”), the EU referendum …. Add in many short asides on Boris
(Johnson), Yanis Varoufakis, John McDonnell (his budget leader for
the GLA who always balanced the books), religious nutty wings, TTIP
trade agreement, local council cuts…and it is obvious that Ken has
a very clear analysis on what we can collectively do to counteract
these massive and accelerating attacks on the standards of living of
ordinary people. Several times he raised spontaneous applause, not
least when he cited the evidence for his statement that “The Public
Sector does things better” where his examples included the NHS and
the BBC.
Two
key suggestions we could all take away:
-
Work with and promote Momentum, the movement that supports Jeremy Corbyn in refuting some of the malicious nonsense thrown his way as well as spreading ideas and information;
-
engage with issues that are supported by the Labour Party
The
queue for signing his very readable book was long; what we all took
away was a conviction that someone is talking sense, speaks our
language and will fight to get the truth across despite what will be
redoubled efforts to smear him, Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and
anyone else who might claim to Being Red.
Thanks
are due to Leeds University Union for our first partnership event
with them as part of their Speak Up initiative, to Blackwell's
bookshop for supporting our event, to the Left
Book Club for publishing Ken's sensible words and not least to
three lovely Leeds University volunteers who came along to help us
manage such a large meeting: Antonia Panayotova, Helen Woodhouse and
Megan di Luzio.
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| Photo by Antonia Panayotova |
Antonia Panayotova writes:
The Core of Politics
On March 8 people in Leeds had the chance to attend
an event in which Ken Livingstone was to present his book ‘Being Red: A
Politics for the Future’ which proved to be very engaging.
As Sally Bavage emphasised, it was especially
suitable to have him on the International Women’s Day considering his stance,
once almost revolutionary, on women’s rights.
While the talk was very much linked to the book – a
must-read for everyone interested in politics and especially in an insight of
Labour’s history and future – it was in this broader question of what the most crucial element of politics, its
core, should be that the talk was to continue.
Ken went through his history from a working class man
to politician mentioning the very idea that prompted his political involvement
– that one should not wait around for things to change but rather go ahead and
try to change them, i.e. as Gandhi said ‘You must be the change you wish to see
in the world’.
Then the public was carried through critique of past
and present politics, the role of media, social environment changes and so on. However,
I would like to point out here two things: his notion of the essence of
politics and the audience engagement in the last 15 minutes which turned out to
be about 40 because of the audience’s never ending interest.
For Mr. Livingstone the essence of politics was the
economy and especially infrastructure. And in his being the ‘change you wish to
see in the world’ he implemented this essence. In his years as a mayor, an
economist was a central figure in his politics – visiting him two or three
times a week until he had a sufficient understanding to develop on. And the
examples of the Olympics, public transport development, better housing opportunities
and the jobs they created, provided a good argument that infrastructure is the
backbone of economy and therefore it should be a central issue in politics.
And with the first audience question of what should
the foundation of an economic reform be, it was not surprising that the answer
was infrastructure investment. Then, when he was asked about how to best oppose
Nuclear weapons and the Trident programme, he again linked his answer to
economy, pointing out that if people realize how many other things can be
tackled with the money that Trident will swallow (i.e. around £100 billion)
they might see it in a different light. With this money people can be better
protected by investment in police services or live in a more stable economy
with the money being invested in infrastructure… or both.
Then, next emerged the central present-day issue of
the EU referendum. Again his focus was on economy. According to his knowledge,
which was incredibly extensive and up-to-date, Brexit can prove a devastating change
for the UK economy. Therefore his stance was on staying in until someone can
prove him ‘we will be better off with leaving’. He did agree that there is need
for democratization and organizational changes within the EU, but while in the
EU since being part of itis of crucial importance for the UK economy.
As far as I am concerned, there are other factors at
play for each of the issues, but I do agree that economy is extremely important
and should be central in politics. But how would you comment? Do you think it
should be as central as it is for Ken Livingstone? Or do you think there are
other things more important in politics?
Clear, concise and honest. There's a simplicity in old
Labour analysis that still holds true. Ken Livingstone is an honest politician
in my view and gives us (particularly his own generation of which I am one) a
rekindled enthusiasm that change can happen.
I travelled from Cornwall especially to attend this event.
It was well worth the time and effort! A fascinating event that illuminated
aspects of Ken's personality that were new to me. A well moderated and engaging
event. Thank you and well done.
Great event, really interesting topics and great question
and answer session that gave further insight.
Very enjoyable and insightful. Great Q&A session.
Enjoyed and liked ...???... questioner format. Very motivational and hopeful.
Great speaker, well facilitated. As I work, early evening
would be a better time and fixed time slot so can plan with certainty.
Good format - interview affective. Good range of questions.
Chaired well. Ken v. clear, informative, open and hopeful.
Thank you. I have never been to anything remotely political.
I really enjoyed the event. It was really well run, good questions and I
learned a lot. Must attend something from 'the other side'
A very cordial welcome from Richard Wilcocks. Good work
Headingley LitFest. Hope you are able to continue with your worthwhile
projects. Very interesting, wonderful flow of thoughts by Ken Livingstone.
Thank you. He should be a mentor for 'think-tanks'
Article didn't actually say where you could get tickets -
had to google to find out! V. interesting talk.
Interesting talk, worth coming to. Would have liked to hear
more about the present and future and less about the past. Fair price but event
information on line was very poor - lack of times/format etc..
Excellent event - great to see a hero in real life!!
Seriously, very well co-ordinated and organised so thank you very much
Really great to have a political speaker as part of the
festival. More next time please, though larger venue next time please and
advertise to 6th forms within Leeds/Headingley areas
A great opportunity to hear a great mind and dedicated
lefty. Very well chaired.
Provocative, educational, thought provoking and inspiring.
Thank you.
Great. Superb opportunity to hear Ken L
Very interesting, glad I came.
An excellent and straightforward speaker
Well organised and very interesting - more please!
Very interesting and worthwhile event.
Excellent, interesting, stimulating event.
Very interesting and down to earth. Glad I came
A great event. Thank you. Well chaired, Sally.
Very interesting and hope generating
Excellent event - very interesting and thought provoking
An interesting and thought provoking event. Excellent. Poor
layout - would have been better if I could have seen the speaker.
Why were the mikes not used - both for speaker and chair and
for questions? Good event though!
Very informative and inspiring. Thanks!
Terrific opportunity to hear from a passionate individual.
Candid succinct and sincere.
Really good to hear
Ken. Well done on getting such a high profile speaker.
Good well organised. The room could have been filled twice
if there was more advertising about the event. But it was a great small venue,
people were able to hear clearly and ask questions. Ken is very knowledgeable.
It's been worthy experience to listen to ex-politician
'live' lecture. Question time was more interesting ...?... his book was
written?) Thank you.
Well worth coming enjoyable and interesting event. But the
event is advertised at £8 but you can only book on line with a 50p surcharge -
just charge £8.50
PA system a bit disappointing. I could hear Ken okay but
there was a distracting background noise. Overall - fab! Great to see Ken.
Thank you for organising this.
Very informative.
Fascinating and refreshing.
Quality!
VERY GOOD!
Excellent, enlightening event. Thanks.
Really good event - thanks.
A very interesting conversation with Ken with Sally Bavage
interviewing him about the current state of politics
A very interesting and lively thought-through presentation
from the chair and the author. Rare to get such an opportunity here in Leeds.
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