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Livingstone 'Bad for Gay Community'


Steve Norris

Ken Livingstone's second term as London mayor will be 'bad for the gay community', Chairman of Gay Conservatives James Davenport has said.

Livingstone was returned to power after 'second preference' votes were counted. James Davenport said that, 'under Ken's last term as mayor, violent crime rose and the Congestion Charge has hit London's businesses hard. If he follows the same policing policies, by the next election violent criminals will need a Congestion Charge all their own.'

Steve Norris, Vice-President of Gay Conservatives and a veteran supporter of gay rights, narrowly lost to Livingstone. The Liberal Democrat candidate, Simon Hughes, came a poor third.
Key Quote
Violent criminals will need a Congestion Charge all their own
James Davenport
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Livingstone's victory contrasted with poor results for Labour in elections for the Greater London Assembly. Commentators have attributed his return to power to a combined anti-war protest vote and his distance from the Government on major policy issues. Livingstone won his first term as mayor as an independent candidate.

Conservatives did well in the GLA elections, with prominent supporters of Gay Conservatives being returned. The results echoed Conservative success across the country, and a Labour rout.

Michael Howard seized on the voters verdict to issue another rally call to Conservatives. Embarking on a barnstorming tour of the country taking in Leicester, Trafford, Tamworth, Dudley, Coventry, Swindon and Monmouthshire, he said the party's dynamic performance had provided a launch pad for the next general election.

'When it comes to the general election, what is important is the gap between the Conservatives and Labour parties. We have to be 11.5 points ahead to win the general election. On last night's results, we were 12 points ahead.'