Livingstone: The only vote for London’s Irish
Voters in London will go to the polls on May 1 to elect the city's Mayor. Incumbent Mayor Ken Livingstone and Conservative rival Boris Johnson are the leading contenders. While Livingstone has long been a supporter of the Irish community, Johnson's views are still unknown. Fiona Audley looks at the two candidates' credentials.
LONDON Mayor Ken Livingstone has never been backwards in voicing his support for all things Irish.
Time and again he has made clear his recognition for the enormous contribution that generations of Irish people have made and continue to make to the social, economic and cultural life of the city.
Boris Johnson's views on the Irish are a little harder to fathom. Which is why The Irish Post asked him to clarify his position - a request we're still waiting for an answer to.In the meantime Irish groups across the capital are calling on the power of the Green vote to ensure that their community voice continues to be heard and their issues continue to be addressed at the proper levels - by re-electing the only candidate who has paid any attention to them in the impending Mayoral elections.
Support for Ken Livingstone is strong amongst the majority of the Irish community in London. Alex McDonnell of the Aisling Return to Ireland Project said: "I know how much Ken Livingstone has done for the Irish community in London.
"He has consistently supported minority communities and that included the Irish.
"The idea that Boris Johnson could inherit Ken's legacy and take over stewardship of our wonderfully diverse community is unthinkable.
"It is the duty of every Irish person in London to vote for Ken - we owe him a lot."
Strangely Boris Johnson's election manifesto fails to even acknowledge the existence of London's Irish community. Ken Livingstone's background includes a bulging track record for campaigning on Irish issues. Since first elected in 2000 Ken Livingstone has committed himself to championing the massive contribution Irish emigrants have made to the shape of London today.
He was also responsible for shaping the massive St. Patrick's Day Festival which takes over the centre of the city once a year.
His reasoning was: "London boasts one of the largest Irish communities outside of Ireland and the St. Patrick's Day Festival week events are an opportunity for all Londoners to experience the breadth of the Irish culture and what it has brought to this city.
"These events underline the contribution that the Irish community has made to London's artistic as well as social life."
It's that commitment which has seen Ken Livingstone receive the full support of the Irish in London.
Second-generation Irishman Paul Doran was initially torn between the two mayoral candidates.
But he said: "I decided you can't fault Ken Livingstone's track record on the issues that mean something to me - such as transport, housing and the Irish."
Danny Maher of Cricklewood Homeless Concern which cares for many Irish emigrants who have fallen on hard times said: "We need vision and commitment to the needs of Irish people and I believe that Ken will be the Mayor who will deliver again.
"We need consistency and stability in our politicians and leaders. Ken has always demonstrated these qualities."
David Kelly of the London Irish Film Festival organisation said: "Without the support of the Mayor for our annual Irish film festival there would be no festival.
"The Mayor is an exceptional individual who has carried a type of Irish cultural portfolio at the most critical of times - when governments couldn't or wouldn't.
"This has been an important inspiration to us all here in London."
His words were echoed by many other people contacted by The Irish Post.
Marie O'Leary from Richmond said: "I think the Irish in London owe Ken a lot. "He has always championed us and we should now repay that by voting for him next month."
And Michael Doherty added: "Ken has proved himself as an effective Mayor of London. The alternative is frightening."
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