The elections to the Greater London Authority and of the London mayor will be the last major electoral test which Labour must pass before heading with confidence into the next general election. A big Labour victory in London next year would be a shot in the arm for party activists throughout the country dispelling the inevitable disappointment with some of this year’s results.

The Tories understand these political realities and their campaign in London is already well underway. It promises to be dirty and populist — because all of the polls show that at least one potential Labour candidate, myself, is far ahead of both of the Tory hopefuls.

The experience of the elections to the Welsh assembly show how important it is for Labour to be seen to be fair, democratic and mindful that devolution means respecting the good sense of the local electorate. In Wales, after what were perceived as desperate efforts to secure the leadership of the Welsh party for the national party machine’s candidate, Labour’s lost an unprecedented 17 per cent of the vote to Plaid Cymru in May. The only constituency in which the party’s vote actually increased was that of Rhodri Morgan – seen as the victim of control freakery.

In London, the position of the regional party conference is clear. There must be a democratic selection process. All candidates with the support of at least 10 constituencies should be included on the ballot paper in a one-member-one-vote vote to select Labour’s candidate.

If the party is seen to allow its London members to make their choice, then all the polls show that we will then be in the strongest possible position to win. On the other hand, a London Evening Standard poll in April last year made clear that we could face even more serious problems than in Wales if those who want to rig the selection were to prevail. The Standard asked: ‘Would it be right or wrong for the Labour Party to stop Ken Livingstone from standing for mayor?’ The response was that 74 per cent of Londoners thought it would be wrong.

If we respect the wishes of party members and voters in London and carry out a democratic selection, then there is every reason to believe that the London election will be a tremendous preparation for securing a second term of office for the government. The latest opinion poll, published at the beginning of September, makes this clear. MORI found that, as the possible Labour candidate with the strongest public support in London, I was far ahead of the leading Tory candidate, Jeffrey Archer, with 40 per cent, as opposed to his 23 per cent. The poll placed the next strongest Labour candidate, Glenda Jackson, three per cent behind Lord Archer.

For too many months the London debate has been shaped by the endless and boring speculation trickling into the media that I will be stopped from standing. No official spokesperson has ever said so on the record, but the reports still find their way into the papers, backed with semi-official sounding quotes. That is helping no-one but the Tories. Tony Blair did not fight to get Labour elected in 1997 to see it lose in London in 2000. London Labour united, because the members are allowed to democratically choose whoever they consider to be their strongest candidate, would be the most formidable and exciting electoral force in the race for mayor. And a victory in London is exactly what the entire party will need to raise its spirits for the general election campaign.

© SCGN October 1999 no.147