"GIGANTIC VANITY DRIFT"
And another.
I had the pleasure of encountering Ken Livingstone several times while we were recording Travellers in London in the 70s and 80s. This would be before Thatcher showed her dedication to democracy by operating her scorched earth 'what you can't control, you destroy' policy by banning the democratically elected Greater London Council and selling off its headquarters to a Japanese millionaire to create a luxury hotel for the very, very rich.
Livingstone always struck me as a dedicated and compassionate politician who was prepared to stick his neck out for causes that were more likely to make him unpopular with the electorate than to be vote winners (this would be his support for Bozo the Dodo's "crippled homosexuals" and "lisping fools" activities).
The Travellers we knew were grateful, and more than a little surprised to receive help, advice and compassionate understanding for their campaign for getting stopping places, drinking water, sanitation and education for their children, from a politician.
All a little different from when a later John Major Government abolished the 1968 Caravan and Camping Act which required councils to provide a set number of sites, throwing thousands of families onto illegal stopping places at the side of Britain's roads.      
It's hard not to notice that despite the fact that Livingstone was first voted out of office with the aid of a scabloid press (backbone of Tory power in Britain today) campaign against the congestion charge – still in place after four years of Borisrule and still helping to make Central London's roads negotiable.
Also that the "Boris's Bikes" scheme was in fact a Livingstone proposal in the first place. Who said Boris has no policies or ideas – pity the ones he does have are not his own.
I have no idea if Livingstone fiddled his taxes – that seems to be 'what politicians do' – to borrow a phrase – not acceptable, but nothing to do with the present argument of who is most suitable to lead London. At least he wasn't claiming expenses for building palaces for his ducks – or newts.
Jim Carroll