The return of Ken the opportunist

Today's Guardian has a letter from Ken Livingstone criticising Tariq Ali for saying that he will vote Lib Dem in his own constituency and that others should vote tactically to oust the war party, whether pink or blue. Now read on...

Tariq Ali, in his wish to punish pro-war Labour candidates at the ballot box, omits to subject the Lib Dems to sufficient scrutiny (For one day only I'm a Lib Dem, March 26). In fact, Lib Dem opposition to the war was half-hearted. They supported the war once it had begun, and backed the occupation of Iraq.

In 2003, some Labour voters of Brent East did as Tariq now proposes to do and voted Lib Dem in the byelection. The Lib Dems won. The anti-war voters were repaid just six days later in a speech at Lib Dem conference by Menzies Campbell, who faced down the anti-war movement and put the case for sending more troops: "I understand the concern that many people feel about the deployment of more UK troops. But when the commanders on the ground ask for additional resources it is neither realistic nor fair to ask them to fulfil tasks for which they consider their present resources inadequate."

It was a betrayal of the anti-war votes. As a local resident, I will be doing my bit to repay the Lib Dems by voting for the anti-war Labour candidate in Brent East, Yasmin Qureshi.
Ken Livingstone
Mayor of London

Now nothing Ken says here contradicts what Tariq Ali said since he was advising people to oust the war's (or should that be wars') supporters. I know Ken makes the point that the Lib Dems did support the war after it began but what kind of message did Ken send out when he rejoined the Labour Party, while troops were still in Iraq and, as Daphna Baram said, sabres were (and are) being rattled against Syria and Iran. Anyway, welcome back Ken. One day we'll all know where we stand with you.