The Metropolis

Ken Livingstone's pickpocket poster plays into Mayor Johnson's hands

Mike Pollitt | Wednesday 11 January, 2012 10:23

The problem with portraying Boris Johnson as a cartoon caricature is that his entire political strategy is to be a cartoon caricature.

The dishevelled hair, the ill-tied tie, the portly silhouette – this is an image carefully cultivated by the Mayor and the Livingstone campaign is reinforcing it.

The message this image conveys is: “Fares are up, but don’t worry it’s only that lovable scamp Boris up to one of his japes.”

The “Borisstoppers” line falls into the same trap. It trivialises the man and the office of Mayor. Ken Livingstone shouldn’t be campaigning against “Boris”, the lovable airhead who bumbled into power. He should be campaigning against Mayor Johnson, the cynical, calculating politician with command of large budgets and considerable executive authority, whose relentless focus on his personal image has driven his Mayoralty at the expense of governing in the interest of his citizens.

This poster is frivolous, and if the Mayoral election is to be fought on frivolity then there’s only one winner.

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