Ken Livingstone

Why should Jewish Londoners vote for you?
Because London as city has improved during the last eight years - with better buses, neighbourhood policing, improvements to the environment and more affordable housing - and the interests of London as a whole would be damaged by moving backwards. But the really big tasks for the incoming mayor outstrip even those things we have achieved so far.

For example, the £16billion Crossrail project, the £1billion a year tube investment programme, the extensions of London’s rail network such as the East London Line Extension and the North London Line improvements, are all massive schemes that require competence and serious decisions.

On transport to date the congestion charge, massive improvement to the bus service, the up-grade of the tube that is now in progress, winning government and business agreement to fund Crossrail and up-grading overground lines have begun to bring about a transformation in London's public transport system - and maintain a shift from the car to public transport which is good for the environment too.

I have put thousands more police on the streets, including in dedicated neighbourhood teams, which has seen crime fall for the last five years.

London is now a world leader for its policies to respond to climate change and improve the carbon footprint of the city, as evidenced by our work with the Bill Clinton Foundation.

I have continued a policy of zero tolerance of racism and anti-Semitism and have positively celebrated London's diversity as one of our city's greatest strengths.
Boris Johnson will abandon the policy that half all new homes should be affordable to Londoners on normal income, the under-estimated cost of his bus plans would equal a £2 increase on a weekly bus pass, and he attacks the Low Emission Zone to cut lorry pollution as ‘punitive’ and ‘draconian’. The fascist British National Party has called for its supporters to use their second votes for Boris Johnson.

London is a great, international, open, welcoming and diverse city. Understanding and embracing that, celebrating the great cultural contribution of all our communities, while working collaboratively with them to confront the challenges this brings, is absolutely crucial to the future well-being and success of this city.

What experience do you have or working with Jewish Londoners (either personally or professionally)?
There have been so many in my professional and personal life that it is impossible to list them all but the fact that London’s Deputy Mayor, Nicky Gavron, is Jewish has sent out a very strong and positive signal to other cities around the world that Jewish Londoners play more than their part in the life of this city. If Nicky and I are re-elected I will re-appoint her for a full four-year term.

In the last few years the London Jewish Forum has been established, representing the issues facing London’s Jewish population to London government. Regular meetings, consultations and dialogue with this group have ensured that London government is well-informed about any specific issues confronting the community or parts of it, or where our general policies are perhaps needing to take particular concerns into account.

This has identified a range of issues - from the need for larger family housing at affordable costs to traffic crossings near synagogues and community security.
We have continued to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in London every year, and I have met both holocaust survivors and victims’ families. I have been involved in the struggle against all forms of racism for my entire adult life, and many of the most active and involved people and organisations have always been Jewish, not just fighting anti-Semitism, but against all forms of discrimination, prejudice and hatred.

What do you understand about Jewish life and culture and the contribution Jews have made to London life?
Jewish people, life and culture have made one of the greatest contributions of any particular culture to the whole of human history, not just to London. If you consider the Jewish contribution to science, philosophy, art, literature and politics it is almost impossible to believe. And this contribution has been overwhelmingly progressive and egalitarian in the field of politics and social ideas.

And the Jewish community played the crucial role in defeating Moseley and the Blackshirts in East London. I believe it is vital to see the Jewish contribution not purely in the context of combating a negative – anti-Semitism – but the actual contribution Jewish people make in all walks of life to modern London.

If elected mayor what would you do to help promote Jewish culture in London?
My watchwords will be bigger and better. Not just more of the same, but let’s take it to a new level.

I’m delighted that since 2006 we have now established an annual celebration of Jewish culture on Trafalgar Square, Simcha in the Square. The content is determined entirely by the community, but it is very much a celebration of Jewish culture for all Londoners.
We have also produced a number of issues of a twice-yearly 'Guide to Jewish London'. This is promoted on line by our tourism agency for London, VisitLondon, and circulated in print form. It highlights places of Jewish interest and history in the city to Londoners and visitors, lists events, festivals and exhibitions, promotes Jewish restaurants, and Jewish art, culture, music and history.

I was particularly moved when we held the first Chanukkah celebration on Trafalgar Square in December last year. I am told our huge Menorah is the largest in Europe, but was the most up-lifting was to see the crowd of thousands gather on a cold, wintry night, probably mainly non-Jews, to share this festival of hope for humanity.

These would all continue and be developed, together with the exhibitions we have held in City Hall with the Jewish Museum, bringing Jewish culture to a wider audience and celebrating its great gifts and achievements.

What will you do to help facilitate better relations between ethnic and religious groups in London?
I will continue to promote understanding of different faiths and cultures. The ethos of my administration will remain one of celebrating London's diversity as one of its greatest strengths.

I want build on the work I've already done in partnership with community and faith groups to encourage communities to work together.

In the last year I have supported the work of the Coalition to Defend the Freedom of Religious and Cultural Expression, which brings together members and representatives of all faiths and none, to look at how to work together to promote mutual understanding and respect.

Alongside responding collectively to attacks on the right to religious and cultural expression - from the right to wear the hijab to defending the employee sacked by BA for wearing a small cross - it is looking at wider initiatives to promote understanding. In June this year it is seeking to organise an 'open day', in churches, synagogues, temples and mosques with exchange visits, particularly for young people, to gain a better understanding of the common human values they share, the similarities as well as the differences in religious practice - and simply to get to see each others magnificent religious buildings.

The work that London’s Jewish community has done around community security has lessons that can be drawn for all communities.

I formally meet London's faith leaders in meetings where all London's major faiths are represented - there are going to be differences between groups, obviously, but there is also always common ground and space for discussion. I am committed to supporting dialogue between all faiths and all communities and through my policies, my strategies, my equalities work and my dialogue with Londoners, I am going to continue that process with all the resources at my disposal.

What is your position on the conflict in the Middle East between Israelis and Palestinians and how do you think the situation can be resolved?
I’ve been very struck by the extent to which there is strong support on all sides for a peaceful solution and I do not believe that a resolution cannot be achieved without that support.

I am for a two-state solution, and Israeli and Palestinian state. I do not believe that you will have peace in the region until security and stability is secured for both Israelis and Palestinians, within internationally recognised borders. I very much support all those on both sides of the conflict that are seeking a negotiated solution along these lines.

There are calls by some to ban the practice of ritual slaughter of animals used for food. This practice is paramount to both the Jewish and Muslim faiths, what is your position on ritual slaughter of animals for food and do you support those who think it should be banned or those who do not want it banned?
I am against any bans of such a type that would interfere with people being able pursue their religious faith and dietary laws.  I cannot see how it could be justified to ban ritual slaughter of animals given the genuinely cruel factory farming techniques that are widespread both in this country and abroad. It would be worse than hypocrisy. I support campaigns such as the campaign on shechita and halal butchery where Muslims and Jews have a common interest in working together to uphold their cultural and religious rights.

What steps will you take to ensure that the rising tide of anti-Semitism is curbed?
My first commitment is simple – to continue to give the Met the resources they need. The police now have record numbers of officers and neighbourhood policing in every London ward. I will maintain this and add a thousand extra officers this year.

But I also give guarantee that London government will continue to make the strongest possible case against all forms of prejudice and bigotry. The involvement of London’s Jewish community in events like the Rise anti-racism festival is extremely welcome and brings the case against anti-Semitism to thousands of younger Londoners.
Throughout my time as Mayor I have insisted that the police take religious hate crime seriously and take swift action against perpetrators.

Before 2000, when the post of Mayor of London was established, there was a horrifying rise in anti-Semitic attacks, in London and across the country. I was very shocked by the figures that the Community Security Trust, which we meet with regularly now, showed me.

Since 2000 we have seen a decline in London, but the level of attacks are still much higher than they were 15 years ago, and even those levels were entirely unacceptable.
Alongside working with the police to ensure a zero-tolerance policy and measures to protect Jewish communities from attack, I strongly believe that in the end we must educate all our people about Jewish culture and contribution of Jewish people to London. Which is why establishing our festivals and celebrations of Jewish culture are so important to me. This is not just about a free day out, they play a real role in educating each other, and creating a sense that London's strength and vitality lies in its diversity so that racism and anti-Semitism are squeezed out.

Also, as a mayoral candidate I am going to campaign as hard as I can to ensure that there is no BNP member of the London Assembly  - that would be a disaster for London and for human rights.  It's important that everyone who wants to fight racism and anti-Semitism turns out to vote and encourages their friends, family and colleagues to vote.  The BNP only needs 5 per cent to get a seat on the London Assembly, so let's not let this happen.

Name some Jewish people you admire and respect and tell us why?
Louis Brandeis, the first US Jewish Supreme Court Justice is someone I have admired for a long time. He was a great progressive legal and political figure. Ian Mikardo, the Labour MP, was someone I looked up and respected and whose commitment to his constituents was second to none. In terms of historical figures I have always been interested in the life of Hillel, the Elder.

What is your favourite Jewish food and why?
Chicken soup comes top. And I ate far too many latkes and doughnuts at the Trafalgar Square Chanukkah festival in December.