It doesn't surprise me that they've done this. The rather cynical view I heard from a commentator on BBC News 24 when it was first announced is that Ken was probably going to be re-elected again and Labour didn't want people to associate their party with loosing when there is a general election relatively soon (2006 at least AFAIAA).
I notice that he has a fan site apparently maintained by someone else called Martin Bell.
He's not the most recent independent MP, though; I believe Richard Taylor would be that. Also Livingstone's decisions surely have more effect on more people than those of backbencher though.
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(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-07 01:31 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-07 02:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-07 04:49 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-07 07:12 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-07 11:08 am (UTC)I notice that he has a fan site apparently maintained by someone else called Martin Bell.
He's not the most recent independent MP, though; I believe Richard Taylor would be that. Also Livingstone's decisions surely have more effect on more people than those of backbencher though.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-07 11:14 am (UTC)If the former, I can't help noticing that we've heard very little since about the fiasco of that monkey being elected Mayor of Hartlepool.