New London Mayor Offers Blair a Truce but Still Talks Tough

Ken Livingstone began his job as London mayor Friday by offering a truce to Prime Minister Tony Blair but making clear he will speak out on national issues.

Just hours after sweeping to victory as London’s first elected mayor and trouncing Blair’s chosen candidate, Frank Dobson, Livingstone said, “My intention is to heal this wound, not deepen it. In the words of Winston Churchill, ‘In victory, there shall be magnanimity.’ ”

However, he also threatened to take Blair’s government to court over improving London’s subway system and blasted Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown for not giving enough aid to the capital.

Livingstone, expelled from Blair’s Labor Party just two months ago, also said he will meet with Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers next week to discuss such matters as the strong pound’s impact on exporters and U.S. car giant Ford’s threat to close its London car plant in Dagenham.

The tough stand came as Blair faced his blackest day since being elected three years ago. He suffered heavy losses in local elections Thursday and was deprived of a majority in the London Assembly, which will govern with Livingstone.

For his part, Blair promised to work with the man he called “a disaster” before the election because of his past radical left-wing policies.

“The people of London have made their verdict clear, and it’s my responsibility to make sure it now works for London, whatever my personal views about Ken Livingstone,” Blair said.