LONDON (AFP) — With only a week to go before London mayoral elections, Ken Livingstone has been getting support from an unlikely ally -- former prime minister Tony Blair, the Guardian reported on Thursday.
Blair, who once famously said that Livingstone as mayor would be a disaster" for London, has been won over by his performance in office and is giving advice to Livingstone's campaign team.
Labour candidate Livingstone is seeking a third term and is running neck-and-neck with Tory rival Boris Johnson in the opinion polls.
To get the edge, Livingstone's campaign team have sought out the expertise of big Labour names such as Blair, media strategist Alistair Campbell and pollster and focus group advisor Philip Gould, the paper said.
The men were described by Olympics minister Tessa Jowell as "the best in the business" and their involvement was said to be proof that the Labour party was committed to helping Livingstone.
According to the Guardian, Blair has privately advised the team the election is "very winnable".
And while Campbell insisted he was not involved in an official capacity, he admitted being in touch with Livingstone's campaign team.
"I amaze myself going round talking up Ken, because I used to think he was dreadful," he was quoted as saying.
"But you simply have to admit that he has done a really good job and he is one of the reasons why London is (in effect) now the capital of the world."
Blair and Livingstone have a troubled past. In 2000, Livingstone was kicked out off the Labour Party for standing as an independent in London's first mayoral elections after Blair opposed his bid to stand for Labour.
He was, however, welcomed back into the Labour fold four years later in time to win a second term.
Blair stated he had been wrong in predicting Livingstone would be a disaster for the capital.
"I think I should be big enough to say the prediction I made...has not turned out to be right," he said at the time.
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