I agree that Boris Johnson as mayor would be a total disaster for community relations and the situation of Muslim Londoners. You are right to be cautious.

But there is no extra risk in voting for Siân Berry of the Greens first and giving your second vote to Livingstone.

As you say, Johnson would need to get 50% of the vote to end the race in the first round. If he achieves this, the vote Livingstone achieves at the same time is immaterial. All that's important here is that you do turn out to vote, and that you do not vote for Johnson.

It is in the second round where tactical voting is necessary. We are advising our supporters to put Livingstone second as, if Siân has been knocked out in the first round, it will be Ken Livingstone who is best placed to beat Johnson. Any second votes for Livingstone at this stage will be added to his 1st round tally and count at full value.

On the other hand, if you vote Livingstone first, and he is, as expected, in the second round, your second vote will never count at all and you will have lost the opportunity to send, for example, a message of opposition to the national Labour government.

The best vote to send a strong signal for a fairer London, and maximise the chance of stopping Johnson, is Siân 1, Ken 2.

Thanks for your time,

Gary Dunion
Chief Press Officer
Green Party

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