“Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail.” London Mayor
“Red” Ken Livingstone did his best Rudy Giuliani impression this morning
with an impassioned and defiant address to the City and the world.
Livingstone may be at the opposite end of the political spectrum to
Giuliani, but today he showed similar rhetorical power – even though
he was stuck in Singapore following London’s successful Olympics bid.

The mayor reminded the world that London was a beacon for migrants
seeking a safe haven from unrest in foreign shores. Check out the text
of his statement here.
Livingstone, Tony Blair, George W Bush and, locally, Alexander
Downer, all made strong statements in the hours following the London
attacks with Bush lamenting the deaths of “all those innocent folks.”

Kevin Rudd, one of our many junketeering politicians during the winter
recess, popped up on radio from London: “What I see is the British
bulldog spirit alive and well,” he reported. “And full marks to them for
that.”

And one lingering question – “whatever happened to Richard Alston?” –
was answered when Australia’s new High Commissioner popped up on
overnight TV coverage from London. Those familiar unblinking eyes
stared out at us as Alston told a media conference that High Commission
staff were calling hospitals to check for Australian casualties.

Europe has been treating him well – Alston looked tanned and
fit. But he was quick to show he was swinging into action at a
time of crisis.