Election '97: ... while Red Ken goes on a Millbank diet

Ken Livingstone was not saying anything much - not just because his mouth was full of masala dosa in the Indian cafe, but because the MP for Brent East is on the Millbank diet.

Apparently, Labour's spin doctors did not want the caustic critic of new Labour to be too voluble during the election campaign. So he is on a vow of silence. For the ever so loquacious former GLC leader, this is akin to a vow of celibacy by Steven Norris.

"In l992 they told me not to speak for five weeks," said Mr Livingstone. "This time no orders have arrived from Millbank. They don't directly send me any memos any longer, because I would tell them to sod off. But I am not going to say anything now, I don't want to be blamed if things go wrong. I may have plenty to say come May 2."

So though we have conducted an interview with him, it was entirely off the record. Here is how New Labour likes Ken to be quoted. What about his views on the leadership? He was hardly complimentary:

''

,'' he said.

He could scarcely hide his amusement as he continued: "

"

Asked whether Tony Blair was really a Tory, Livingstone let fly: "

", before adding: "And that's what comes of too much spin doctoring." But what about the grip of the spin doctors on the campaign? At an earlier lunch, Mr Livingstone's friend described the reaction he got whenever he walked into Millbank: ''

,"

Waving a glass of sancerre he smiled. "The only things missing were the strings of garlic and the crucifix."

Mr Livingstone's public reticence on new Labour has excited his Tory opponent Mark Francois: "He has new Labour on his campaign leaflets, but we all know what he feels about Tony Blair, he has been less than complimentary in the past. Does he really believe in the policies of new Labour? I doubt it." Mr Francois was a councillor at the home of Essex Man, Basildon, for four years. He was born in Islington and says he works in the defence industry.

He said: "I am fighting this seat to win. I was adopted in l995, and I have had two years to work at this. Europe has become the key issue now, and Ken Livingstone is an Euro-Federalist. I am against a monetary union. I do not believe the huge lead Labour has got in the opinion polls and I think we have got a very good chance."

Mr Livingstone has a majority of 5,971. And his fervently Europhile stance, say the locals, is unlikely to dent this. Even Tory voters cannot seem to help feeling a sneaking respect for him.

Shopping at Willesden Lane, Margaret Cameron, a former bank worker aged 36, said: "I voted Tory last time. But this time I shall be voting for Ken Livingstone. I know his politics are a bit to the left, but he is an honest man. I am seeking and tired of all the corruption surrounding the Tories. I know Ken Livingstone would never accept any brown envelopes."

Shopkeeper Eddie Goodall, another former Conservative, would not be voting at all this time. "I voted for Maggie, but I cannot vote for John Major. I cannot go for Labour, because they do not seem to stand for anything at all. No, I am not that worried about the Labour left, Red Ken is meant to be left, but I have to admit he has been a bloody good constituency MP," he said.