Ken urges Strodes pupils to learn Mandarin

Mar 15 2010 By Russell Butt

Ken Livingstone at Strodes College in March 2010

Strode's College students have relished the chance to grill one of the country's best known politicians and ex-London mayor.

Labour politician, Ken Livingstone, held a captive audience when he gave a talk to a packed Coopers' Hall in Strode's College, Egham, on Wednesday, March 10.

The former Mayor of London delivered a broad talk detailing his life in politics, explaining how he became a politician, as well as offering up some of his political philosophy and words of advice on 'how to make a difference'.

During his largely non-partisan talk Mr Livingstone made particularly note how the world had changed since he was a teenager and how economic power is changing with the growth of India and China, advising the avidly listening audience: "You should all be learning Mandarin".

He also talked on how journalism today was angled more towards sensation rather than investigative reporting, or the importance of voting and expressing a choice. He claimed climate change was the biggest threat to mankind since 'Nazi Germany' and painted an apocalyptic picture of what could happen if prompt action isn't taken.

In response to questions posed by the audience, Mr Livingstone encouraged the use of public transport, or walking, rather than cars, but conceded that having a car was something of an expectation for young people.

At the end of his address, Mr Livingstone confirmed that he would be standing again for Mayor of London in 2012.