There is no jury because the events under discussion are thought to be too complicated

There is no jury, because the events under discussion are thought to be too complicated.Occasionally, the air ducts moan weirdly, like wind in a chimney. Irving conducts his own case, alternating from lawyers’ table to witness box and back again. Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will emphasise the economic consequences of electing Ken Livingstone.The Tory party will announce the result of the re-run of its own selection process on Monday The winner is expected to be Steven Norris.. Historian David Irving’s performance in the High Court, where he is seeking libel damages over a book which he alleges has ruined his career, is often perplexing.

Historian David Irving’s performance in the High Court, where he is seeking libel damages over a book which he alleges has ruined his career, is often perplexing.
Before the judge enters, the burly historian leans over a teak table, meaty hands extended before him He does not stay still for very long. He bustles in the aisles, unpicking a knot of lawyers while seemingly heedless of an untied shoelace.When Mr Justice Gray is finally seated, Irving’s blue-suited frame sways to the rhythm of his own utterances, while, behind his back, his thumbs continuously flick his forefingers.At one stage he tells the court: “In the last four days I have had six hours sleep.” There are bouts of tetchiness over the teak.It is one of the most disturbingly bizarre battles to have come before a civil court in modern times. Let’s keep it from the politicians.”As for “the politicians”: Tony Blair’s spokesman has denied any plans to remove Frank Dobson from the vote for Labour’s candidate before ballot papers go out on 26 January. The denial came amid persistent rumours of plans to shift his backing to Glenda Jackson and elevate Mr Dobson to the House of Lords.The Prime Minister is expected to underline his support later this week at a Labour Party “question and answer” session in London. The idea of putting a hologram of the BBC’s old station sergeant Dixon of Dock Green on every street corner appears ludicrous, until you realise that he is really talking about computerised information terminals – like the touch-screens that already exist at tourist offices and railway stations.Librarians may object to being asked to run bars, so that we can “drink a glass of Guinness while reading Dickens” – but many of the hugely popular new-style bookshops such as Borders already sell alcohol in their in-store cafes, for customers to enjoy while browsing.Above all, says Malcolm McLaren: “The Mayor of London is an important role. Some will reject it as New Age psychobabble, the eco-speak of the politically naive.

Others, particularly those who see corporate culture side by side with party politics in an establishment that is to be resisted, may take it as a clarion call.Some of Mr McLaren’s more Quixotic policies seem quite sane on closer inspection. They too might back McLaren as a safe act of rebellion.Even Sir Richard Branson, who has not announced his intention to stand, was ahead of the Downing Street favourite Frank Dobson in the MORI poll. Voters thought personal qualities were more important than parties, with honesty and an independent mind among the most highly prized. MORI has estimated that party loyalties will account for just 20 per cent of the vote in London, issues 30 per cent and the image of the candidate 50 per cent.Opponents will see hypocrisy in Mr McLaren’s rage against Cool Britannia and the corporate culture, since his backer Mr McGee was at the heart of that phenomenon and has just sold out to big business.Mr McLaren’s manifesto offers bold solutions and strong words. With the turn-out expected to be low, that would offer a serious boost to the official Labour candidate.A poll conducted for the BBC by MORI in December revealed that only 29 per cent of Londoners were certain to vote in the mayoral election. Other research suggests that most of those who do turn out are likely to be middle-class and middle-aged or older – unless a candidate like Mr McLaren, formerly so dominant in youth culture, can appeal to the huge numbers of younger men and women who can’t usually see the point of voting.Even if he does not, there will be those who still cherish the irreverence of the punk era, who wore safety pins and bin liners two decades ago but now have suits and mortgages.