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Livingstone opens re-election bid Livingstone opens re-election bid
(about 3 hours later)
London Mayor Ken Livingstone is launching his campaign for re-election, promising better transport, more affordable housing and more police.London Mayor Ken Livingstone is launching his campaign for re-election, promising better transport, more affordable housing and more police.
He is urging voters on 1 May to "keep London on the path" it has been on during his eight years in office.He is urging voters on 1 May to "keep London on the path" it has been on during his eight years in office.
He spoke as nominations opened, marking the official start of campaigning which has gone on unofficially for months.He spoke as nominations opened, marking the official start of campaigning which has gone on unofficially for months.
The main challengers to the Labour mayor are Conservative Boris Johnson and Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick.The main challengers to the Labour mayor are Conservative Boris Johnson and Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick.
There are about another 10 people expected to stand, although London Elects says it will not disclose who has officially entered the race until nominations close on 28 March.There are about another 10 people expected to stand, although London Elects says it will not disclose who has officially entered the race until nominations close on 28 March.
'Holding down fares''Holding down fares'
To enter the final ballot, contenders must put up a £10,000 deposit and collect the signatures of 330 supporters - 10 from each of London's 33 boroughs.To enter the final ballot, contenders must put up a £10,000 deposit and collect the signatures of 330 supporters - 10 from each of London's 33 boroughs.
Mr Livingstone, launching his bid at the Royal Festival Hall, is promising to take on another 1,000 police over the next year and build at least 50,000 affordable homes over the next three years.Mr Livingstone, launching his bid at the Royal Festival Hall, is promising to take on another 1,000 police over the next year and build at least 50,000 affordable homes over the next three years.
Whilst he did a few good things when he was first elected, he has lost interest in Londoners Boris JohnsonOn Ken LivingstoneWhilst he did a few good things when he was first elected, he has lost interest in Londoners Boris JohnsonOn Ken Livingstone
His campaign pledges to "continue improving bus services, modernise the Tube, build Crossrail and improve London rail services through London Overground to raise service and safety standards, while holding down fares".His campaign pledges to "continue improving bus services, modernise the Tube, build Crossrail and improve London rail services through London Overground to raise service and safety standards, while holding down fares".
Mr Livingstone says he would work with London boroughs to ensure all residential streets have 20mph speed limits and criticised Mr Johnson for opposing his policy of charging £25 a day for people driving "gas-guzzlers" within the congestion charge zone.Mr Livingstone says he would work with London boroughs to ensure all residential streets have 20mph speed limits and criticised Mr Johnson for opposing his policy of charging £25 a day for people driving "gas-guzzlers" within the congestion charge zone.
'Keep moving''Keep moving'
There are also plans for a central London bike hire scheme, involving 6,000 bicycles, with each one available for free use for the first 30 minutes and found at regular intervals on streets throughout the area.There are also plans for a central London bike hire scheme, involving 6,000 bicycles, with each one available for free use for the first 30 minutes and found at regular intervals on streets throughout the area.
Mr Livingstone said: "There is a majority in London that wants to keep moving our city forward - economically, socially, in a multicultural city and on the environment. If that majority votes on 1 May it will win again.Mr Livingstone said: "There is a majority in London that wants to keep moving our city forward - economically, socially, in a multicultural city and on the environment. If that majority votes on 1 May it will win again.
"I believe Londoners do not want to turn the clock back - they want to continue to work together to make London better in the way they have in the last eight years.""I believe Londoners do not want to turn the clock back - they want to continue to work together to make London better in the way they have in the last eight years."
MAYORAL CANDIDATES Alan Craig Christian Peoples Alliance & The Christian PartyBoris JohnsonConservative partyBrian PaddickLiberal Democrat Chris Prior Stop The Congestion Charge partyDamian HockneyOne London partyDennis DelderfieldNew BritainGerard Batten UKIPKen Livingstone Labour partyLindsey GermanLeft List partyMatt O'ConnorEnglish Democrats partyRichard Barnbrook BNPSian Berry Green partyWinston McKenzie IndependentMAYORAL CANDIDATES Alan Craig Christian Peoples Alliance & The Christian PartyBoris JohnsonConservative partyBrian PaddickLiberal Democrat Chris Prior Stop The Congestion Charge partyDamian HockneyOne London partyDennis DelderfieldNew BritainGerard Batten UKIPKen Livingstone Labour partyLindsey GermanLeft List partyMatt O'ConnorEnglish Democrats partyRichard Barnbrook BNPSian Berry Green partyWinston McKenzie Independent
A YouGov survey for the Evening Standard suggests Mr Johnson has the support of 49% of London voters, with Mr Livingstone on 37% and Mr Paddick on 12%. Other candidates polled 3%.A YouGov survey for the Evening Standard suggests Mr Johnson has the support of 49% of London voters, with Mr Livingstone on 37% and Mr Paddick on 12%. Other candidates polled 3%.
The mayoral election and London Assembly elections take place on 1 May, with nominations closing on 28 March.The mayoral election and London Assembly elections take place on 1 May, with nominations closing on 28 March.
Mr Johnson, also Tory MP for Henley and a former magazine editor, is marking the official campaign's start with a visit to Tooting to discuss crime in the area.Mr Johnson, also Tory MP for Henley and a former magazine editor, is marking the official campaign's start with a visit to Tooting to discuss crime in the area.
His transport manifesto includes scrapping bendy buses in favour of Routemasters - which would have conductors and disabled access and be run on environmentally friendly fuel.His transport manifesto includes scrapping bendy buses in favour of Routemasters - which would have conductors and disabled access and be run on environmentally friendly fuel.
'Energy and dynamism'
He would also pay for more police officers to patrol buses and railway platforms, and encourage union bosses to agree not to strike on the London Underground, in a deal with Tube bosses.He would also pay for more police officers to patrol buses and railway platforms, and encourage union bosses to agree not to strike on the London Underground, in a deal with Tube bosses.
'Stand up' Mr Johnson told the BBC that London needed "a change" and he had the "energy, the creativity, the dynamism and the fresh ideas to deliver it".
Mr Johnson said: "People in London are struggling to find a place to call home. We can deal with that, it's been going up and this mayor has done absolutely nothing about it Boris JohnsonConservative candidate
"The costs of living in London are also growing. Taxpayers no longer get value for the money they pay to Ken Livingstone and Gordon Brown. He said he had policies on the issues "that really matter" to Londoners - including housing, improving public transport and crime.
"And London's current mayor, whose job it should be to champion our great city and its people no longer seems able or willing to stand up for those who call London home. "I think the chief job of the mayor is to reclaim that sense of safety and security in all places for which the mayor is directly responsible," he said.
"Whilst he did a few good things when he was first elected, he has lost interest in Londoners." For example, he said he would tackle the intimidation felt by Londoners on the buses by teenagers "acting up".
Mr Johnson added: "After 40 years in politics he has had his day and sadly if re-elected he offers nothing but more of the same. London needs a new mayor." "We can deal with that, it's been going up and this mayor has done absolutely nothing about it," he said.
He said he wanted to target low level disorder, such as fare evasion, which he said would make a "real difference" on crime. And he said he would spend Mr Livingstone's proposed increment on his "publicity budget" on 440 new uniformed police community support officers on the rowdiest buses.
But he said he put "no faith whatsoever" in opinion polls and was expecting a "very tough and a very close fight".
Mr Paddick, a former Metropolitan Police commander, has pledged to put London's "hallmark" black cabs at the centre of his transport policies.Mr Paddick, a former Metropolitan Police commander, has pledged to put London's "hallmark" black cabs at the centre of his transport policies.
He wants to give licensed drivers a seat on the board of Transport for London and to hold a consultation on whether rickshaws should be licensed or banned.He wants to give licensed drivers a seat on the board of Transport for London and to hold a consultation on whether rickshaws should be licensed or banned.