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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Livingstone opens re-election bid | Livingstone opens re-election bid |
| (about 17 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 Livingstone Johnson offers 'fresh ideas'Paddick 'the serious choice' | Whilst he did a few good things when he was first elected, he has lost interest in Londoners Boris JohnsonOn Ken Livingstone Johnson offers 'fresh ideas'Paddick 'the serious choice' |
| 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 IndependentJohn Flunder Senior Citizens' Party | |
| However, as canvassing got under way, Electoral Commission chief executive Peter Wardle disclosed that it was investigating a form calling for donations to Mr Livingstone's campaign. | However, as canvassing got under way, Electoral Commission chief executive Peter Wardle disclosed that it was investigating a form calling for donations to Mr Livingstone's campaign. |
| Tory MP Andrew Tyrie said the document "gives the impression that one is giving money to the Ken Livingstone campaign" whereas he understood "the money is going to the Labour Party". | Tory MP Andrew Tyrie said the document "gives the impression that one is giving money to the Ken Livingstone campaign" whereas he understood "the money is going to the Labour Party". |
| Mr Wardle, giving evidence at the Commons Justice Committee, said: "We're looking into that." Pressed by Mr Tyrie to say whether an investigation was under way, Mr Wardle said: "Yes." | Mr Wardle, giving evidence at the Commons Justice Committee, said: "We're looking into that." Pressed by Mr Tyrie to say whether an investigation was under way, Mr Wardle said: "Yes." |
| Mr Livingstone's campaign team were unavailable for comment. | Mr Livingstone's campaign team were unavailable for comment. |
| 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, marked 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, marked 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' | '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. |
| 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 told the BBC that London needed "a change" and he had the "energy, the creativity, the dynamism and the fresh ideas to deliver it". |
| We can deal with that, it's been going up and this mayor has done absolutely nothing about it Boris JohnsonConservative candidate | We can deal with that, it's been going up and this mayor has done absolutely nothing about it Boris JohnsonConservative candidate |
| He said he had policies on the issues "that really matter" to Londoners - including housing, improving public transport and crime. | He said he had policies on the issues "that really matter" to Londoners - including housing, improving public transport and crime. |
| "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. | "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. |
| For example, he said he would tackle the intimidation felt by Londoners on the buses by teenagers "acting up". | For example, he said he would tackle the intimidation felt by Londoners on the buses by teenagers "acting up". |
| "We can deal with that, it's been going up and this mayor has done absolutely nothing about it," he said. | "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. | 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". | 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. |
| When asked about his poll showing, Mr Paddick told the BBC: "It's early days as far as this election is concerned." | When asked about his poll showing, Mr Paddick told the BBC: "It's early days as far as this election is concerned." |
| He added: "We will see one or maybe both of the other two candidates fade away... People will realise that I'm the only credible candidate for change." | He added: "We will see one or maybe both of the other two candidates fade away... People will realise that I'm the only credible candidate for change." |