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Cameron backs Johnson mayor bid Cameron backs 'brilliant' Johnson
(about 2 hours later)
Conservative leader David Cameron is giving his support to Boris Johnson as he officially launches his bid to become the next mayor of London. Boris Johnson would "do a brilliant job" as London mayor and is "exactly the kind of leader" the capital needs, Tory leader David Cameron says.
The pair are kicking off the Tory campaign in Edmonton, north London, where Mr Johnson is meeting the family of murdered teenager Ofiyke Nmezu. The Henley MP is "twice as charismatic" and "twice as energetic" as his rival, current mayor and Labour candidate Ken Livingstone, he said.
The 16-year-old, from Upper Edmonton, died two weeks after suffering a head injury during an assault last month. Mr Cameron spoke out at the official launch of Mr Johnson's campaign in Edmonton, north London.
Ten candidates will take part in the London mayoral election on 1 May. Earlier, Mr Johnson met the family of murdered teenager Ofiyke Nmezu.
Local and London Assembly elections take place on the same day. The 16-year-old, from Upper Edmonton, received serious head injuries on 15 February but did not report the attack to police or seek medical attention until two weeks later when he was admitted to hospital. He died hours later.
Murder inquiry 'Shocking' statistics
A teenager has been charged with the boy's murder.
Mr Cameron said crime was the "single biggest factor undermining our quality of life in this great city.
"Violent crime is up. Twenty-seven teenagers were murdered in London last year. Twenty-seven young lives senselessly destroyed - that's a truly shocking fact.
"And it's getting worse. Already this year, 11 teenagers have been killed. Two of them last week and we are just at the beginning of April."
I don't always agree with him but I respect the fact that he's absolutely his own man David Cameron on Boris Johnson
Mr Cameron said: "London's real problem is a lack of leadership - there's no excuse for it. One person has the job of running this city ...the mayor of London."
While the Tory leader conceded that Mr Livingstone "did do some good things" when he came to power in 2000, he added that "now it's obvious he's lost touch with the people who once supported him".
He said Mr Livingstone's administration was "badly run and bogged down in corruption investigations".
And having been an independent who returned to the Labour fold, Mr Livingstone was now "displaying the same arrogance and intolerance of criticism we associate with Gordon Brown".
In contrast, the Conservatives' candidate, Boris Johnson" is "as big a figure as Ken Livingstone - and twice as charismatic".
'Open-minded'
"I was delighted when Boris decided to run for mayor because I knew he'd do a brilliant job, not just as a candidate but as exactly the kind of leader that London needs," he said.
"I don't always agree with him but I respect the fact that he's absolutely his own man. He's a proper Conservative - practical, open-minded and keen to get things done.
"And he's someone who has a properly thought-through plan to make London better."
The appearance of Mr Cameron alongside Mr Johnson on comes amid signs that the Conservative leader is growing more confident of his candidate's chances of success on polling day.The appearance of Mr Cameron alongside Mr Johnson on comes amid signs that the Conservative leader is growing more confident of his candidate's chances of success on polling day.
Mr Johnson, a TV show host, ex-magazine editor and MP for Henley, says he will leave Parliament if he wins the mayoralty.Mr Johnson, a TV show host, ex-magazine editor and MP for Henley, says he will leave Parliament if he wins the mayoralty.
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 Boris Johnson Bendy buses
As part of his campaign launch, the MP is talking to the family of Ofiyke, who was known as Iyke. He has already spoken out on crime, promising to divert funds from the mayor's "publicity budget" to pay for 440 more police community support officers on buses
The teenager received serious head injuries on 15 February but did not report the attack to police or seek medical attention until two weeks later when he was admitted to hospital. He died hours later.
A teenager has been charged with the boy's murder.
Mr Johnson has already spoken out on crime, promising to divert funds from the mayor's "publicity budget" to pay for 440 more police community support officers on buses
He would also pay for more police officers to patrol 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 railway platforms, and encourage union bosses to agree not to strike on the London Underground, in a deal with Tube bosses.
Issues 'that really matter'
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.
He would tackle the intimidation felt by Londoners on the buses by teenagers "acting up".He would tackle the intimidation felt by Londoners on the buses by teenagers "acting up".
And he would target low-level disorder, such as fare evasion, which he said would make a "real difference" on crime.And he would target low-level disorder, such as fare evasion, which he said would make a "real difference" on crime.
Mr Johnson says he has 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 says.
Housing battleHousing battle
Later, Mr Johnson will join mayor Ken Livingstone and Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick in a debate entitled: "Who should be the next mayor?" Mr Johnson says he has policies on the issues "that really matter" to Londoners, including housing, improving public transport and crime.
Later, Mr Johnson will join mayor Mr Livingstone and Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick in a debate entitled: "Who should be the next mayor?"
Mr Livingstone is also outlining his housing manifesto, with an appeal to first-time buyers priced out of the market.Mr Livingstone is also outlining his housing manifesto, with an appeal to first-time buyers priced out of the market.
The London mayor has plans to deliver 50,000 affordable homes in three years. Mr Johnson pledges the same by 2011.The London mayor has plans to deliver 50,000 affordable homes in three years. Mr Johnson pledges the same by 2011.
Mr Livingstone will argue that the rate of house-building in the capital has almost doubled since he became mayor in 2000 to 33,000 last year. Ten candidates will take part in the London mayoral election on 1 May.
Mr Johnson says he believes 50,000 new affordable homes is achievable by 2011, but has pledged to "ease" the 50% quota in order to encourage development. Local and London Assembly elections take place on the same day.
Mr Livingstone is set to say: "I am determined that the thousands of young people who cannot get on the property ladder will have the chance to own their own homes.
"Unlike Boris Johnson whose policies would have the affect of concentrating housing in high priced and luxury developments, pricing housing out of the hands of ordinary Londoners."
Mr Livingstone will also pledge to ensure that a "much larger proportion" of new affordable homes for rent will have at least three bedrooms to make them suitable for families.