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Tory mayor search draws to close Boris Johnson selected by Tories
(about 17 hours later)
The Tories' search for a candidate to take on Ken Livingstone for the job of Mayor of London is drawing to a close. Boris Johnson has overwhelmingly won the battle to be Conservative candidate in next year's London mayoral race.
The party's ballot, which was open to all Londoners registered on the electoral roll, closed at noon on Wednesday, after a series of hustings. The 43-year-old Henley MP beat off the challenge from Andrew Boff, Warwick Lightfoot and Victoria Borwick in a vote which was open to all Londoners.
Boris Johnson, Andrew Boff, Warwick Lightfoot and Victoria Borwick are all vying for the chance to stand as the Conservative candidate. Mr Johnson, an ex-magazine editor well known for his TV chat show appearance and media rows over his outspoken comments, got 75% of the 20,019 votes.
The party is due to announce the winner on Thursday morning. He will seek to stop current mayor Ken Livingstone winning a third term.
Mr Johnson, the Henley MP and former Spectator editor, has been the highest profile of the candidates. TORY RESULT IN FULL Boris Johnson: 15,661 votesVictoria Borwick: 1,869Andrew Boff: 1,674Warwick Lightfoot: 609 class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/3758846.stm">Profile: Boris Johnson class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6901161.stm">Johnson's media scrapes
Crossrail plea Mr Johnson won 15,661 votes, with Mrs Borwick getting 1,869 votes, Mr Boff winning 1,674 and Warwick Lightfoot picking up 609 votes.
Opposition parties appear to have decided he is likely to be the chosen candidate - last week Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell referred to him as the "blondest suicide note in history". During his campaign Mr Johnson pledged to scrap "bendy" buses and return the classic Routemaster buses to London's streets, and to "work as hard for people in zone six as in zone one".
He told the BBC he would end the "egotistical" stand-off between Mr Livingstone and London's boroughs, and stop "rabbit hutch-sized dwellings" being imposed on suburbs.
Other candidates
Opposition parties had already decided that Mr Johnson was set to be the Conservative candidate - last week Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell referred to him as the "blondest suicide note in history".
And in his speech to the Labour conference this week Mr Livingstone joked that he was proud to have been invited to give the first "Boris Johnson memorial lecture".And in his speech to the Labour conference this week Mr Livingstone joked that he was proud to have been invited to give the first "Boris Johnson memorial lecture".
It's been a great opportunity to open up politics to all Londoners and shows a new approach to politics Conservative Party spokesmanIt's been a great opportunity to open up politics to all Londoners and shows a new approach to politics Conservative Party spokesman
For his part Mr Johnson has pledged to scrap bendy buses and return the classic Routemaster buses to London's streets and to "work as hard for people in zone six as in zone one". Of the defeated candidates, businesswoman Mrs Borwick has concentrated on dealing with crime, IT consultant Mr Boff proposed scrapping the congestion charge introduced by Mr Livingstone and economist Mr Lightfoot promised public service reform.
Businesswoman Mrs Borwick has concentrated on dealing with crime, IT consultant Mr Boff has proposed scrapping the congestion charge introduced by Mr Livingstone and economist Mr Lightfoot has promised public service reform.
The "open primary" contest was open to all Londoners on the electoral roll who registered on a telephone hotline.The "open primary" contest was open to all Londoners on the electoral roll who registered on a telephone hotline.
A Conservative Party spokesman said he did not know how many votes had been cast, but added : "It's been a great opportunity to open up politics to all Londoners and shows a new approach to politics. A Conservative Party spokesman said the contest had "captured the interest of the public and has helped challenge voter apathy".
"The contest has captured the interest of the public and has helped challenge voter apathy." The Lib Dems have yet to choose their candidate. Among others already known to be planning to stand for mayor are Sian Berry, for the Green Party, and Big Issue founder John Bird, as an independent.