Livingstone beats King to the Labour nomination

Ken Livingstone has won the Labour nomination for Mayor of London and will go on to challenge Boris Johnson in 2012, it was announced today.

Livingstone beat rival, Oona King, with 68.6% of the votes.  The former MP for Bethnal Green and Bow and self-confessed Blairite polled 31.4% of the ballot.

Mr Livingstone was elected by a ballot of Labour's 33,000 members in the capital, along with members of organisations affiliated to the party, including the unions.

“I promise now to steal all your best policies straight into our manifesto.” said Livingstone, addressing members after his victory.

“This isn't a victory between new and old Labour, it's a London Labour victory.  The London election is [London’s] chance to send a message to Boris and Cameron – that we don't want these cuts.  Bus passes now cost 30% more than when Johnson came to power and this election must be an argument for something better.  Ordinary Londoners did not create this mess; we need to unite Londoners like we have never before.”

He added.

Oona King pledged to unite behind Mr Livingstone, she said:

“All of us must do everything in our power to make sure Ken is next Mayor of London. No one in London wants to see Ken beat Boris more than me.  I will be there with you.”

Ken Livingstone, elected the first ever mayor of London in 2000 after running as an independent candidate, lost the City Hall seat to Conservative candidate Boris Johnson in 2008.  He will address the Labour party conference in Manchester next Wednesday.