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Ken Livingstone "Boris Will Have a Record to Defend"

Ken LivingstoneKen Livingstone will stand against Boris Johnson as Labour's London Mayoral candidate.

He achieved more than double the number of votes cast by Labour's members in the Capital than rival Oona King.

Speaking to LBC shortly after the announcement was made Ken said he was certain he would get the nomination, "I always hoped to win but you can never tell in something like this. It was a secret ballot and Oona was just about the most devatating candidate to run against: charismatic, a nice person, a nice sense of humour and a real commitment to London. The great thing is having had this selection it has forced us to rebuld the party, thousands of people have joined - they have supported Oona's campaign and mine."

The victory for Mr Livingstone sets up a re-run of the 2008 contest, in which he was ousted by Mr Johnson after eight years in City Hall.

But he told LBC that it will be a different contest in 2012, "the key in all of this was when Boris ran and beat me in 2008 the Labour vote was slumped to its lowest in 40 years, we'd had the fiasco of the 10p tax ban being abolished. Boris is going to have a record to defend - and not just his cuts but the Government's cuts." 

Whoever wins the 2012 election will also get to represent London at the Olympic Games which begin a few weeks later. 

Listen to Ken's first interview after winning the candidacy with James O'Brien in full below.


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