Mayor of London

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This article is about the elected mayor of Greater London. For the City of London mayor, see Lord Mayor of the City of London.

The Mayor of London is an elected politician who governs Greater London. Since 4th May 2008, Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position. Previously, the position was held by Ken Livingstone from the creation of the role on 4th May 2000, until his succession by Johnson.

The role, created in 2000 after the London devolution referendum, was the first directly-elected mayor in the United Kingdom. The Mayor of London is also referred to as the London Mayor, a form which helps to avoid confusion with the Lord Mayor of the City of London, the ancient and now mainly ceremonial role in the City of London. The Mayor of London is mayor of Greater London which has a population of over 7.5 million.

The mayor's office is at City Hall, overlooking the River Thames near Tower Bridge
The mayor's office is at City Hall, overlooking the River Thames near Tower Bridge

Contents

[edit] Elections

Main article: London mayoral elections

The Mayor of London is elected by Supplementary Vote for a fixed term of four years, with elections taking place in May. As with most elected posts in the UK, there is a deposit, in this case of £10,000, returnable on the candidate's winning at least 5% of the first-choice votes cast.

[edit] 2000

Main article: London mayoral election, 2000

The 2000 campaign was incident-filled. The eventual winner, Ken Livingstone, went back on an earlier pledge not to run as an independent after losing the Labour nomination to Frank Dobson.

London Mayoral Election Results 2000
Name Party 1st Preference Votes  % 2nd Preference Votes¹  % Final  %²
Ken Livingstone Independent 667,877 39.0 178,809 12.6 776,427 57.9
Steven Norris Conservative 464,434 27.1 188,041 13.2 564,137 42.1
Frank Dobson Labour 223,884 13.1 228,095 16.0
Susan Kramer Liberal Democrat 203,452 11.9 404,815 28.5
Ram Gidoomal CPA 42,060 2.4 56,489 4.0
Darren Johnson Green 38,121 2.2 192,764 13.6
Michael Newland BNP 33,569 2.0 45,337 3.2
Damian Hockney UKIP 16,324 1.0 43,672 3.1
Geoffrey Ben-Nathan Pro-Motorist Small Shop 9,956 0.6 23,021 1.6
Ashwin Tanna Independent 9,015 0.5 41,766 2.9
Geoffrey Clements Natural Law 5,470 0.3 18,185 1.3

The Conservative Party had to replace Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare as their candidate when he was charged with perjury; Steve Norris was elected as his replacement.

[edit] 2004

Main article: London mayoral election, 2004

In 2004, the second election was held. After being re-admitted to the Labour Party, Ken Livingstone was their official candidate. He won re-election after second preference votes were counted, with Steve Norris again coming second.

London Mayoral Election Results 2004
Name Party 1st Preference Votes  % 2nd Preference Votes  % Final  %
Ken Livingstone Labour 685,541 35.7 250,517 13.0 828,380 55.4
Steven Norris Conservative 542,423 28.2 222,559 11.6 667,178 44.6
Simon Hughes Liberal Democrat 284,645 14.8 465,704 24.3
Frank Maloney UKIP 115,665 6.0 193,157 10.0
Lindsey German RESPECT 61,731 3.2 63,294 3.3
Julian Leppert BNP 58,405 3.0 70,736 3.7
Darren Johnson Green 57,331 2.9 208,686 10.9
Ram Gidoomal CPA 41,696 2.2 56,721 2.9
Lorna Reid IWCA 9,542 0.5 39,678 2.1
Tammy Nagalingam Independent 6,692 0.4 20,391 1.1

[edit] 2008

Main article: London mayoral election, 2008
London Mayoral Election Results 2008
Name Party 1st Preference Votes  % 2nd Preference Votes1  % Final2  %3
Boris Johnson Conservative 1,043,761 42.48 (+14.3%) 257,792 10.49 1,168,738 53.2
Ken Livingstone Labour 893,877 36.38 (+0.7%) 303,198 12.34 1,028,966 46.8
Brian Paddick Liberal Democrat 236,685 9.63 (–5.2%) 641,412 26.11
Siân Berry Green 77,374 3.15 (+0.3%) 331,727 13.50
Richard Barnbrook British National Party 69,710 2.84 (–0.2%) 128,609 5.23
Alan Craig Christian Peoples Alliance 39,249 1.6 (–0.6%) 80,140 3.26
Gerard Batten UKIP 22,422 0.91 (–5.1%) 113,651 4.63
Lindsey German Left List 16,796 0.68 35,057 1.43
Matt O'Connor4 (withdrawn) English Democrats 10,695 0.44 73,538 2.99
Winston McKenzie Independent 5,389 0.22 38,954 1.59

1Second preference votes are only used to elect the mayor if no single candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. Only the top two candidates receive the second preference votes.

2On papers where the 1st and 2nd choice votes are for the top two candidates, the 2nd choice votes are not counted.[1]

3Percentage figures are not officially published on the final votes, they are produced here for illustration and are calculated by dividing the candidate's final vote by the total of final votes. When based on the total votes cast, however, the figures are 48.4% and 42.6%.

4Matt O'Connor withdrew from the election in the week prior to polling day but his name remained on the ballot paper.[2]

[edit] List of Mayors

Name Portrait Entered office Left office Political party
Ken Livingstone 4 May 2000 4 May 2008 Independent 2000–2004

Labour 2004–2008
Boris Johnson 4 May 2008 Incumbent Conservative

[edit] Initiatives

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Initiatives taken by Ken Livingstone as Mayor of London included the London congestion charge on private vehicles using city centre London on weekdays, the creation of the London Climate Change Agency, the London Energy Partnership and the founding of the international Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, now known as C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. The Congestion charge led to many new buses being introduced across London.

They have also included the London Partnerships Register which was a voluntary scheme without legal force for same-sex couples to register their partnership, and paved the way for the introduction by the United Kingdom Parliament of civil partnerships. Unlike civil partnerships, the London Partnerships Register was open to heterosexual couples who favour a public commitment other than marriage.

As Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone was also a key player and supporter of the London Olympics in 2012, and is known to always encourage sport in London; especially when sport can be combined with helping UK charities-like The London Marathon and British 10K charity races. In the summer of 2007 he brought the World famous Tour de France cycle race to London.

In May 2008, Boris Johnson introduced a new transport safety initiative to put 440 high-visibility police officers on bus hubs and the immediate vicinity.[3] A ban on alcohol on Tube, bus, Docklands Light Railway, and tram services and stations across the capital was announced.[4]

Also in May 2008, Boris Johnson announced the closure of The Londoner newspaper, saving approximately £2.9M. A percentage of this saving will be spent on planting 10,000 new street trees.[5]

[edit] Salary

The Mayor of London's salary is one that ranks alongside that of a government Cabinet minister's. The current salary is £137,579 per year.[6]

[edit] See also

London Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Results: Mayor London Elects
  2. ^ O'Connor pulls out of mayor race BBC
  3. ^ GLA Press Release - New action on transport safety
  4. ^ GLA Press Release - Plan to ban alcohol on the transport network
  5. ^ GLA Press Release - Closure of The Londoner newspaper
  6. ^ Greater London Authority - Annual Budget

[edit] External links

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Mayors of London


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