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Boris 'ahead' as mayor race opens London's mayoral race under way
(about 7 hours later)
Nominations open for the 2008 Mayor of London election - with one poll putting Tory contender Boris Johnson ahead. Nominations are opening for the London mayoral election, with Labour's Ken Livingstone facing his biggest challenge since taking office in 2000.
The YouGov survey for the Evening Standard puts Mr Johnson on 49%, 12 points ahead of current mayor, Ken Livingstone, who polled 37%. He is competing with Conservative Boris Johnson and Lib Dem Brian Paddick, with about ten others expected to stand.
Liberal Democrat hopeful Brian Paddick is third on 12% while others polled 3%. Mr Livingstone launches his bid for a third term at the Royal Festival Hall, while Mr Johnson is visiting Tooting.
Mr Livingstone will launch his third bid for the job at the Royal Festival Hall. Mr Johnson will visit Tooting. The election will be held on 1 May. A poll for the Evening Standard suggested Mr Johnson had 49%, Mr Livingstone 37% and Mr Paddick 12%.
Some 13 candidates have said they will stand for the top job, with nominations for the mayoral and London Assembly elections due to close on 28 March. Other candidates polled 3% in the YouGov poll.
The mayoral election and London Assembly elections take place on 1 May, with nominations due to close on 28 March.
Thirteen candidates have said they will stand for the top job.
Transport battleTransport battle
Mr Livingstone, who has been London's mayor since 2000, has already unveiled his transport manifesto, with plans for a £16bn cross-London Crossrail project and a £1bn-a-year Tube modernisation. Mr Livingstone has already unveiled his transport manifesto, with plans for a £16bn cross-London Crossrail project and a £1bn-a-year Tube modernisation.
He says he wants to raise the standards of service and security on London's overground rail services, and continue improvements to the bus network.He says he wants to raise the standards of service and security on London's overground rail services, and continue improvements to the bus network.
MAYORAL CANDIDATES Alan Craig Christian Peoples Alliance & The Christian PartyBoris JohnsonConservative partyBrian PaddickLiberal Democrat partyChris Prior Stop The Congestion Charge partyDamian HockneyOne London partyDennis DelderfieldNew BritainGerard Batten UKIPKen Livingstone Labour partyLindsey GermanRespect partyMatt O'ConnorEnglish Democrats partyRichard Barnbrook BNPSian Berry Green partyWinston McKenzie IndependentMAYORAL CANDIDATES Alan Craig Christian Peoples Alliance & The Christian PartyBoris JohnsonConservative partyBrian PaddickLiberal Democrat partyChris Prior Stop The Congestion Charge partyDamian HockneyOne London partyDennis DelderfieldNew BritainGerard Batten UKIPKen Livingstone Labour partyLindsey GermanRespect partyMatt O'ConnorEnglish Democrats partyRichard Barnbrook BNPSian Berry Green partyWinston McKenzie Independent
There are also plans for a central London bike hire scheme, involving 6,000 bicycles, with each one available for free use for the first 30 minutes and found at regular intervals on streets throughout the area.There are also plans for a central London bike hire scheme, involving 6,000 bicycles, with each one available for free use for the first 30 minutes and found at regular intervals on streets throughout the area.
Mr Johnson, also Tory MP for Henley, a topical quiz show host and former magazine editor, plans to kick off his official campaign with a visit to Tooting to discuss crime in the area. Mr Johnson, also Tory MP for Henley, a topical quiz show host and former magazine editor, plans to mark the official campaign's start with a visit to Tooting to discuss crime in the area.
His transport manifesto includes scrapping bendy buses in favour of Routemasters - wehich 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 also pay for more police officers to patrol buses and 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 buses and railway platforms, and encourage union bosses to agree not to strike on the London Underground, in a deal with Tube bosses.
Mr Paddick, a former Metropolitan Police commander, has pledged to put London's "hallmark" black cabs at the centre of his transport policies.Mr Paddick, a former Metropolitan Police commander, has pledged to put London's "hallmark" black cabs at the centre of his transport policies.
He wants to give licensed black cab drivers a seat on the board of Transport for London (TfL), and to see a consultation on whether rickshaws should be licensed or banned. He wants to give licensed black cab drivers a seat on the board of Transport for London and to hold a consultation on whether rickshaws should be licensed or banned.