This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7378792.stm
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Johnson 'ahead' in mayoral race | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Early results from the election count suggest Conservative candidate Boris Johnson is ahead in the race to become the next mayor of London. | |
| With 40% of votes counted in each of the 14 electoral areas - Mr Johnson has the lead in nine while Labour's Ken Livingstone is ahead in five. | |
| London Elects, which organises the elections, says it expects the results "not before" 2030 BST. | |
| Turnout is estimated at 45% - up from 36.95% in 2004. | |
| Neck-and-neck | Neck-and-neck |
| The election will also decide the 25 members of the London Assembly, which scrutinises the work of the mayor. | |
| Johnson: 'A different kettle of fish' | |
| Opinion polls had placed Mr Livingstone and Mr Johnson neck-and-neck, with Lib Dem ex-police commander Brian Paddick a distant third. | Opinion polls had placed Mr Livingstone and Mr Johnson neck-and-neck, with Lib Dem ex-police commander Brian Paddick a distant third. |
| Mr Livingstone won the last two mayoral elections, but in each case the count went to second preference votes. | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has conceded Labour's losses in the local elections across England and Wales have been "disappointing" - the worst the party has suffered in at least 40 years. | |
| BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said all sides believe Mr Johnson will win the mayoral poll. | |
| National impact | |
| But walking to his car on Friday morning Mr Johnson told the BBC he was unsure of the result: "I've got not a clue, we'll have to wait and see what the returning officer says." | |
| Livingstone: 'No one can be certain' | |
| Asked if he was encouraged by the Conservatives' performance in England and Wales, he replied: "I think the party's done fantastically nationally but London is a very different kettle of fish and we'll have to see what happens." | |
| Meanwhile Mr Livingstone told reporters he was "feeling fine" adding: "I'm just off for a swim, and then I'm going to go into the Labour headquarters and thanking the staff who work so hard. | |
| "And then I'm just going to sit down and wait like all the rest of you, because none of us can be certain until they announce that result." | |
| The counting began at 0830 BST at three venues - Alexandra Palace, Excel and Olympia - but by 1245 BST only 22% of the votes had been counted. | |
| Electoral prize | |
| London Elect says it believes 2.4m Londoners voted - a turnout of about 45% and the first time more than 2m people have voted in the mayoral and assembly elections. | |
| The race to run London is the highest-profile contest in the 2008 round of elections. | The race to run London is the highest-profile contest in the 2008 round of elections. |
| Analysts say the outcome could have a powerful impact on national politics ahead of the next general election, which is due by 2010. | Analysts say the outcome could have a powerful impact on national politics ahead of the next general election, which is due by 2010. |
| Tory MP Mr Johnson has given Mr Livingstone his toughest challenge since the job of London mayor was set up in 2000. | Tory MP Mr Johnson has given Mr Livingstone his toughest challenge since the job of London mayor was set up in 2000. |
| class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY As a British ex-pat living in the US - would the last person leaving London, turn the lights off please!Milton JPort Washington class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4712">Send us your comments | |
| Pundits say a first defeat for Mr Livingstone would be another blow to Labour and Mr Brown. | |
| The first Tory mayor of London would also give party leader David Cameron his biggest electoral prize so far as he tries to show the Conservatives are once more ready for office, say correspondents. | The first Tory mayor of London would also give party leader David Cameron his biggest electoral prize so far as he tries to show the Conservatives are once more ready for office, say correspondents. |
| The results will almost certainly be decided on second preference votes, say pundits. | The results will almost certainly be decided on second preference votes, say pundits. |
| Attention in the capital will also be focused on the fortunes of the British National Party and George Galloway's Respect. | Attention in the capital will also be focused on the fortunes of the British National Party and George Galloway's Respect. |
| Both parties are vying to hurdle the 5% threshold needed to win their first seats on the London Assembly. | Both parties are vying to hurdle the 5% threshold needed to win their first seats on the London Assembly. |
| The Greens and UK Independence Party will be hoping to repeat their successes in 2004, when each took two seats. | The Greens and UK Independence Party will be hoping to repeat their successes in 2004, when each took two seats. |
| The Conservatives aim to remain the largest single grouping, although no single party is expected to obtain an overall majority. | |