Boris Johnson going for second term 'because there is more to do'

The Tory former MP said he wanted to stay on beyond May 2012 because he had “more to do” improving the capital and overseeing the Olympics.

“It is my intention and indeed I have written to seek the nomination to serve as Mayor for another term,” Mr Johnson told LBC radio’s Nick Ferrari show.

“I have got tough challenges on crime, improving the urban environment. I do think it is a good record so far and I am proud to defend it.” Labour is set to decide later this month whether former mayor Ken Livingstone or ex-MP Oona King will be its candidate for the post.

Mr Johnson said he expected facing Mr Livingstone – the man he defeated in the 2008 contest. “I expect they will go for Ken,” he said. “The union block vote will go behind the old war horse I suppose.”

Asked why he waited so long to declare his intention, Mr Johnson said he had wanted see how key initiatives worked. There was a “certain amount of nailbiting” over the scheme to make thousands of bicycles available for hire across London.

But he insisted: “When I look at the list of things we have got to do, I look at the Olympics, I look at all the prospects we’ve got to deliver change in London, to make something of the Olympic investment – not just for the site, the whole of east London – all the things that are in prospect. I have only got two years left in this term, and we are going to need to keep going.”

Mr Johnson played down his rift with the Government over its planned cap on immigration, saying he was merely lobbying for limits to be “thought through” so businesses were not prevented from importing the best talent.