Livingstone in call to vote Boris out

FORMER Mayor of London Ken Livingstone vowed to eject Boris Johnson from City Hall after he was selected as Labour's candidate for the city's mayoral elections of 2012.

And Mr Livingstone said the mayoral vote in Olympic year will provide a springboard to take on the coalition Government and return Labour to power nationally.

He said his message to those worried by David Cameron and George Osborne's cuts was: "If you want them out, first vote Boris out."

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Mr Livingstone beat former MP Oona King by a margin of more than two to one in the ballot, scooping 68.6 per cent of votes to her 31.4 per cent and leading among both party activists and affiliated union members in the capital.

His victory – a day before Labour chooses its new national leader – sets the scene for a re-run of the 2008 poll, when he was ousted by Tory Mr Johnson after eight years as mayor.

As well as giving him an opportunity to avenge that defeat, the 2012 poll has added spice because its victor will represent London at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which open a few weeks after the election.