Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone today formally launched his bid to be re-elected Mayor of London.

In an article for the Evening Standard he said:

I want to be Mayor for one overriding reason. If I am elected my focus will be to do everything I can to protect Londoners from the recession and the effects of the Government’s policies.

I will use every lever to make sure our quality of life is protected and improved. Not a Mayor who spends his time defending bankers and instead one who will use mayoral budgets and powers to protect ordinary Londoners.

He said one issues symbolised the issue perfectly: rising transport fares.

He also said as part of his programme:

- I will give a clear guarantee that all 640 neighbourhoods in London will keep their dedicated local team of beat police officers.

- I will redirect investment in skills and training to creating jobs and apprenticeships for school leavers and graduates.

- I will speak for the whole of London. Boris Johnson ripped up plans for better transport links such as the extension of the DLR to Dagenham Dock, a new river crossing for south and east London, and the extension of Croydon’s Tramlink.

- I will press the Government for powers to raise money on the bond markets to build affordable homes, including for rent, to break the back of the housing shortage and create work.

- I will cut energy bills by improving insulation in every building in London over 10 years, creating thousands of new jobs.

He also took a shot at Boris Johnson’s multiple jobs in saying:

My focus will be on the day job. I will only have one job, unlike Johnson, who works as a Daily Telegraph writer paid £250,000 a year, a salary he calls “chicken feed”.

He also added he would not take a payrise during the four-year term and would institute a four-year pay freeze for all senior mayoral appointments at City Hall.

Full article here

Ken Livingstone’s new website is here. Simon Fletcher last week resigned from the press dept of London Labour and joined Ken’s communication team.

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   Ken launches Mayoral bid by attacking Boris on fares http://bit.ly/9nSa1M

2. Soho Politico

   Has Oona King offered this level of policy detail? Does anyone expect her to? RT @libcon Ken launches Mayoral bid http://bit.ly/b2zPbc

3. B Latif

   Ken Livingstone will be the most popular Mayoral choice even if Labour refuse to endorse him.
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4. Liberal Conspiracy

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