Johnson ousts Livingstone as London Mayor

12:03am Saturday 3rd May 2008

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THE reign of 'Red Ken' as Mayor of London came to an end at midnight as Boris Johnson won the race to become the next mayor of London - ending Ken Livingstone's eight-year supremacy at City Hall.

The Conservative candidate won with 1,168,738 first and second preference votes, compared with Mr Livingstone's 1,028,966.

He paid tribute to Mr Livingstone for shaping the office of mayor and speaking for London after the 7 July bombings, saying he had the "thanks and admiration of millions of Londoners".

Mr Livingstone thanked Londoners "who have supported me today" and those who gave him their second preference votes.

He said the Labour Party had come together "in an amazing and disciplined way" from Gordon Brown down to the newest member.

He took full responsibility for the defeat. He said he could not blame any one else after eight years in office.

He thanked his staff who had helped him "restore city government" and had put London on the path to being the "greatest city of the 21st Century".