[A-List] UK state: London mayoral election

[Michael Keaney]

Hughes in Lib Dem race to be mayor of London

Michael White
Tuesday December 3, 2002
The Guardian

The battle to challenge Ken Livingstone for the post of mayor of London
hotted up significantly last night when the Liberal Democrats confirmed that
Simon Hughes is to stand against Susan Kramer, the transport expert.

With the Tories this week declaring that 11 hopefuls are in the field, the
Lib Dems have the high-profile MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, who is
also his party's home affairs spokesman, Mrs Kramer, and the leftwing
environmental campaigner, Donnachadh McCarthy.

Mrs Kramer, who came third ahead of Labour's official candidate, Frank
Dobson, in the 2000 contest which Mr Livingstone won as an independent, was
quick to welcome Mr Hughes. "I am in this to win. I have unfinished business
with Ken. I intend to get the selection and win the mayoralty," she said.

In reality, the odds remain firmly on the mayor winning a second term in
2004 unless voters turn against his plans for a £5 a day congestion charge,
due next February.

Labour has picked Nikki Gavron, a planning specialist who is Mr
Livingstone's deputy.

The Tories plan a hustings on January 15. Among their contenders, seeking to
oust Steve Norris, the ex-transport minister who came second last time, is
the former model and ex-Westminster councillor Nikki Page, who works for
John Redwood.

Businesswoman Victoria Borwick, MPs Richard Ottaway and John Wilkinson, and
Greater London assembly members Roger Evans and Brian Coleman, have entered
the race. Other entries are Bromley council leader Michael Tickner, Brent
councillor Bob Blackman, Andrew Boff, beaten by Mr Norris last time, and
barrister Julian Malins.