Red Ken goes green for election bid

London mayor Ken Livingstone has put environmental issues at the heart of his re-election campaign, ahead of a key showdown with his three main rivals for the post this evening.

Conservative candidate Boris Johnson is leading the mayoral race by 12 points in the latest opinion poll, as the race enters a pivotal phase before voting on 1st May.

The Confederation of British Industry will grill the four main candidates, including Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick and Green Party representative Sian Berry, at a event in Salisbury Square tonight.

Business leaders will be expecting the candidates to deliver policies that further London's "prosperity and productivity", as well as measures that tackle climate change.

Dogged by accusations of arrogance and nepotism that have eaten into his ratings, Livingstone has outlined a new environmental manifesto that complements ongoing projects to cut emissions.

The Labour representative has pledged to forge ahead with plans to charge the most polluting vehicles £25 per day for entering the city centre, while expanding the remit of the low emission zone.

Livingstone has already set an ambitious target of cutting London's carbon emissions by 60 per cent over the next 17 years and promises to make public buildings greener.

His other initiatives include extra bicycle lanes, an expansion of hybrid bus services and increased recycling. He has also vowed to fight the proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport.

"If I am re-elected I will embark upon an even more ambitious programme to improve London's environment and tackle climate change," the current mayor said.

Oxford-educated Johnson has rejected Livingstone's plans to hike congestion charges for the most polluting cars and has pledged to scrap the capital's so-called bendy buses.

News posted on 26th March, 2008