Boris wins mayoral race (From Your Local Guardian)

Boris wins mayoral race

11:59pm Friday 2nd May 2008

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Boris Johnson has won the race to become London's mayor.

The floppy-haired Conservative beat rivals Ken Livingstone and ex-police commander Brian Paddick to the City Hall job, after the London went to the polls yesterday.

Mr Livingstone failed to be re-elected, after serving eight years as mayor.

After months of campaigning final opinion polls suggested it would be neck and neck between the two men - the tightest since the position of mayor was created in 2000 - with Liberal Democrat challenger Mr Paddick trailing behind.

Mr Johnson's win followed the trend of local elections results across England and Wales, which saw support for Labour slump dramatically and a surge in popularity for the Tories.

His victory also rounded off a perfect night for the Tories who also held the three south-west constituency seats on the London Assembly.

The result was announced at City Hall just before midnight when the 53-year-old MP for Henley and former editor of The Spectator magazine was declared London Mayor.

Turnout for the election was about 45 per cent - up from 36.95 per cent in 2004, with Mr Johnson winning 1,168,738 first and second preference votes, compared with Mr Livingstone's 1,028,966.

• What do you think? Will Boris be a good mayor? Post your comments below.

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