London mayor to stand again
2010-09-10 20:39
London – Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced on Friday that he will seek re-election for a second term, setting up a potential conflict with the government over immigration caps and public spending cuts.
Johnson, 46, who has two years left to serve, said he had more to do in helping London stage the 2012 Olympics and subsequently regenerating the city's east end.
He also said he had work to do on reducing crime, improving the urban environment and transport.
"It is my intention and indeed I have written to seek the nomination to serve as Mayor for another term," Johnson told LBC radio.
"A lot has been done – but in a great city such as ours, there will always be more to do," he later said on his website.
Public spending
Up to five million Londoners will be able to cast their vote on May 3 in 2012, with government cuts on public spending and tax rises likely to feature highly during campaigning.
The Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition intends to impose cuts of 25% on many departments in a bid to tackle a record peacetime budget deficit.
Labour, whose short-listed candidates are former mayor Ken Livingstone and former Labour MP Oona King, is likely to use the cuts to attack the Conservative mayor, leading to suggestions in the media that he may be forced to distance himself from his colleagues in central government.
Johnson said the comprehensive spending review was a "huge issue", saying it was taking a great deal of his time, already having cut £5bn ($7.8bn) from the transport budget.
"This is the motor of the UK economy and it will be a disaster for this country as a whole if London was starved of its fuel," he said.
No pussy-footing
He described relations with fellow Conservatives Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne as "fine" on this issue and added "there's no pussy-footing, no mincing of words – we know where we are".
Johnson urged that a London Underground upgrade go ahead as planned, or it would impede the city's ability to compete with other global centres.
Another government policy which could cause tension is a cap on non-EU immigration, a key plank of its election manifesto.
Johnson has said he favours an amnesty for illegal immigrants who have been in the country for some time.
The Liberal Democrats have yet to begin their selection process.