Labour Party (Uk) Choose Ken Livingstone for London Mayor Candidature

There has been lots of media coverage about the current Labour Party (UK) leadership race but, outside of London, not a lot of attention has been given to the contest for the London Mayor nomination.

Ex-Mayor Ken Livingstone, who was beaten by incumbent Boris Johnson, went up against Oona King. As Britain’s second female black MP, Oona King’s parliamentary career was brought to an end by George Galloway and his much hyped, yet short lived, Respect Coilition/Party.

It was widely expected that Oona King had a positive prospect of becoming the Labour Party’s candidate but, with only one third of the votes, lost to Mr Livingstone.

It has been commented that this is a step backwards as Mr Livingstone is seen as a left wing relic of the past and that this choice is the old guard winning over the progressive future.

Either way, Londoners are looking towards a re-run of the contest between the Conservative’s Mr Johnson and Labour’s Mr Livingston.

The Liberal Democrats, part of the current governing coalition, have yet to chose their candidate although infamous ex-MP Lembit Opik has stated his intention to stand for his party’s nomination.