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Ken Livingstone has called Mayor Boris Johnson a "failure" as he launched his campaign to take back City Hall. His unsurprising announcement was made with all the old gusto and malevolence one assoiates with the former two term Mayor. Johnson, who in 2008 defeated the Labourman by 80,000 votes, was branded a failure citing his inability to build more homes as his biggest folly. He also criticised rises in public transport fares despite reports that Livingstone held fares before the 2008 election against the advice of Transport for London bosses. Of Johnson’s successes, he states the only projects underway are those that he was contractually obliged to fulfill. Livingstone could tear his party apart for the second time when he stands against Oona King and possibly Alan Johnson for the Labour nomination at their autumn conference. The party had hoped to make a clean break and field a fresh batch of candidates. In 2000 Livingstone was kicked out of the party for standing as an independent against the official party candidate Frank Dobson, he won enphaticly but later rejoined the party as the offical Labour candidate in 2004. The politician has not commented on what he will do if history repeats itself. Speaking to LBC radio from his launch in Croydon, Mr Livingstone says his priority will be to "protect" Londoners from the recession and Government spending cuts and promised a low level campaign in town halls meeting ordinary Londoners - not a full two year offensive. Commenting on why he lost the last election he blamed the drop in Labour popularity, the 10p tax band and the media who wanted a story. He also tipped Ed Balls as an "impressive" candidate to lead Labour party, next in line was Ed Milliband over the traditional "ultra-Blairite" rivals. Commentating on whether his Conservative opponent would indeed be Boris Johnson, he said "Cameron will make him fight the election" as he does not want him in Cabinet.
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