Posted on 05/02/2008 12:21:47 PM PDT by Enchante
Boris Johnson is the new Mayor of London, his rivals conceded tonight.
The Tory MP scored a stunning election victory to end Ken Livingstone's eight-year reign and round off a disastrous 24 hours for the Labour Party.
After a nailbiting count, Mr Johnson was so far ahead on first-preference votes he could not be caught by Mr Livingstone, even after second preferences were taken into account.
Labour officials conceded privately that the Conservative was too far ahead. At 5pm, Mr Livingstone's campaign chief Tessa Jowell said: "The reports I'm getting suggest Boris Johnson is ahead.
"If Ken has not won, London has lost somebody very special." Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick conceded defeat, saying Mr Johnson had won. Mr Livingstone did better than expected in north London - but the "Boris effect" proved unstoppable elsewhere.
Mr Johnson, 43, was endorsed by the Evening Standard and his triumph follows our exposés of the Mayor's office.
Mr Livingstone's aide Lee Jasper was forced to quit after reporter Andrew Gilligan revealed his links to a group that mislaid taxpayers' cash. Police were called in after we reported allegations of irregularities in millions of pounds of London Development Agency grants.
The result in London came on a nightmare day for Gordon Brown, as Labour crashed to its worst town hall results in 40 years and lost more than 300 council seats.
Question Snugs what is Boris Johnson stance on issues is he a what you call GOOD BLOKE
Now I start like Boris here LOLOLOL!
Do you know there is Yahoo group devoted supporters of Boris Johnson how I KNOW I GOOGLE Boris Johnson LOL!
Don't be so sure. Here's from a BBC story:
He [new mayor Johnson] paid tribute to Mr Livingstone and appeared to offer him a possible role in his new administration.
It looks suspiciously like a case of Stockholm-McCain syndrome.
Yes - absolute delight at the beating Labour has taken.
What’s the word on Boris? Most of the posts I’d seen here about the Tories doing well in the elections indicated they had become pretty liberal. Kinda like the GOP.
It can only mean one thing. Beeg trouble for moose und squirrl.
Name them please.....
However,I say - get him a haircut and wish him God speed.
gay rights, abortion, national health care, and gun control. Perhaps I shouldn’t say they’re to the left of the Democrats, but they’re as far to the left, at least. I’ve also read that Boris Johnson has said some nasty things about President Bush. They may be an improvement over Labour, but I doubt that they would represent the views of most Freepers.
All due respect, but Freepers are hardly their constituency.
Thanks so much.
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