London mayoral election, 2008 facts for kids
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The London mayoral election, 2008 was an important vote held on 1 May 2008. This election decided who would be the next Mayor of London. It was the third time Londoners voted for their mayor. The first election was in May 2000, and the second in June 2004. In 2008, the election was won by Boris Johnson, a candidate from the Conservative Party. He became the second person to hold the title of Mayor of London.
Contents
What Does the London Mayor Do?
The Mayor of London is like the leader of the city. They are in charge of many important things that affect daily life for millions of people. This includes public transport, like buses and trains. They also help with policing and fire services to keep everyone safe.
The Mayor works to make London a better place to live. They deal with housing, planning new buildings, and protecting the environment. They also promote London around the world.
Who Can Be Mayor?
To become Mayor of London, a person must be at least 18 years old. They must also be a British, Commonwealth, or European Union citizen. Candidates usually belong to a political party. They need to get enough support from voters to win.
The 2008 Election: Who Was Running?
In the 2008 election, two main candidates were trying to become Mayor. These were Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone. Ken Livingstone had been the Mayor since the first election in 2000. Boris Johnson was hoping to take his place.
Boris Johnson: The Winner
Boris Johnson was the candidate for the Conservative Party. He was well-known for his career in journalism and politics. Before running for Mayor, he was a Member of Parliament. He promised to make London safer and improve transport. His campaign focused on new ideas for the city.
Ken Livingstone: The Incumbent
Ken Livingstone was the Labour Party candidate. He had been London's first Mayor for eight years. He was known for introducing the congestion charge. This charge helped reduce traffic in central London. He also worked on improving public transport. He wanted to continue his work for the city.
How the Election Worked
Londoners voted for their preferred candidate on 1 May 2008. People went to polling stations to cast their votes. The election used a special system called the "supplementary vote." This means voters could choose a first and a second favourite candidate. If no one got more than half the first-choice votes, the top two candidates went into a final count. The second-choice votes for those two candidates were then added.
The Results Are In!
After all the votes were counted, the winner was announced. Boris Johnson received 1,168,738 votes. This was 53.18% of the total. Ken Livingstone received 1,028,966 votes, which was 46.82%.
Boris Johnson won the election. He became the new Mayor of London. This was a big change for the city. It marked the first time a Conservative Mayor led London.
Images for kids
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Result by electoral ward
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Boris Johnson, the Conservative candidate, giving his victory speech
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Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate, speaking in City Hall after the results of the London mayoral election had been announced, 3 May 2008
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Siân Berry speaking at the London mayoral announcement
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Ballot boxes at a count centre
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E-counting vote scanner
