London mayoral election, 2012 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
London Mayoral Election, 2012

← 2008 3 May 2012 2016 →

Candidate Boris Johnson Ken Livingstone Party Conservative Labour Popular vote 1,054,811 992,273 Percentage 51.53% 48.47%

Mayor before election Boris Johnson Conservative Elected Mayor Boris Johnson Conservative

The London mayoral election of 2012 was a big event in London. It happened on Thursday, May 3, 2012. This was the fourth time Londoners voted for their mayor. Boris Johnson, from the Conservative Party, won the election. He was already the mayor, having won in 2008.

What is the Mayor of London?

The Mayor of London is a very important job. This person leads the city of London. They are in charge of many things that affect people's daily lives. This includes public transport, policing, and how the city grows. The Mayor works to make London a better place for everyone.

The 2012 London Mayoral Election

The 2012 election was a chance for Londoners to choose their leader. People voted for the person they thought would do the best job. This election was a big deal. It decided who would guide London for the next four years.

Who Could Vote?

Many people living in London could vote in this election. This included British citizens. Also, people from other Commonwealth countries could vote. Citizens from countries in the European Union living in London could vote too.

The Main Candidates

There were several people who wanted to be Mayor. The two main candidates were Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone.

• Boris Johnson was the current mayor. He belonged to the Conservative Party. He wanted to continue his work for London.
• Ken Livingstone had also been Mayor before. He was from the Labour Party. He hoped to become Mayor again.

How the Election Worked

On election day, people went to polling stations. They cast their votes for their chosen candidate. The votes were then counted very carefully. The person with the most votes became the new Mayor.

Who Won?

After all the votes were counted, Boris Johnson won the election. He received 1,054,811 votes. This was about 51.53% of all the votes. Ken Livingstone came in second place. He received 992,273 votes, which was about 48.47%. Boris Johnson continued his role as Mayor of London.

Images for kids

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  Result by electoral ward

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  Knitted characters of Johnson, Paddick, Livingstone and Jones

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  Cortiglia with members of the public