The 2004 election to the post of Mayor of London took place on 10 June 2004. It was being held on the same day as other local elections and the UK part of the 2004 European Parliament elections, so Londoners had a total of five votes on three ballot papers. Polling opened at 07:00 local time, and closed at 22:00. The Supplementary Vote system was used.
Ken Livingstone of the Labour Party was re-elected Mayor, beating Steven Norris of the Conservative Party with 55.4% to 44.6% of first and second-preference votes.
Candidate selection
Labour Ken Livingstone gained the Labour Party nomination in February 2004, three weeks after being re-admitted to the party, after deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron, the previous candidate-elect, stepped down in favour of Livingstone.
Conservatives
Steven Norris was chosen as the Conservative Party candidate for the second time, having previously been beaten by Livingstone in the 2000 London mayoral election.
Liberal Democrats On 5 March 2003, Simon Hughes, MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey and Frontbench Spokesman for Home Affairs was selected as the Liberal Democrats candidate over Susan Kramer, the Liberal Democrats 2000 candidate for the mayoralty and the prospective parliamentary candidate for Richmond Park, and environmentalist Donnachadh McCarthy.
Candidate Votes % Simon Hughes MP 3,168 62.2 Susan Kramer 1,762 34.6 Donnachadh McCarthy 163 3.2Total 5,093
Summary of policies From the Manifesto booklet
Ken Livingstone – Standing up for London continue recovery from two decades of neglect under the Conservatives continue the programme of increased neighbourhood policing cut crime and make streets, parks and public transport safer continue reducing traffic congestion by extending the Congestion Charge Zone extend improvements in bus services and delivering similar improvements to the rest of the transport system improve transport in outer London with better buses and new tram lines run the Tube later every Friday and Saturday night with a free service on New Year's Eve work with government and voluntary sector with a long-term aim that all parents have access to high quality, affordable childcare. build 30,000 new homes a year and continue providing affordable housing tackle air pollution, making London a Low Emission Zone with rigorous pollution standards for lorries, buses, coaches and taxis. provide free bus travel to under-18s in full-time education bring the Olympic Games to London in 2012
Steve Norris – For a Safer London cut crime, particularly street crime, vandalism and graffiti put more police officers on patrol rather than in cars or offices encourage "zero tolerance" for minor crimes like graffiti, vandalism and public drunkenness increase share of police officers assigned to outer London double funding of youth projects launch a New York-style ‘CompStat’ system to target and manage crime more effectively introduce free school buses for children at primary schools to cut congestion abolish the congestion charge run London Underground until 3am at weekends, install air conditioning and provide security guards at night
Simon Hughes – A New Mayor for a Greater London make London safer, easier and more liveable make London cleaner and greener continue and improve community policing improve public transport run the tube late for three nights per week make stations safer challenge the Labour government on Council Tax, the war in Iraq and student fees provide a strong voice for London, putting Londoners' security and safety first
Frank Maloney – Stop the career politicians increase the number of police officers, decrease the amount of political correctness in policing and support victims of crime abolish the congestion charge, oppose speed cameras and speed humps create a 24-hour transport system and extend the London Underground to South East London put more conductors on buses, and provide free bus travel for under-18s on the way to school stop selling school playing fields, increasing funding for youth clubs and fund competitive sports for young people, including a London youth games fund mayoral scholarships for disadvantaged children to go to university allow business to open for 24 hours, and give assistance to businesses in deprived areas preserve and encourage all London's street markets celebrate St George's Day with an annual parade support the 2012 Olympic bid and other international events, marketing London internationally reduce the Mayor's take of Council tax abolish the GLA campaign for a higher state pension and tighter immigration controls provide more affordable homes for young British people and regenerate council estates
Potential candidates London-born comedian Lee Hurst seriously considered standing as a candidate in the election. His comedy club had been under threat of redevelopment, and this had re-ignited a spark of political ambition. His manifesto would probably have included policies such as scrapping bus lanes and the congestion charge, improving public transport (including the re-introduction of bus conductors and AEC Routemaster buses), and tackling crime and abandoned cars.
Results
Turnout: 1,920,560 (36.95% - 2.55%) Electorate: 5,197,792 As the ballot papers are counted electronically, totals for all second preferences are available, even though most did not contribute to the final result.
Maps
References
Notes
External links London Elects (official elections site): full results, all manifestos, detailed explanations of voting processes Guardian (newspaper): collection of manifestos MayorWatch London Elections Guide