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. See: UK elections, 2004. The Supplementary Vote system was used.
Ken Livingstone gained the Labour party's nomination on 2 January 2004, three weeks after being re-admitted the Labour Party, after deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron, the previous candidate-elect, stepped down in favour of Livingstone.
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.
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
Lindsey German - Londoners deserve Respect
fight racism and discrimination
oppose privatisation
ensure a minimum wage in London of £7.40 per hours and London Weighting of £4,000 per annum
scrap council tax
reduce cost of public transport, limit tube fare to £1.00
campaign for social justice and pension linked to earnings
campaign against the war in Iraq and student fees
Julian Leppert
scrap the bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, due to expense, pressure on transport and policing, and London’s track record of failing on prestige projects
oppose further immigration, and the presence of asylum seekers in capital, as they are actually economic migrants
reduce cost of housing and pressure for new homes by ending immigration
increase wages in London by ending immigration
provide two new orbital rail lines, or possibly a tram line
abolish the congestion charge
undertake a prestige project to build a new airport on an artificial island in the Thames Estuary with a high-speed rail link to central London, rather than extending Heathrow
promote St George’s Day
Darren Johnson - Quality Life, Quality London
reduce traffic by expanding the congestion charge
provide an integrated transport system that is reliable, safe and publicly owned
reduce speed limits
provide better cycling facilities and safe pedestrian routes for every school,
oppose privatisation and cutbacks
protect parks, playing fields and open spaces and create 1,000 new allotment plots.
work for Londoners, not big business
work for an affordable London with action to end poverty, and end homelessness and poor housing with a new Housing for London Authority
create jobs in green and creative industries, and in manufacturing
work to breathe life into local economies and local shopping parades and high streets, and ensure provision of local services within walking distance
put an end all forms of racism, sexism and homophobia
make London safer by tackling fear, crime and its causes
make solar panels compulsory for all new developments, expanding recycling and end incineration
protect animal rights, wildlife and habitats
press for an Air Traffic Congestion Charge, and an end to airport expansion and night flights
Ram Gidoomal
deliver competence and accountability
make London safer
restore public confidence in the police and legal system
ensure that new schools have a Christian or other faith-based foundation
establish a £500 million London Regeneration Fund to bring new life and jobs to the capital.
tackle the divide between rich and poor
ensure London has a coherent, integrated transport system:
bring Christian values of justice, integrity, compassion and reconciliation to London
celebrate diversity as a source of strength
be independent and not waste money
Lorna Reid - We live here too!
give a political voice to the working class in London
make the police answerable to local communities
actively support local communities in tackling anti-social behaviour
increase investment in youth projects facilities for young people
increase investment in council housing, increase number of quality affordable homes
abolish council tax in favour of a local income tax
ensure a minimum wage of £7.32 for workers in London
provide a publicly financed and accountable transport system and other public services
oppose privatisation
secure extra provision from central government to fund increased demand on local resources from immigration
ensure regeneration schemes provide decent homes, jobs, and opportunities for everyone.
tackle the lack of affordable child care and the failing education system
Tammy Nagalingam
review and make changes to all aspects of public transport and provide best value for money to all
limit Congestion charging to between 7 am and 9.30 am, and raise revenue by other means
ban big lorries from central London between 6 am and 6 pm
persuade councils not to have too many one way systems and too many road ramps in smaller roads, and sort out problems with bus lane and double yellow lines
see that the environment does not cause health hazards
help Borough councils on public health matters, saving the NHS money and cleaning-up the city
donate 50% of the Mayor’s salary to improve public and environmental health
provide sufficient funds for recruiting and training police officers
provide better street lighting in alley-ways and corners of trouble spots, and get councils to provide CCTV in problem council estates and other problem areas
celebrate St George’s Day in Hyde Park
support the 2012 Olympics bid
liaise with other organisations
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.