Boris v Ken

About Boris v Ken: How Boris Johnson Won London

Near-instant timeline and analysis of the liveliest mayoral election yet.

The battle to become mayor of London was the liveliest and most sensational ever. Ken Livingstone, the incumbent mayor for the eight years since the post's inception, faced a genuine challenge from a Conservative candidate with the real possibility of unseating him, Boris Johnson.

Published immediately after the election of 1 May, Boris v. Ken provides a fun and accessible report and analysis of one of the liveliest election campaigns ever. By 2008, the public was perhaps growing just a bit weary of Ken Livingstone's particular brand of 'colourful' behaviour. This most media-savvy of characters faced an even bigger ego – Boris Johnson, Tory MP, newspaper and magazine columnist and television personality. Joining them in the race was a former senior commander in the Metropolitan Police and a highly telegenic Green, who played key roles with the important second-choice votes that could decide the outcome.

Boris v. Ken looks at the politics, the election itself, the candidates, and of course the results and what they mean for Londoners. The next mayor, after all, will have to prepare for the Olympics and tackle London's transport mess, worries about terrorism and crime, and the capital's housing shortage.

The Author

Giles Edwards

Giles Edwards is a journalist, author and political analyst.

Jonathan Isaby

Jonathan Isaby is Political Director of the Taxpayers' Alliance