London mayoral election: Tension mounts ahead of Boris Johnson v Ken Livingstone result

Dominic Gover, London24 reporter Friday, May 4, 2012
8:04 PM

Counting is drawing to a close in the London mayoral election - with second-preference votes destined to decide who wins the race for City Hall.

Conservative Boris Johnson leads Labour’s Ken Livingstone but not by enough to secure a majority in the first round.

The gap is a narrow one, which could still be closed when more results are declared from areas Mr Livingstone won in 2008.

So the tension is set to continue mounting for some time yet, with Brent and Harrow some way off from announcing a result yet.

Meanwhile, high up in the ad-hoc media centre at City Hall are the press, and down in the basement of the building are the candidates.

Both groups are waiting - with Boris still a narrow favourite to win.

Official rules state candidates and press cannot mix, except in a formal interview.

Brian Paddick earlier made a brief appearance in the media area, but opted against giving any interviews.

Maybe the strong display by Jenny Jones of the Green Party is providing cause for concern for the Lib Dem former top cop.

Independent candidate Siobhan Benita is delighted with her performance.

But the ghosts at the feast so far have been the two men fighting for the win.

Neither Ken Livingstone nor Boris Johnson have yet been. That is sure to change in the coming hours when London finds out who is the next Mayor.