Mayor gets to work on manifesto goals

With a new mandate as a Labour mayor, Ken Livingstone can now look forward to another four years in City Hall.

But while his own office was secured by Thursday's poll, the loss of Labour seats in the London assembly will make his job in many ways more difficult than in his first term as an independent.

The mayor can now push ahead with his plans to extend the congestion charge into West London and continue radical police reforms that will put a dedicated team of officers in each neighbourhood.

Livingstone will also hope to leave a legacy in the Capital of being the mayor that won the Olympics.

And ambitious house building plans can be realised with a Labour partnership operating between the Westminster and TowerBridges on the Thames.

Labour's Nicky Gavron, already Livingstone's planning advisor, will also become the permanent deputy mayor.

However the former GLC leader will have to use all of his renowned political skills to carry his manifesto through the assembly.

Legislation allows that the mayor's annual budget can be blocked by a two thirds majority of the 25-member body.

But with Labour no longer able to command one third of the votes an alliance will have to built with either the Liberal Democrat or Green members in order to pass the plans.

That could force limitations on Livingstone's tax and spending policies or, if a deal is reached with the Greens, force a more environmental direction.

Livingstone could also struggle to secure extra central government funding from his arch rival at the Treasury, Gordon Brown.