Who's who in the race for City Hall

In just over three weeks, Londoners choose their next mayor. Jonathan Owen profiles the leading candidates and their policies

(REUTERS)

KEN LIVINGSTONE

Who are they?

Mayor since 2000, the 62-year-old came to prominence as Margaret Thatcher's hate figure in the 1980s, when leader of the Greater London Council, becoming Labour MP for Brent East when the GLC was abolished in 1986. The old Labour Londoner is known for his love of newts and the congestion charge.

Confessions

Admitted last week to having five children by three women. Vowed to go to his grave without discussing his private life.

Transport policy

The £16bn London Crossrail project. Tube modernisation costing £1bn a year. A bike hire scheme with 6,000 bicycles around the capital – each one free for the first 30 minutes. Extended times when the elderly and disabled travel for free and free travel for army veterans.

Environment policy

To introduce a £25-a-day charge for 4x4s. To retain the area of the congestion-charge zone. Oppose airport expansion and maintain a target of 50 per cent of new homes to be affordable.

Corruption policy

In the wake of the grants scandal that has seen one of his advisers, Lee Jasper, resign amid allegations of corruption, Livingstone admits that there needs to be greater clarity. Plans to appoint an independent lawyer to investigate allegations of improper conduct by staff.

Community relations and policing

Has pledged to put an extra 1,000 police on the streets, and aims for a 6 per cent reduction in crime each year for the next four years. Wants to maintain a dedicated police team in every neighbourhood and start a £78m youth centre programme.

Celebrity backers

Enjoys high-profile support – artists such as Banksy and Antony Gormley have donated works to his campaign.

Finest moment?

Becoming London mayor, despite Tony Blair. As an independent, he trounced Frank Dobson.

Darkest moment?

Suspended in 2005 after likening a Jewish reporter to a Nazi camp guard.

If you fail what will you do?

'This is the last job in politics I will do... I haven't got my eye on a parliamentary career.'

Odds: 13/8

BORIS JOHNSON

Who are they?

The ebullient old Etonian was editor of 'The Spectator' and has been the Conservative MP for Henley since 2001, serving stints as shadow minister for the arts and higher education spokesman. He sees himself as a passionate person who pays attention to detail.

Confessions

Last week revealed that he had been offered cocaine and had smoked cannabis in the past.

Transport policy

Abolish the bendy bus and replace it with Routemasters staffed with conductors. Continue upgrades to the Underground system. Keep ticket offices open and recruit an extra 50 fully warranted officers to patrol railway stations. Scrap Livingstone's proposed £25 charge on 4x4s.

Environment policy

Improvement of open spaces is a priority – £6m will be spent and 10,000 trees planted. Will use Mayor's powers to stop gardens being lost to new developments and to improve energy efficiency of buildings.

Corruption policy

Make the system of giving grants more transparent. Publish the names of all mayoral appointees on a website. Use the London Development Agency (LDA) to support community groups and not 'as a personal slush fund for special interest groups'.

Community relations and policing

Fund youth groups that run mentoring schemes. Ban drinking on public transport. Remove free travel from those who abuse it. Double Safer Transport Teams, with an extra 440 community support officers. Will call on borough commanders to hold public monthly meetings.

Celebrity backers

Fashion designer Ozwald Boateng, the Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes, and the fashion writer Plum Sykes.

Finest moment?

Leading Livingstone by up to 12 points in the polls last week, months after being derided by many as a joke.

Darkest moment?

Caught saying how he might help find a journalist that fraudster Darius Guppy wanted to get beaten up.

If you fail what will you do?

Will bounce back with a string of high profile media appearances and continue to add to his collection of gaffes.

Odds: 4/9 fav.

BRIAN PADDICK

Who are they?

Was Britain's highest-ranking openly gay policeman before he quit as Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner last year. Best known for his softly-softly approach to cannabis while a borough commander in Lambeth. Describes himself as a sensitive person who gets a kick out of helping others.

Confessions

Confesses in today's 'IoS Review' that he's been 'lousy' at choosing partners. Once beaten up by a boyfriend.

Transport policy

Review the running of the Tube. Shorten bus routes, allowing one hour's travel on an unlimited number of buses for one fare. Introduce a £10 boundary charge around Greater London to dissuade long-distance commuting by car, with revenue going towards things like low-cost bicycle hire schemes.

Environment policy

Replace bendy buses with trams and look for ways of powering public transport with renewable forms of energy. Build a wind farm in the Thames estuary. Encourage 'greening' of existing buildings and provide incentives to private landlords to insulate their properties.

Corruption policy

Has pledged to bring all his skills in dealing with criminal and corrupt practice to bear on the Greater London Authority and the LDA. Mayoral adviser posts will be openly advertised and candidates selected on the basis of transparent and objective criteria.

Community relations and policing

Support initiatives to end prejudice and promote diversity. Will chair the Metropolitan Police Authority and work to unite police and public 'to get the public to help the police to focus stop-and-search, to take guns and knives off the street'.

Celebrity backers

Sir Elton John, David Walliams and Dale Winton.

Finest moment?

'Bring Back Paddick' on the front page of 'The Voice' after being removed from Lambeth.

Darkest moment?

Realising conflicts over the Jean Charles de Menezes shooting would 'end my police career'.

If you fail what will you do?

Dismisses talk of failing: 'There is no point in thinking about that now; I could be busy running London from 2 May.'

Odds: 25/1

SIAN BERRY

Who are they?

One of the founding members of the Alliance Against Urban 4x4s and a former principal speaker for the Green Party. She studied engineering at Oxford University and formerly worked as a copywriter in medical communications. Says that she is 'determined, sensible and full of good ideas'.

Confessions

No revelations to date, although Berry is described as 'pure environmental Viagra' by admirers.

Transport policy

Cut 20p off bus and off-peak Tube fares; two or more journeys within an hour to cost no more than £1. A 20mph limit on most roads. Continue the £25 4x4 charge and the low-emission zone. Triple cycling budget to £150m.

Environment policy

Oppose any further airport expansion around the capital and maintain a target that 50 per cent of all new houses should be affordable to those on low incomes. All future developments to be on 'brown-field' sites; and a veto on new out-of-town retail parks.

Corruption policy

The LDA must hold all its board meetings in public and be subject to more monitoring and stronger checks and balances to ensure that money is not wasted or misused. Powers of the London Assembly should be strengthened, allowing it more control over the Mayor.

Community relations and policing

Extra officers to allow Safer Neighbourhoods teams to work round-the-clock. More local police stations, with more officers on bicycles. Youth work and crime-prevention projects to be given up to 10 years' worth of funding at a time. Crackdown on domestic violence, human trafficking and hate crimes.

Celebrity backers

Mark Constantine, founder of Lush, and Colin Firth.

Finest moment?

Watching Livingstone launch the 4x4 £25 charge this year, having lobbied for it for three years.

Darkest moment?

Missing out on winning a council seat in Highgate by just 38 votes in 2002.

If you fail what will you do?

Remain involved in politics, as she is also running as a candidate for the London Assembly.

Odds: 66/1