(5 May 2000) English/Nat
XFA
There has been a mixed reaction from Londoners to Ken Livingstone becoming the first elected Mayor of Britain's capital.
Livingstone stood as an independent candidate after failing to gain Labour Party pre-selection for the job.
He left the party he had been a member of for decades to stand and his success has dealt a severe blow to the authority of Britain's ruling Labour Party.
The tabloid newspaper "The Sun" greeted the news with a headlines "Oh No. They've Elected Kenny!" - a take off of the cult cartoon South Park.
The Daily Telegraph led with "Mayor Livingstone, We Presume."
Livingstone's victory was met with both concern and scepticism by people in the street.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"So we'll just wait and see. I just hope that they all pull together because it's all been a rather nasty campaign and I just hope they all pull together and do the best for London because it's a great city."
SUPER CAPTION: C. C. Collins, London Resident
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think it's a very sad day for London and I hope he doesn't do too much harm for our city."
Q: What do you think he will do to the city?
"Well it depends. I mean he may have some good transport ideas but its whether he wants to promote all the fringe causes that he did in the 1980s which would disturb me."
SUPER CAPTION: Tim Ward, London Resident
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well I find it very political. I find it... I think its something London needs but I just wish it wasn't so controversial and I wish the candidates weren't so controversial. Maybe if we had candidates who really had the people of London at their heart then we'd actually get somewhere and I'm a bit sceptical because of the fact that they're all pretty much political heavyweights and I don't know what their aims and objectives are all about."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well that's their view isn't it. I voted for Ken. Anyway I've got a green ticket - they're employing me actually."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I didn't want Ken... I don't want him"
Q: Why don't you want him
"Because he is too much into little groups and I'd rather London be looked after as a whole."
Q: How do you think London will suffer under Ken as Mayor.
"I don't know yet... it's early days isn't it."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
Although he polled the majority of the vote Livingstone will have to wait for the distribution of preferences before his win is officially confirmed.
Formerly known as "Red Ken" Livingstone exploited his popular image as a cheeky outsider by capitalizing on a probable backlash against Prime Minister Tony Blair's efforts to thwart his candidacy.
Livingstone had complained he had been the target of a slur campaign by the ruling Labour Party.
But the left-wing lawmaker who ran London's last city administration promised to work closely with Blair's Labour Party government.
The London mayor will serve as an ambassador for capital's 7.25 (m) million residents.
He will oversee a budget of around 90 (b) billion pounds sterling.
As Mayor Livingstone assumes responsibility for the police, public transport, including London's overstitched underground rail system and fire and emergency services.
However Livingstone will have only limited tax raising powers.
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