Livingstone takes blame for loss

Ken Livingstone has accepted defeat in the London Mayor contest and said it was his own fault that he had not won a third term.

The former mayor, speaking in a calm, slow tone, praised the Labour Party for supporting him throughout the campaign.

He said: "Well Boris, let me second your kind words about Anthony and his staff, having to separate and count six million votes is a demanding task, and also the police who have ensured this has been a peaceful and orderly count across the whole of London.

"I want to start by thanking those Londoners who supported me today and have supported me in the past and to particularly thank those Liberals and Greens who gave me their second preferences and other Londoners who broke party ranks to actually support me.

"I particularly want to thank the Labour Party. The Labour party came together in an amazing and disciplined way. There is absolutely nothing that I could have asked from the Labour Party that it didn't throw into this election, from Gordon Brown right the way down to the newest recruit, handing out leaflets on very wet, cold days.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get an extra few points that would take us to victory and the fault for that is solely my own. You can't be mayor for eight years and then if you don't at third term say it was somebody else's fault. I accept that responsibility and I regret that I couldn't take you to victory."

Mr Livingstone, whose voice wavered towards the end of his short speech, added: "I most want to thank the staff who over the last eight years have put together city government after 14 years without one.

"Everybody from the chief executives down to the bus drivers and Tube drivers and all the staff in the LDA and the GLA who have worked and have restored city government, have restored public services and have set this city on a path of being the greatest city of the 21st century.

"All of you have a right to be proud of what we have achieved in the last eight years and look forward to that being built on in the four years to come.

"I want to thank Londoners for allowing me for eight years to serve as your mayor."