Blair backs Ken

Tony Blair threw his full weight behind Ken Livingstone's re-election bid for Mayor of London today as he hailed his record on policing and transport.

In a wider message, sure to be used in the general election next year, Mr Blair said that the former GLC leader's readmission to the party proved it was now "unifying" around the twin themes of a strong economy and social justice.

Formally launching his candidacy, Mr Livingstone previewed his manifesto with six key pledges including cleaner air, better child care, record police numbers, free travel for teenagers on the buses and later running for the Tube on Friday and Saturday nights.

At the launch in Queen's Park, Mr Blair praised the Mayor's plans and singled out more bobbies on the beat as a policy also to be rolled out nationwide.

Mr Blair even said that both he and Mr Livingstone had learned from similar

experiences of Labour Party disunity in the Seventies and Eighties.

"There is a sense of unifying now around a very clear strategy," the Prime Minister added. "The first part is a strong economy with enterprise and the other is an absolute commitment to social solidarity.

"That's why I am standing here today to support him. He can be very proud of what he has achieved so far and that's why I want him to be re-elected."

This stood in stark contrast to his scathing attack when Mr Livingstone ran for Mayor as an independent four years ago. Mr Blair then warned he would be a "disaster" for London.

Today the Prime Minister said: " People ask, 'Why did you change your mind?' And the reason is because I was able to judge on a record that he has had, and I have talked to Londoners."

Mr Blair praised the Mayor for his partnership with business to "keep London's economy booming", for his community policing projects and for the congestion charge.

Mr Blair also highlighted the Mayor's new commitment to offer childcare places to every parent of under-5s in London by 2010.

At his official launch, Mr Livingstone earlier put crime at the centre of his campaign, with a promise to extend further giving every borough three new teams of beat officers.

"My central and most important pledge to London during this election is that police numbers will continue to rise," he said.