'Everything here is so expensive'

Horst Jauk, 25, an Austrian who has lived in London for 14 months, hardly knew where to start when asked what makes life here difficult.

"The entire infrastructure of the city needs overhauling," he said. "Being used to mid-European standards, everything seems to be crumbling here, but the worst has to be the transport system."

Mr Jauk, who is unemployed but until recently worked for Enron, added: "I don't know anything about Ken Livingstone but your government really needs to get a grip."

Mother-of-one Georgie Burleigh, 32, from Notting Hill, said getting around London with her two-year-old daughter Maisie was her biggest gripe.

"If you have a pushchair, forget it. It's just so difficult. And even if you have a car, parking is just a nightmare. These clogged-up streets really need looking at.

"My other bugbear is the cost of living. We are trying to buy a family home but everything is so expensive that it's a near impossible task."

She added: "I haven't heard anything good about Ken Livingstone except that he did something about the pigeons in Trafalgar Square."

If there was one thing that Kate McKenna could change it would be the people of London. The 20-year-old who lives in Southfields but comes from South Africa said: "On the whole, people are unfriendly. Everything is done in a rush - it has to be fast, fast, fast. Where I come from there is a much more laidback atmosphere.

"The other thing I would change is to keep all the pubs open for longer - it's ridiculous how early they close and it doesn't help with making London seem a vibrant 24-hour city."

Actress Karen Darwood, 34, from Ealing, said: "Ken Livingstone has been pointless, a waste of space. As far as I can see his appointment as London mayor has had no impact.

"I would like London to be made a safer city, for example more street lighting is needed so women like me don't feel afraid walking home."

Crime is high on the list of priorities to be tackled for lawyer Gareth Rowlands, 31, from Earl's Court. "My car was vandalised recently. It cost me £1,000 but the police did nothing. Car crime is just getting out of control."

He added: "All Ken Livingstone has done since getting into power is take taxes off me. He has done nothing of note."

Sarah Maskell, 23, a PR who commutes from Southend, is one of the few to speak positively about London life.

"I think London is a great multicultural place to live, and it's amazing that you can do things like go to galleries and museums for free.

"I would like it to become even more like a European city, with pavement cafes and entertainment." However, she added: "The Tube is still the worst thing. I am late for work nearly every day."