Hughes launches Mayor bid

Simon Hughes will today open his bid to be Mayor of London with a claim that extravagant spending on Ken Livingstone's pet projects will bankrupt the capital.

The Liberal Democrat candidate will claim that filthy streets, expensive housing and fear of crime ruin Londoners' lives while the Mayor pours money into transport programmes.

And he will claim that his party's by-election win last week in Brent East, Mr Livingstone's old seat, puts the Lib-Dems in pole position to challenge for City Hall next June.

Mr Hughes will set out his campaign themes in a speech to the Lib-Dem conference in Brighton, ahead of a formal launch in London in a few months.

He is due to say: "The old Livingstone legacy of 'I spend now, you pay later' must end. London government must be good government. Value for money is the key."

Mr Livingstone has lifted his spending to pay for an increase in police numbers and an expansion of the bus network.

The congestion charge is raising less money than was expected, and the Mayor's budget threatens to slump into the red unless he orders a sharp rise in council tax, Tube fares or both.

Aides to Lib-Dem leader Charles Kennedy are excited by their prospects in next June's mayoral election after leaping from third place to overturn a 13,000 Labour majority in Brent East.

A spokesman said: "The result broke down a lot of taboos. There are no no-go areas for the Lib-Dems in London."

To win next year, Mr Hughes must overhaul Tory Steven Norris to establish himself as the main challenger to Mr Livingstone. He needs to secure more first-preference votes than Mr Norris next June to reach the second stage of the election count, when second-preference votes are taken into consideration.

The last poll showed Mr Livingstone in the lead with Mr Norris second, only just ahead of Mr Hughes third. The Labour cand idat e, Nicky Gavron, trailed a long way back in fourth.

In his conference speech Mr Hughes will play on his experience of serving 20 years as MP for the inner-London seat of North Southwark and Bermondsey.

He will say: "I hope my track record speaks for itself. London now needs a mayor who will use his power and influence to put London, and not the Mayor of London, first.

"It must be a safe place - for its residents, workers and visitors. That means big reductions in crime and less fear of crime in every part of London.

"London must be a clean place with real improvement in the quality of the environment.

"London must be an efficient place. People should arrive at work, or home or to meet friends on time, without stress, hassle or anger.

"London must be a good home where everyone can find decent accommodation at a price they can afford."