Ken launches manifesto

Ken Livingstone today made a dramatic plea for Liberal Democrat support amid fears that a late Tory surge could snatch the Mayor of London election.

With just nine days to go before Londoners vote, Mr Livingstone finally unveiled his full manifesto and a string of celebrity endorsements of his campaign. Among the main new pledges were a 40 per cent cut in road deaths and injuries by 2010, 30,000 new homes a year and cash-free buses within two years.

The fresh promises backed up earlier commitments to increase police numbers, ban polluting lorries and vans and offer cheap childcare for parents.

In his first admission that Tory Steve Norris poses a real threat, Mr Livingstone appealed directly to Lib-Dem supporters to give him their second preference votes to keep out his rival. Polls put Mr Livingstone-ahead of Mr Norris, but the second-choice votes will be crucial to the outcome on 10 June. Mr Livingstone launched his manifesto as he toured Lib-Dem strongholds in Richmond, Kingston and Sutton. He claimed the party shared many of his views, such as opposition to the war in Iraq and the need for a congestion charge for the capital.

By contrast, Labour leaflets highlighted sharp differences with Mr Norris on everything from bus numbers to backing for big transport projects such as the Thames Gateway river crossing.

Labour strategists' worst fear is that Liberal Democrats have been put off by the Mayor's readmission to Labour and may not use their second preferences or, worse still, be persuaded by Mr Norris's brand of liberal Conservatism.

Mr Livingstone's team is now keen to recreate the broad, non-party appeal of his independent campaign four years ago. To underline the point he today received endorsements from pop star Jarvis Cocker, actors Stephen Fry and Helen Mirren, restaurants guru Sir Terence Conran and artist Tracey Emin.

Launching the campaign slogan "Vote Ken On June Ten", Mr Livingstone claimed that outer London had benefited most from his drive to improve bus services, and stressed that the Tories were opposed to his targets for cheap housing and Green policies.

The Labour manifesto claimed huge progress had been made in the last four years and warned that Mr Norris would offer "cuts, gridlock and public squalor". There were new pledges to improve road safety with 20mph zones around all schools. The congestion charge would be extended westward after public consultation but would be suspended between Christmas and the New Year to help West End shops.