More enter Mayoral race

The race to become Mayor of London in 2004 grew more crowded today as Liberal Democrats Simon Hughes and Susan Kramer joined the fray.

The pair will battle for their party's nomination and the right to fight against Ken Livingstone, Labour's Nicky Gavron, and whoever wins the current Tory selection contest.

Mr Hughes is his party's home affairs spokesman, and has been MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey since 1983. He is a leading figure on the radical Left of his party, while Mrs Kramer has a City background and is an expert in transport funding. Mr Hughes is London's most senior Lib-Dem, and for years was his party's only MP in the capital.

Last time around he decided not to seek the mayoral nomination when the contest clashed with a Lib-Dem leadership battle, in which he finished runnerup to Charles Kennedy.

Mrs Kramer was the Lib-Dem candidate last time and won praise for her strong campaign, which saw her finish narrowly behind Labour in fourth place. She said: "I am in this to win. I have unfinished business with Ken. I intend to get the selection and win the mayoralty."

A third hopeful on the Lib-Dem shortlist announced today, environmentalist Donnachadh McCarthy, stands little chance. The three launched their contest with a stunt, racing from Westminster to City Hall on different modes of transport.

Mr Hughes has claimed the Lib-Dems have a real chance of winning City Hall in 2004, with an even four-way split in votes between Mr Livingstone and the

three main party candidates. However, the Mayor will start as favourite to win re-election unless congestion charging goes badly wrong, in which case the Tories may be best placed to cash in.

Today Mr Kennedy said: "London needs a Mayor who can really champion the case for Londoners so they can live and work more comfortably.

"Simon Hughes, Susan Kramer and Donnachadh McCarthy are totally committed to tackling London's appalling problems with public transport, crime, vandalism, pollution and housing shortages. I wish them all well." Lib-Dem members in London will choose a winner by postal ballot.

The Lib-Dems will hope to increase their representation, after winning only four out of 25 Assembly seats in 2000.

In the Tory contest, front- runner Steven Norris faces a challenge from model-turnedbusinesswoman Nikki Page and nine other hopefuls.

The list will be whittled-down to five by an interviewing panel next month, and the Conservatives will have a candidate in place by February in time for the launch of the Mayor's controversial congestion charging scheme.