Phillips pulls out of mayoral race

Trevor Phillips has today withdrawn from the race to become the next Mayor of London, easing open the door for the re-election of Ken Livingstone.

Writing in the Evening Standard, Mr Phillips also issues a strong attack on the Mayor's congestion charging scheme, saying it is just a "road tax" that would hit the less well-off hardest while failing to punish polluters.

Instead he proposes charging businesses £4.50 a week for each of the 120,000 company car parking spaces provided for executives. He says that even at a conservative estimate this would guarantee the £130million a year congestion charging is meant to raise.

Mr Phillips says he has decided not to seek the Labour nomination for Mayor because it would not be best for his family, the Labour party or Londoners.

However, he emphasises the decision relates only to the 2004 election and gives a strong hint he will be seeking to become Labour candidate in 2008, when he believes London will not elect Mr Livingstone for a third time. Last month the Mayor failed in his bid to be readmitted to Labour after standing as an independent in the 2000 mayoral race.

Mr Phillips writes: "Unlike most of the other Labour names in the frame, I have a young family, with children passing through a particularly vulnerable phase of their lives. I would never knowingly vote for a man or woman who put ambition ahead of family. I do not want to be such a candidate. The moment will arrive when politics can come first but that moment is not now."

Mr Phillips, 48, the Labour chairman of the London Assembly and regarded as a Blair loyalist, is likely to throw his support behind former Sports Minister Tony Banks should he decide to stand. Mr Banks is on holiday in Greece and could not be contacted.

The only Labour candidate to have formally declared so far is Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron. Mr Phillips takes a sideswipe at her for failing to advance the Labour case when criticising the Mayor on TV, and then arriving at City Hall the following morning "to take his orders".

Ms Gavron said: "I'm surprised to hear the news. Trevor has obviously thought hard about the decision. I look forward to continuing to work with him on the GLA and on the campaign."

Mr Phillips disputes the Mayor's belief that businesses would "scream" at the introduction of a charge on parking spaces. He writes: "In a few cases, companies would cough up the charge for their most highly-valued employees. In many, I think they would simply put an end to the parking perk. And that would be a result. Many would leave the motor at home."

Mr Phillips is one of the few heavyweight Labour politicians in London. His unavailability will be a blow to the national leadership as they search for a candidate of sufficient stature to defeat Mr Livingstone. Ms Gavron is not thought by many to be one.

Nominations have to be in by 16 September. A shortlist of entrants will be voted on by the party's 65,000 London members and affiliated trade union membership in October.

Mr Phillips initially sought the Labour nomination for Mayor in 1999, but became the running mate of Frank Dobson on a so-called Labour "dream ticket". Mr Dobson came a humiliating third in the election in May 2000. Mr Phillips says he will be seeking reelection to the Assembly and is understood to be keen to continue as its chairman.

Trevor Phillips writes: Page 11