Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

'Buffoon' Boris Takes London's Mayor Race

Johnson's huge win deals devastating blow to Brown's Labour party

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted May 3, 2008 5:08 AM CDT

(Newser) – Self-described "buffoon" Boris Johnson won a hard-fought race last night to become mayor of London, the Guardian reports, dealing British PM Gordon Brown's party a stunning loss in his first election test. Johnson unseated Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone 53% to 47% after a 15-hour count that ended with a conservative taking the nation's first high-profile office in more than a decade.

As Brown humbly vowed to heed voters' scathing rebuke, the often shambolic Johnson was gracious in victory, even suggesting there could still be a job for his defeated rival at City Hall. Johnson, who takes power immediately, will represent his city in Beijing this summer, when the Olympic flame is handed over for London's 2012 Games.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

London's new mayorBoris Johnson, right, makes a speech as the outgoing mayor Labour Party candidate Ken Livingstone, left, listens after the results were announced at City Hall in London, (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

London's new mayor Boris Johnson, left, makes a speech as the outgoing mayor Labour Party candidate Ken Livingstone, right, listens after the results were announced at City Hall in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Outgoing mayor of London, the Labour Party candidate Ken Livingstone makes a speech after being defeated in the London mayoral elections by Conservative Party candidate Boris Johnson. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Boris Johnson London Mayor Speech:Boris Johnson wins London Mayorial Election to become London Mayor in 2008 (idlefinger)

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

'Buffoon' Leads Incumbent in Race for London Mayor

Boris Johnson holds slight lead for most important elected office in UK

(NEWSER) - The two leading candidates for mayor of London, Britain's most important elected office, are locked in a neck-and-neck race, according to a new Guardian poll. Ken Livingstone, the fiery Labour incumbent and sworn enemy of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, is now running just behind the Conservative challenger: MP Boris Johnson, a former mag editor and self-declared "blithering buffoon." More»

Brown, Labor Savaged in UK Elections

Labor posts worst election results in 40 years

(NEWSER) - Labor has suffered its worst showing in 40 years in local elections across England and Wales. Just one year after Gordon Brown became prime minister, his party pulled only 24% of the projected national vote, 20 points behind the Tories and behind even the third-party Liberal Democrats. As for the night's most closely watched race—for mayor of London—both parties privately project that Tory challenger Boris Johnson has won. More»

Labour Will Lose London, Final Poll Says

Boris Johnson on course for 10-point victory in mayor's race

(NEWSER) - With 48 hours to go before the election, a final poll gives Boris Johnson a 10-point edge in the race for mayor of London. The shambolic Tory is poised to romp to victory over incumbent Ken Livingstone Thursday, according to the pollster YouGov. The finding is completely at odds with other surveys, which have consistently judged the race too close to call, writes the Guardian. More»

Blair Weighs In on London's Neck-and-Neck Mayoral Race

Ex-PM comes to aid of sworn foe Livingstone

(NEWSER) - With one week to go, the two main candidates in the race for mayor of London—maverick Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone and clownish Tory Boris Johnson—remain neck-and-neck. As the Labour Party realizes that it could lose the most important elected office in Britain, the Guardian reveals that Livingstone is receiving help from his former sworn enemies: Tony Blair and his spin doctor, Alistair Campbell. More»

Corruption Claims Tarnish London Mayor

Top aide accused of funneling millions in city money to friends

(NEWSER) - London's left-wing mayor Ken Livingstone faced a harsh 3-hour grilling last night over a deepening scandal that has seen the city's equality adviser accused of nepotism and corruption. Hundreds of e-mails and memos released yesterday cast new light on at least $6.6 million in contracts allegedly awarded to friends of Lee Jasper, writes the Financial Times. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

'Buffoon' Boris Takes London's Mayor Race