French presidential election results 2012: France votes for Francois Hollande and ruinous spending
- President Nicolas Sarkozy ousted by socialist candidate Francois Hollande
- Meanwhile in Greece, voters reject policies of tough financial discipline
- Analysts warns results could tip single currency into collapse within months
By Peter Allen, Tim Shipman and Rob Davies
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Europe was plunged into fresh economic chaos last night as France rejected austerity and elected a tax-and-spend socialist president.
Nicolas Sarkozy suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Francois Hollande, who ran on a platform of tearing up last December’s controversial deal to save the euro from oblivion.
The inexperienced Mr Hollande is now seeking talks with the European Central Bank and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to demand further borrowing to boost growth.
All change: French president Nicolas Sarkozy (left) has been ousted by Socialist Party rival Francois Hollande (right) in a result that is being held as a rejection of austerity measures imposed amid the eurozone crisis
‘I take responsibility’: France’s incumbent president looks sheepish as he appears on stage before UMP supporters in Paris
Man of the moment: A grinning Francois Hollande greets supporters as he arrives to give his acceptance speech in his political heartland of Tulle, southwestern France
Triumphant: France’s president-elect waves to supporters in Tulle before a speech in which he called for unity among a divided French electorate
The menace to the single currency was compounded when voters in near-bankrupt Greece also rejected plans to impose tough financial discipline.
The far Right looked set to grab its first seats, saying: ‘The day of national revolution has begun against those who are selling us out and looting the sweat of the Greek people.’
City analysts said that while stock markets had expected a Hollande win, the results in Paris and Athens could tip the strained eurozone back into turmoil.
Mr Hollande claimed that many voters in Europe would greet his election with relief.
‘Europe is watching us, austerity can no longer be the only option,’ he said.
Struggling to contain his emotions, Mr Sarkozy said: ‘I did my best to protect the French people during the events of the past five years, so that France could come out stronger from this crisis.’
He finished: ‘You are the eternal France, I love you.’
Jubilation: Key members of Mr Hollande’s campaign team celebrate the result alongside crowds of supporters inside the Socialist Party’s headquarters
The winning side: From left, National Secretary for communication David Assouline, party spokesman Benoit Hamon, campaign policy advisor Aurelie Filippetti and political advisor Harlem Desir amid an ecstatic crowd at the Socialist Party HQ
And the losers: A distraught supporter of Sarkozy’s UMP party reacts to the early results at the Mutualite meeting hall in Paris
Crestfallen: Two young Sarkozy supporters look on as the first results from the second-round elections arrive in Paris
Bitter defeat: A UMP supporter sobs while another covers his face with the French flag as the results are announced at the party headquarters in Paris
He is the 11th European leader to be swept from office since the start of the economic crisis in 2008.
On a day of high drama:
- Mr Hollande defeated Mr Sarkozy by 52 per cent to 48 in only the second time a sitting French President has failed to win a second term;
- Greece’s conservative New Democracy and socialist PASOK parties risked falling short of the 151-seat majority needed to form a coalition government;
- Financial experts warned that the Euro could collapse within months;
- British officials admitted that David Cameron made a serious error by ostentatiously backing Mr Sarkozy’s re-election bid.
The uncharismatic Mr Hollande, who has never held any ministerial office and is the first socialist to win the French presidency since Francois Mitterrand in 1988, has been an outspoken advocate of rewriting the plans to save the single currency.
He wants a new ‘preamble’ written into the new European fiscal pact signed by 25 EU nations to water down calls for austerity measures.
He is demanding a change to strict rules which dictate how much member states can spend, without which most observers believe a new European economic crisis is inevitable.
After his victory he said that one of his priorities was to ‘preserve our social model’ – a reference to France’s generous welfare state.
The new president has pledged to spend an extra 20billion euros in the years ahead to kickstart the economy and wants to slap a 75 per cent tax rate on those earning more than one million euros a year, or around £850,000.
Putting a brave face on it: Sarkozy arrives to address his supporters after the result reaches crowds at La Mutualite hall in Paris
Hero of the left: A victorious Hollande on stage in Tulle with his partner Valerie Trierweiler
Victorious: The face of the newly-elected French President appears on a giant screen at the local Socialist party headquarters in Strasbourg
Bottoms up: A young Socialist supporter celebrates the party’s win with a drink on the streets of Paris
Socialists on top: Elated Hollande supporters climb on a bus stop in Paris
He says he ‘dislikes the rich’ and has singled out ‘the world of finance’ as his principal enemy. Douglas McWilliams, of the Centre for Economics and Business Research, said that this ‘could be the week that starts the euro break-up’.
He predicted that the ECB might have to lend more money to banks if there is a stock market ‘wobble’ in response to Hollande’s triumph.
‘Each bout of printing money brings the end of the euro nearer,’ he said.
City veteran David Buik, of trading firm BGC Partners, said that France’s affairs paled beside the impact of the Greek election and persistent fears that Spain will be the next European domino to fall.
‘Greece is close to collapse and Spain is deep in a financial quagmire,’ said Mr Buik. ‘I will be very surprised if the Eurozone is not split in 18 months time.’
Last night David Cameron, who snubbed Mr Hollande during a recent visit to the UK, phoned the new president to congratulate him.
A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘They both look forward to working very closely together in the future and building on the very close relationship that already exists between the UK and France.’
Labour leader Ed Miliband, who met Mr Hollande during his London visit, also sent his congratulations.
‘This new leadership is sorely needed as Europe seeks to escape from austerity, and it matters to Britain,’ he said.
‘In his campaign, he has shown that the centre-Left can offer hope and win elections with a vision of a better, more equal and just world.’
Face of a new France: A boy wears a rubber mask of Hollande’s face during celebrations in Tulle
Accident: A press motorcyclist and cameraman sprawl on the road near Paris’s Le Bourget airport after they crashed while following Mr Hollande
Ousted: Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni leave the Elysee Palace, the official residence of the president, after his election defeat
Festival atmosphere: Socialist supporters pile into Place de la Bastille, Paris, to celebrate Mr Hollande’s win
The party continues: Thousands pack Bastille square as the sun sets and Mr Hollande arrives in Paris
Historic night: A searchlight cuts through the night sky over the Bastille, where crowds wait to greet France’s new president-elect
French kiss: The new ‘first lady’ Valerie Trierweiler and President-elect Hollande in an onstage show of affection during the victory rally in Paris
Categories: News Tags: 2012, election, France, Francois, French, Hollande, Presidential, Results, ruinous, spending, votes
Greece elections 2012: Fresh chaos as no political party wins enough votes to form a government
By Nick Mcdermott and Christine Pirovolakis
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Greece was plunged into fresh political chaos last night after no party emerged with enough votes to form a government following yesterday’s election.
The two main parties suffered heavy losses at the ballot box as the electorate punished them for supporting hugely unpopular austerity measures imposed in return for international bailout funds.
The country now faces political uncertainty as the party with the largest share of votes is given three days to form a coalition. If they fail, the task will then be given to the smaller groups.
Volatile future: Supporters of Leader of the Greek conservative party New Democracy Antonis Samaras wave flags during a pre-election speech in Athens
But with deep rifts between the parties and votes scattered among extremists on the left and right, there is a real prospect no coalition will emerge.
This will force the president to call a fresh round of elections and leaving Greece in a state of paralysis – a prospect that will alarm its international creditors.
If a government committed to continuing the austerity measures cannot be formed, then the future of Greece’s euro membership, and the fate of the currency itself, could once again be at stake.
After nearly four decades of dominating the Greek political scene, the conservative New Democracy and socialist Pasok parties, who had supported the cuts, saw their share of the vote slashed.
Instead, in an election dubbed ‘the polls of rage’ by the Greek media, the electorate favoured parties at both ends of the political spectrum that had opposed the tough austerity package dictated by international lenders.
Anti-austerity demonstration: Police react to an exploding petrol bomb during riots in the streets of Athens in February
Exit polls last night indicated Pasok, who in 2009 polled 44 per cent, saw its share of the ballot shrunk to between 13 to 14 per cent.
The largest party to emerge from the polls would be New Democracy according to the polls, with between 19 to 20.5 per cent of the vote, while the Radical Left Coalition, or Syriza, coming in second with between 15.5 to 17 per cent.
Syriza, under the leadership of 38-year Alexis Tsipras, supports Greece’s membership of the European Union, but vehemently opposes the belt-tightening measures imposed by the nation’s EU partners. Instead he demands the austerity package is renegotiated.
The extreme right-wing Golden Dawn is now projected to win enough votes to enter parliament, with between 6 and 8 per cent, well above the necessary 3 per cent threshold.
There will be no honeymoon period for the new government, who will be forced to carry on with the austerity programme imposed by international lenders if they are to receive more funds. Under the current timetable, Greece must find a further €11bn in savings by next month.
Categories: News Tags: 2012, Chaos, elections, enough, form, Fresh, government, Greece, Party, political, votes, wins
Supermoon 2012 pictures: Our cosmic sidekick appears in its biggest and brightest form
By Alex Gore
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The biggest and brightest full moon of the year is lighting up the sky tonight as our celestial neighbour passes closer to Earth than usual.
Tides are likely to be higher as a result of the supermoon but fears of a spike in crime or an increase in crazy behaviour have been dismissed as pure folklore.
Experts say the Moon will appear up to 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter as it passes 221,802 miles from earth, around 15,300 miles closer than average. Its distance from Earth varies because it follows an elliptical orbit rather than a circular one.
The phenomenon is known as a perigee full moon but astronomers warn the ‘relatively uncommon’ celestial event may not amount to much.
Glowing guide: A runner makes his way along a trail in front of the once-a-year ‘super Moon’ at Papago Park in Phoenix, Arizona
Northern Florida: The moon peaks out behind Century Tower at the University of Florida in Gainesville
Beacon: Fishermen near Bal Harbour in Florida rest on a jetty as the moon rises in the Atlantic Ocean
Wafting: Seen massively larger than a landing plane at the Los Angeles International Airport in Inglewood, California, the moon balances itself among the palm trees
Chopper: In another part of Los Angeles, an LAPD chopper flies in the moon’s foreground
Spotlight: The ‘supermoon’ shines its light on the temporarily closed Hotel Pere Marquette in Peoria, Ill
Rosy: In another perfectly timed shot, a rose bush in Los Angeles,California played in the moon’s light, along with a small bug resting on a bud
Dr Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society, said: ‘The eye is so good at compensating for changes in brightness that you simply don’t notice that element so much. What you may notice is that the Moon will be a little bit bigger.’
Geoff Chester, of the US Naval Observatory, added the difference in appearance is so small ‘you’d be very hard-pressed to detect that with the unaided eye.’
But Dr Massey said it could still be worth glancing up at the sky tonight, adding: ‘The moon is always beautiful and a full moon is always dramatic.’
As well as a keen eye and clear weather, sky-watchers will also need to stay up late to notice a significant difference. The Moon is expected to appear at its best in the early hours of tomorrow morning at around 4.30am, just after it hits perigee – the point in its orbit when it is closest to Earth.
Blue pallet: Rising over the Angel’s Gate lighthouse in San Pedro, Calif, the moon appears to melt into the light blue sky and water
Dominating: North in San Francisco, the moon challenges Coit Tower
Power: In Palm Springs, California, the moon rose above ordinarily massive wind turbines
Ontario moon: The ‘super Moon’ is seen rising over the skyline in Toronto, offering a without a doubt unparalleled sight to those in the city’s tall CN tower (left)
Brighter: The full moon rises like the Sun from the top of Haramoun mountain, as seen from Marjayoun village in south Lebanon earlier
But scientists say that no matter how far away a full moon is, it is not going to cause natural disasters or make people go crazy, commit crimes or do anything else that popular belief suggests.
Psychologist Scott Lilienfeld, of Emory University in the US, said the notion of full moons causing bizarre behavior is one of the biggest myths because ‘it’s so widely held and it’s held with such conviction.’
He said a reason people cling to the idea could be the way people pay attention to things. If something unusual happens to occur during a full moon, people who believe the myth take note and remember, he argued.
Replica: The full moon provides a stunning backdrop for Kosovo’s answer to New York’s Statue of Liberty on top a hotel in the capital Pristina this evening
Towering: This apartment block in Bucharest proved a great place to view the supermoon as it illuminated the night sky
View from the gods: The supermoon rises earlier today above the Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, south east of Athens, Greece, while tourists watch on
Holy night: The brighter than normal moon was clear for all to see in Amman as a flock of birds flew over a mosque
Clear as day: Even before night fell over Dresden, eastern Germany, the moon was looking incredible behind the Church of Our Lady
Almost full: The moon is obscured by the cross of Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Dresden, Germany, this evening
But when another full moon appears and nothing out of the ordinary occurs, ‘they’re not very likely to remember’ or point it out to others. So in the end, he said, all they remember are the coincidences.
The last supermoon, on March 19 last year, was about 240 miles closer than this year’s will be. Next year’s will be a bit farther away than this year’s.
It will bring unusually high tides because of its closeness and its alignment with the Sun and Earth, and Dr Massey explained: ‘When the moon is closest to the Earth and full or new, you get an increase in the tidal pull in the ocean because the gravity of the moon and the sun line-up.
Supermoon: The full moon appears pink as it appears behind statues of angels at St. Isaak’s Cathedral in St.Petersburg, Russia, this evening
Hiding: Seen from Cartagena, Colombia, it can hardly be concealed behind the heavy clouds
Positioning: Other locations in Cartagena, shown, had a more clear view of its enormous sight
Bigger and brighter: The silhouette of a kite makes its way across the moon as it flies past a mosque in Amman tonight
Celestial neighbour: The supermoon in fill view in the sky above South Africa’s largest city Johannesburg
Star gazing: The phenomenon is known as a perigee full moon but astronomers warn the ‘relatively uncommon’ celestial event may not amount to much
Full moon rising: The supermoon filled the sky over Jakarta in Indonesia, but skywatchers in the UK will have the best view at 4.30am tomorrow
Night sky: The perigee full moon peaks through the clouds above Huntsville, US, shining 30 per cent brighter than normal
Don’t panic: Fears of a spike in crime or an increase in crazy behaviour have been dismissed as pure folklore.
Categories: News Tags: 'supermoon', 2012, Appears, biggest, Brightest, cosmic, form, Pictures, Sidekick
London mayoral elections 2012: Boris Johnson clinches narrow mayoral victory by a blond whisker and credits his rival with helping him win
- Boris won 1,054,811 first and second preference votes
- Ken finished 62,000 votes behind with 992,273
- Winning margin 51.5% to 48.5%
- Green party candidate Jenny Jones finishes 3rd ahead of Lib Dem Brian Paddick
- Result delayed by faulty counting machines
- Boris loses two allies; deputy Mayor Richard Barnes and fire chief Brian Coleman
By Martin Robinson and Rick Dewsbury
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Boris Johnson will serve another four years as London mayor after winning a dramatic election battle with Labour rival Ken Livingstone.
The result was finally announced a few minutes before midnight after delays caused by faulty counting machines in Brent and Harrow.
Mr Johnson thanked Londoners for their votes, his wife for her support and paid a cheeky tribute to Ken Livingstone who staged a late fightback to narrow the margin of victory to just 62,000 votes – after first and second preferences had been counted.
The win will take the sting out of the loss of hundreds of Conservative council seats for David Cameron after an otherwise disastrous 24 hours for the Tories.
Victorious: Boris Johnson makes his victory speech as loser Ken Livingstone looks on
As Boris Johnson was returned as London Major tonight, a watery eyed Ken Livingstone announced he would not stand again
Addressing the crowd at City Hall, Mr Johnson vowed to continue ‘fighting for a good deal for Londoners’ as he thanked voters for giving him a ‘new chance’.
He said: ‘In just 84 days time london will welcome the world and the world will find a City Hall administration that is getting on with its work, together with government, and directing scarce resources to what matters for Londoners.
‘Cutting council tax, getting more police out on the street, investing in the great transport, housing and regeneration projects that will create 200,00 jobs over the next four years.
‘And with our apprentice schemes and the other means to our disposal I will dedicate myself to making sure that Londoners and above all young Londoners are ready to take the jobs that this amazing city creates.
‘And I will continue to fight for a good deal for Londoners. A good deal from the Govermnent that will help us deliver prosperity for everyone in the city.’
The final result – a margin of 51.5% to 48.5% – defied polls that placed him 6 points ahead of his rival.
No candidate won enough votes in the first round to secure victory, meaning second preferences had to be counted.
But despite a late surge, Mr Livingstone never looked likely to topple Mr Johnson, the clear bookie’s favourite.
The 66-year-old former mayor looked close to tears during his own speech. He revealed it would be his ‘last election’ and said he was ‘sincerely sorry’ he had failed to win for Londoners.
He said: ‘This is my last election. Forty one years ago, almost to the day, I won my first election
promising to build good council housing and introduce a free bus pass for pensioners.
‘Now I have lived long enough to get one myself. I did not think I necessary would at the time.
Since then I have won 11 more elections and lost three.
‘But the one that I most regret losing is this
‘This is the defeat I most regret, because these are the worst time for 80 years and Londoners needed a mayor to help them get through this very difficult period.’
Nerves: The leading three await the final results
Last minute nerves: Ken Livingstone and his team arrive at City Hall to await the election result
Confident: Boris Johnson leaves his house this morning and told reporters that he was ‘optimistic’ he would beat rival Ken Livingstone
London Mayor
Green party candidate Jenny Jones heaped more misery on the Liberal Democrats by pipping Brian Paddick into fourth place.
Independent Siobhan Benita finished fifth ahead of UKIP and the BNP.
Victory will be bittersweet for Boris, who’ll need to appoint a new deputy.
His loyal number two, Richard Barnes lost his seat in Ealing and Hillingdon to Labour’s Dr Onkar Singh Sahota.
Dr Sahota’s narrow victory was predicted, but it is still a major blow for Mr Johnson.
Another fallen ally is Brian Coleman, chair of the London fire authority, who has lost his Barnet and Camden seat to Labour’s Andrew Dismore.
Labour secured eight of the London Assembly’s 14 first-past-the-post constituencies, gaining two from the Tories, which left them with six.
The Mayoral Election Results in full
Boris Johnson (Con) – 1,054,811*
Ken Livingstone (Lab) – 992,273*
Jenny Jones (Green) – 98,913
Brian Paddick (Lib) – 91,774
Siobhan Benita (Ind) – 83,914 Lawrence Webb (UKIP) – 43,274
Carlos Cortiglia (BNP) – 28,751
* after first and second preferences were added
Defeat spells the end of Ken’s 30-year political career and he even admitted yesterday that he will concentrate on his gardening if his bid fails.
‘My immediate future is not affected by winning or losing. My sister-in-law has just moved into a new house and I promised I’d go and sort out her garden on the bank holiday,’ Ken said.
‘I’m just hoping it doesn’t rain. It’s completely overgrown and I love sorting out old gardens.
‘Beyond that, I’ll have to wait until Tuesday. Either I’ll be back in City Hall signing off on the fares reduction, or I’ll be thinking of something else to do.’
He said: ‘I feel a great sense of relief. I started campaigning 23 months ago with the Labour primary with Oona [King] and since October I’ve been out campaigning to rebuild the Labour Party in parts of London where it had fallen into disrepair.
‘What we’ll see tonight is clearly that Labour will be the largest party in London. Beyond that it’s all speculation.’
Nationally the Tories and their Liberal Democrat coalition partners have been haemorrhaging support to Labour, the London mayor appeared confident of seeing off Ken Livingstone’s challenge in the capital, with a final poll suggesting he had extended his lead to six points.
Significantly, it also suggested the Tory had scooped up the support of one in every ten Labour voters. YouGov predicted Mr Johnson would deliver a 53-47 per cent win.
Kiss for luck: Ken Livingstone says goodbye to his wife Emma as he takes takes Coco the family dog out with him on results day today
Slurs: Ken says that the 2012 campaign to be Mayor has been the most negative he has taken part in and claims he has been smeared
Mr Livingstone said his campaign had been dogged by negative smears and may have derailed votes for city mayors elsewhere in England.
‘The nature of the campaign this time was awful. I came into politics to discuss issues but this campaign has been dominated by smears and trivialities,’ he said.
‘I wonder to what extent all those voters in cities who have voted against having their own elected mayors have been put off by the unsatisfactory nature of this campaign.’
Favourite: Boris Johnson wound down from campaigning last night by taking wife Marina for drinks at London’s fashionable Rose Club
Thumbs up: Boris could end Ken’s political career when the results are revealed after 6pm tonight
Results day: Staff at Olympia in London prepare to count the votes from yesterday’s council, London Assembly and Mayoral elections
Big task: Workers across London will spend the coming hours counting millions of votes, with results due this evening
Close: Boris has taken an early lead in the contest but it appears that it will be fairly close between him and his rival Ken Livingstone
Final countdown: Boris Johnson is pictured with his wife Marina after casting his vote this afternoon following weeks of campaigning
On the move: The London Mayor and his wife enter a tube station in central London this afternoon as the final few hours of frantic campaigning came to an end
On the up: The mayor, seen here climbing an escalator on the London Underground, is set for victory after securing a second term in office
I’m voting for daddy: Boris and Marina at the polling station with his daughter Lara Johnson, who voted for the first time after turning 18
Team Boris: The Mayor out on the campaign trail with his brother Leo, left, sister Rachel, brother Joe, wife Marina, and father Stanley
All smiles: Prime Minister David Cameron and wife Samantha arrive at Central Hall Westminster to vote in the Mayoral Elections…and then depart after casting their votes
Showdown: London Mayor Boris Johnson, left, arrives to vote in Islington with his wife Marina Wheeler while Ken Livingstone, right, and his wife Emma leave their local polling station in north London
Boris arrives by train at Richmond Station on the last day of his Campaign trail this morning
The home straight: Boris and wife Marina battle to pick up votes as they campaign in Sidcup today
TOWER HAMLETS ‘FRACAS’ AS POLICE ARE CALLED OVER ‘THREATS’ BETWEEN RIVALS
Trouble-hit Tower Hamlets had to call police reinforcements today after a candidate claimed that he had been threatened by activists from rival parties.
The London borough has been hit by allegations of voting fraud currently being investigated by the Met and police were in place throughout the day. There have been claims of voter intimidation.
Reinforcement arrived after Chris Smith, standing for the Greens in the London Assembly elections, claimed that one activist threatened to ‘punch his lights out’ when he complained about the crowd handing out Respect and Labour leaflets outside St Matthias Primary, off Brick Lane.
It was feared today that activists were ‘harassing’ potential voters. Mr Smith said: ‘I came down here at about 10am and there were at least 20 Labour and Respect activists handing out leaflets just outside.
‘Election rules state very clearly that each party is only allowed one teller outside each polling station, the rest must be a safe distance away.’
‘I complained to the official inside and when I came back out the Respect guy started mouthing off to me. When I told him what they were doing is not allowed, he threatened to punch my lights out.’
In a blow for the Tories, the UK Independence Party showed that it was gaining traction in the limited number of places where it put up candidates.
In early returns, UKIP had secured 14 per cent of the votes in wards where it had fielded candidates – enough for third place in some areas, and around 5 per cent up on last year.
Tory co-chairman Baroness Warsi admitted: ‘It’s going to be a bad night for the Conservatives. There are going to be losses across the country. We are beginning from a very high base.’
But she also sparked controversy by equating UKIP with the far-Right BNP.
Lady Warsi pointed out that while the number of BNP candidates had fallen by 14 per cent, the number of UKIP candidates had risen by the same amount.
In response, UKIP spokesman Gawain Taylor called her a ‘bitch’ on Twitter. He later deleted the comment.
The Tories and Lib Dems will seek to pass off the loss of hundreds of councillors in local elections as traditional ‘mid-term blues’.
After their joint appearance, Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg will use the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday to unveil new law-and-order measures, including laws on drug driving and the creation of a National Crime Agency.
Hoping for a result: Labour leader Ed Miliband and his wife Justine leave their local polling station in north London after voting in the mayoral and council elections today
Family: Ken Livingstone (right) walks wife Emma Beal (second left), son Thomas (centre) and daughter Mia (left) as well as some of his campaign team as he arrives to cast his vote in the local elections
Independent candidate Siobhan Benita outside St James Church Hall in New Malden this morning to cast her vote for the nations local elections
Planning is also under way for a Cabinet reshuffle, though it is not expected to take place in the immediate future.
Tories tipped for promotion include Housing Minister Grant Shapps, Disability Minister Maria Miller and Employment Minister Chris Grayling. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, who had been tipped for the chop following controversy over NHS reforms, is now thought to be safe.
Overall, Mr Clegg is braced to see the number of Lib Dem councillors slump below 3,000 for the first time since 1986.
A performance like that will intensify speculation that the party could be all but wiped out at the next General Election and that Mr Clegg could face a leadership challenge before 2015.
‘We always expected elections to be difficult last year and this year,’ one source insisted.
The Conservatives expect to lose around 450 council seats, but hope their vote share will be significantly better than recent polls suggest, at around 35 per cent.
Support: Green Party volunteer Caroline Russell and Labour Party volunteer David Braine wait for voters outside St Thomas’ Church Hall in Highbury in London today
Pensioners leave a polling station at Haven Christian Centre at Littleover, Derby. Right, two more elderly voters at Grange Hall Community Centre at Littleover, Derby
Keen: An early voter crossing the green towards a polling station in Dalton Piercy, near Hartlepool, as polls opened in the town this morning
In London, the YouGov survey suggested Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick would finish a distant third, on 7 per cent compared with 10 per cent four years ago. Other polls have suggested independent candidate Siobhan Benita could even push the Lib Dems into fourth.
In the first-choice vote, Mr Johnson leads Mr Livingstone by 43 per cent to 38 per cent, similar to 2008. Once second preferences are allocated, the poll suggested he would emerge with a six-point lead, on 53 per cent to 47 per cent.
However, in elections to the London assembly, Labour enjoyed a ten point lead over the Conservatives.
UKIP also looked to be heading for its first seats in the assembly, with the poll predicting it could secure two. YouGov president Peter Kellner said: ‘The difference between the Mayor and assembly results is striking: a large swing to Labour since 2008 in voting for the assembly, but no swing in the vote for Mayor.
Putting aside their differences: Ken and Boris pose together for a photo earlier this week, but there will be no love lost between them as the election results come in
‘The main reason is the “Boris Labour” vote. We looked at people who told us they were certain to vote, and would vote Labour if the contest were a General Election. One in ten told us they will vote for Boris.
‘Londoners like politicians with character and a streak of independence. That used to help Ken, but now it’s Boris who has caught the mood of the capital. Labour supporters used to find Ken entertaining. Now he simply irritates many of them.’
n PETER Mandelson will today call for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.
The crisis-hit eurozone will survive only if it operates more as ‘a single political entity’ with its own president and national MPs sitting within the EU, the architect of New Labour will say at a speech in Oxford.
But the staunchly pro-Europe Lord Mandelson will admit that further EU integration cannot be foisted on to the British public without an in/out referendum.
Big push: Boris Johnson is trying to secure every last vote while campaigning in Wimbledon, as he goes into the final week of the Mayoral Campaign
Another planet: Labour candidate for London Mayor, Ken Livingstone launched his poster campaign showing Boris Johnson as an alien as he trails the Tory incumbent in the polls
SAMCAM’S £40 LUCKY TROUSERS FROM HIGH STREET STORE ZARA
It was a gloomy day at Westminster today when Samantha Cameron accompanied David to the polling stations where they were to vote in the London Mayoral election.
But the Prime Minister’s wife made sure to cut a swathe through the grey as she stepped out in a pair of bright orange trousers.
She paired the tapered style, a pair of £39.99 cigarette pants from Zara, with an ivory blouse, grey round-necked Joseph jumper and a pair of suede grey heels, also from Zara.
Westminster’s Central Methodist Hall for the London Mayoral and local elections
Lucky outfit? Samantha Cameron wore an almost identical outfit last October at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, right, even down to the grey sweater and suede pumps
It was a striking look for SamCam, and clearly one that she is fond of given that she wore the exact same ensemble, give or take a neckline, for the Conservative Party Conference last year.
Samantha debuted the vibrant cigarette pants back in October, when she paired them with a grey V-neck sweater from Zara, and the same grey Zara pumps she wore today.
The look is an interesting, albeit tried-and-tested, one for the PM’s wife, and it skilfully treads that delicate line between adventurous and sensible.
The sobering effect of the schoolgirl grey sweater acts as the perfect foil for the tropical tone of her bottom half, and the grey shoes pull the look together neatly.
It is an outfit that says ‘I’m fashionable, quirky, contemporary – but dependable and approachable’.
The juicy tangerine toned trousers are a welcome break from the norm, given that Samantha Cameron, while frequently fashion-forward, more often than not favours her trusty black Joseph cigarette pants for public events.
Categories: News Tags: 2012, blond, Boris, clinches, credits, elections, helping, Johnson, London, mayoral, narrow, rival, victory, whisker
London mayoral elections 2012: Boris is back in City Hall: Conservative clinches narrow mayoral victory over Ken Livingstone after dramatic Labour fightback
- Boris won 1,054,811 first and second preference votes
- Ken finished 62,000 votes behind with 992,273
- Winning margin 51.5% to 48.5%
- Green party candidate Jenny Jones finishes 3rd ahead of Lib Dem Brian Paddick
- Result delayed by faulty counting machines
- Boris loses two allies; deputy Mayor Richard Barnes and fire chief Brian Coleman
By Martin Robinson and Rick Dewsbury
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Boris Johnson will serve another four years as London mayor after winning a dramatic election battle with Labour rival Ken Livingstone.
The result was finally announced a few minutes before midnight after delays caused by faulty counting machines in Brent and Harrow.
Mr Johnson thanked Londoners for their votes, his wife for her support and paid a cheeky tribute to Ken Livingstone who staged a late fightback to narrow the margin of victory to just 62,000 votes – after first and second preferences had been counted.
The win will take the sting out of the loss of hundreds of Conservative council seats for David Cameron after an otherwise disastrous 24 hours for the Tories.
Victorious: Boris Johnson makes his victory speech as loser Ken Livingstone looks on
Delays: The announcement was made shortly before midnight, after faulty counting machines held up the count process
Addressing the crowd at City Hall, Mr Johnson vowed to continue ‘fighting for a good deal for Londoners’ as he thanked voters for giving him a ‘new chance’.
He said: ‘In just 84 days time london will welcome the world and the world will find a City Hall administration that is getting on with its work, together with government, and directing scarce resources to what matters for Londoners.
‘Cutting council tax, getting more police out on the street, investing in the great transport, housing and regeneration projects that will create 200,00 jobs over the next four years.
‘And with our apprentice schemes and the other means to our disposal I will dedicate myself to making sure that Londoners and above all young Londoners are ready to take the jobs that this amazing city creates.
‘And I will continue to fight for a good deal for Londoners. A good deal from the Govermnent that will help us deliver prosperity for everyone in the city.’
The final result – a margin of 51.5% to 48.5% – defied polls that placed him 6 points ahead of his rival.
But despite a late surge, Mr Livingstone never looked likely to topple Mr Johnson, the clear bookie’s favourite.
The 66-year-old former mayor looked close to tears during his own speech. He revealed it would be his ‘last election’ and said he was ‘sincerely sorry’ he had failed to win for Londoners.
He said: ‘This is my last election. Forty one years ago, almost to the day, I won my first election
promising to build good council housing and introduce a free bus pass for pensioners.
‘Now I have lived long enough to get one myself. I did not think I necessary would at the time.
Since then I have won 11 more elections and lost three.
‘But the one that I most regret losing is this
‘This is the defeat I most regret, because these are the worst time for 80 years and Londoners needed a mayor to help them get through this very difficult period.’
Last minute nerves: Ken Livingstone and his team arrive at City Hall to await the election result
Confident: Boris Johnson leaves his house this morning and told reporters that he was ‘optimistic’ he would beat rival Ken Livingstone
Green party candidate Jenny Jones heaped more misery on the Liberal Democrats by pipping Brian Paddick into fourth place.
Independent Siobhan Benita finished fifth ahead of UKIP and the BNP.
Victory will be bittersweet for Boris, who’ll need to appoint a new deputy.
His loyal number two, Richard Barnes lost his seat in Ealing and Hillingdon to Labour’s Dr Onkar Singh Sahota.
Dr Sahota’s narrow victory was predicted, but it is still a major blow for Mr Johnson.
Another fallen ally is Brian Coleman, chair of the London fire authority, who has lost his Barnet and Camden seat to Labour’s Andrew Dismore.
Defeat is likely to spell the end of Ken’s 30-year political career and he even admitted today that he will concentrate on his gardening if his bid fails.
‘My immediate future is not affected by winning or losing. My sister-in-law has just moved into a new house and I promised I’d go and sort out her garden on the bank holiday,’ Ken said.
‘I’m just hoping it doesn’t rain. It’s completely overgrown and I love sorting out old gardens.
‘Beyond that, I’ll have to wait until Tuesday. Either I’ll be back in City Hall signing off on the fares reduction, or I’ll be thinking of something else to do.’
Mr Livingstone said he has not decided what he will do if he is not returned to City Hall.
He said: ‘I feel a great sense of relief. I started campaigning 23 months ago with the Labour primary with Oona [King] and since October I’ve been out campaigning to rebuild the Labour Party in parts of London where it had fallen into disrepair.
‘What we’ll see tonight is clearly that Labour will be the largest party in London. Beyond that it’s all speculation.’
Nationally the Tories and their Liberal Democrat coalition partners have been haemorrhaging support to Labour, the London mayor appeared confident of seeing off Ken Livingstone’s challenge in the capital, with a final poll suggesting he had extended his lead to six points.
Significantly, it also suggested the Tory had scooped up the support of one in every ten Labour voters. YouGov predicted Mr Johnson would deliver a 53-47 per cent win.
As he rode his bike from his London home this morning, Mr Johnson – who was the bookie’s favourite – told the Evening Standard: ‘I’m feeling good. I’m optimistic. I wouldn’t say confident, as it’s a bit early, but optimistic.
‘I’m not sure what I’ll be doing tonight but I hope I’ll be celebrating.’
Kiss for luck: Ken Livingstone says goodbye to his wife Emma as he takes takes Coco the family dog out with him on results day today
Slurs: Ken says that the 2012 campaign to be Mayor has been the most negative he has taken part in and claims he has been smeared
Meanwhile Mr Livingstone said his campaign had been dogged by negative smears and may have derailed votes for city mayors elsewhere in England.
‘The nature of the campaign this time was awful. I came into politics to discuss issues but this campaign has been dominated by smears and trivialities,’ he said.
‘I wonder to what extent all those voters in cities who have voted against having their own elected mayors have been put off by the unsatisfactory nature of this campaign.’
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls acknowledged that Mr Johnson might win ‘despite his association with David Cameron and George Osborne, rather than because of it’.
But with the party doing well in the London Assembly contests, he told BBC Radio 4′s The World At One: ‘It certainly suggests that Labour, when it’s Labour, it’s doing very well compared to the Conservatives across London and we’ve seen that in by-elections as well.
Favourite: Boris Johnson wound down from campaigning last night by taking wife Marina for drinks at London’s fashionable Rose Club
Thumbs up: Boris could end Ken’s political career when the results are revealed after 6pm tonight
‘But there was a personality contest in which Boris Johnson said “Vote for me even though I’m a Tory” and it looks like he may… we’ll wait and see, but if he wins I think it will be despite his association with David Cameron and George Osborne, rather than because of it.
‘I backed Ken Livingstone, I think he was the best mayor London’s had so far. I think he would be a better mayor for London on Tube fares and jobs and housing than Boris Johnson who, let’s be honest, is a bit of a joker, a bit of a buffoon.’
He added that the mayor’s powers, particularly over taxes, were limited and ‘the truth is you can vote for Boris because he cracks good jokes without that actually making much difference to your wallet or your purse’.
Results day: Staff at Olympia in London prepare to count the votes from yesterday’s council, London Assembly and Mayoral elections
Big task: Workers across London will spend the coming hours counting millions of votes, with results due this evening
Close: Boris has taken an early lead in the contest but it appears that it will be fairly close between him and his rival Ken Livingstone
Final countdown: Boris Johnson is pictured with his wife Marina after casting his vote this afternoon following weeks of campaigning
On the move: The London Mayor and his wife enter a tube station in central London this afternoon as the final few hours of frantic campaigning came to an end
On the up: The mayor, seen here climbing an escalator on the London Underground, is set for victory after securing a second term in office
I’m voting for daddy: Boris and Marina at the polling station with his daughter Lara Johnson, who voted for the first time after turning 18
Team Boris: The Mayor out on the campaign trail with his brother Leo, left, sister Rachel, brother Joe, wife Marina, and father Stanley
All smiles: Prime Minister David Cameron and wife Samantha arrive at Central Hall Westminster to vote in the Mayoral Elections…and then depart after casting their votes
Showdown: London Mayor Boris Johnson, left, arrives to vote in Islington with his wife Marina Wheeler while Ken Livingstone, right, and his wife Emma leave their local polling station in north London
Boris arrives by train at Richmond Station on the last day of his Campaign trail this morning
The home straight: Boris and wife Marina battle to pick up votes as they campaign in Sidcup today
TOWER HAMLETS ‘FRACAS’ AS POLICE ARE CALLED OVER ‘THREATS’ BETWEEN RIVALS
Trouble-hit Tower Hamlets had to call police reinforcements today after a candidate claimed that he had been threatened by activists from rival parties.
The London borough has been hit by allegations of voting fraud currently being investigated by the Met and police were in place throughout the day. There have been claims of voter intimidation.
Reinforcement arrived after Chris Smith, standing for the Greens in the London Assembly elections, claimed that one activist threatened to ‘punch his lights out’ when he complained about the crowd handing out Respect and Labour leaflets outside St Matthias Primary, off Brick Lane.
It was feared today that activists were ‘harassing’ potential voters. Mr Smith said: ‘I came down here at about 10am and there were at least 20 Labour and Respect activists handing out leaflets just outside.
‘Election rules state very clearly that each party is only allowed one teller outside each polling station, the rest must be a safe distance away.’
‘I complained to the official inside and when I came back out the Respect guy started mouthing off to me. When I told him what they were doing is not allowed, he threatened to punch my lights out.’
In a blow for the Tories, the UK Independence Party showed that it was gaining traction in the limited number of places where it put up candidates.
In early returns, UKIP had secured 14 per cent of the votes in wards where it had fielded candidates – enough for third place in some areas, and around 5 per cent up on last year.
Tory co-chairman Baroness Warsi admitted: ‘It’s going to be a bad night for the Conservatives. There are going to be losses across the country. We are beginning from a very high base.’
But she also sparked controversy by equating UKIP with the far-Right BNP.
Lady Warsi pointed out that while the number of BNP candidates had fallen by 14 per cent, the number of UKIP candidates had risen by the same amount.
In response, UKIP spokesman Gawain Taylor called her a ‘bitch’ on Twitter. He later deleted the comment.
Labour was set to win Birmingham and Newport, while the Tories were on course to lose control of Dudley in the West Midlands.
The earliest results, from Basildon and Sunderland, showed large swings to Labour and substantial declines in Conservative and Lib Dem support.
There were reports of tiny numbers of voters taking part in elections in many parts of the country, suggesting widespread apathy.
In Kingston-upon-Hull, turnout was reported to be just 18.7 per cent. Lincoln’s turnout was its lowest ever, at 26 per cent.
Mr Cameron and his Liberal Democrat deputy Mr Clegg are planning a Coalition ‘renewal of vows’ with a joint appearance on Tuesday as the Government enters its third year. They will focus on economic policy as the glue that is holding the two parties together.
The Tories and Lib Dems will seek to pass off the loss of hundreds of councillors in local elections as traditional ‘mid-term blues’.
After their joint appearance, Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg will use the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday to unveil new law-and-order measures, including laws on drug driving and the creation of a National Crime Agency.
Hoping for a result: Labour leader Ed Miliband and his wife Justine leave their local polling station in north London after voting in the mayoral and council elections today
Family: Ken Livingstone (right) walks wife Emma Beal (second left), son Thomas (centre) and daughter Mia (left) as well as some of his campaign team as he arrives to cast his vote in the local elections
Independent candidate Siobhan Benita outside St James Church Hall in New Malden this morning to cast her vote for the nations local elections
Planning is also under way for a Cabinet reshuffle, though it is not expected to take place in the immediate future.
Tories tipped for promotion include Housing Minister Grant Shapps, Disability Minister Maria Miller and Employment Minister Chris Grayling. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, who had been tipped for the chop following controversy over NHS reforms, is now thought to be safe.
Overall, Mr Clegg is braced to see the number of Lib Dem councillors slump below 3,000 for the first time since 1986.
A performance like that will intensify speculation that the party could be all but wiped out at the next General Election and that Mr Clegg could face a leadership challenge before 2015.
‘We always expected elections to be difficult last year and this year,’ one source insisted.
The Conservatives expect to lose around 450 council seats, but hope their vote share will be significantly better than recent polls suggest, at around 35 per cent.
Support: Green Party volunteer Caroline Russell and Labour Party volunteer David Braine wait for voters outside St Thomas’ Church Hall in Highbury in London today
Pensioners leave a polling station at Haven Christian Centre at Littleover, Derby. Right, two more elderly voters at Grange Hall Community Centre at Littleover, Derby
Keen: An early voter crossing the green towards a polling station in Dalton Piercy, near Hartlepool, as polls opened in the town this morning
In London, the YouGov survey suggested Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick would finish a distant third, on 7 per cent compared with 10 per cent four years ago. Other polls have suggested independent candidate Siobhan Benita could even push the Lib Dems into fourth.
In the first-choice vote, Mr Johnson leads Mr Livingstone by 43 per cent to 38 per cent, similar to 2008. Once second preferences are allocated, the poll suggested he would emerge with a six-point lead, on 53 per cent to 47 per cent.
However, in elections to the London assembly, Labour enjoyed a ten point lead over the Conservatives.
UKIP also looked to be heading for its first seats in the assembly, with the poll predicting it could secure two. YouGov president Peter Kellner said: ‘The difference between the Mayor and assembly results is striking: a large swing to Labour since 2008 in voting for the assembly, but no swing in the vote for Mayor.
Putting aside their differences: Ken and Boris pose together for a photo earlier this week, but there will be no love lost between them as the election results come in
‘The main reason is the “Boris Labour” vote. We looked at people who told us they were certain to vote, and would vote Labour if the contest were a General Election. One in ten told us they will vote for Boris.
‘Londoners like politicians with character and a streak of independence. That used to help Ken, but now it’s Boris who has caught the mood of the capital. Labour supporters used to find Ken entertaining. Now he simply irritates many of them.’
n PETER Mandelson will today call for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.
The crisis-hit eurozone will survive only if it operates more as ‘a single political entity’ with its own president and national MPs sitting within the EU, the architect of New Labour will say at a speech in Oxford.
But the staunchly pro-Europe Lord Mandelson will admit that further EU integration cannot be foisted on to the British public without an in/out referendum.
Big push: Boris Johnson is trying to secure every last vote while campaigning in Wimbledon, as he goes into the final week of the Mayoral Campaign
Another planet: Labour candidate for London Mayor, Ken Livingstone launched his poster campaign showing Boris Johnson as an alien as he trails the Tory incumbent in the polls
SAMCAM’S £40 LUCKY TROUSERS FROM HIGH STREET STORE ZARA
It was a gloomy day at Westminster today when Samantha Cameron accompanied David to the polling stations where they were to vote in the London Mayoral election.
But the Prime Minister’s wife made sure to cut a swathe through the grey as she stepped out in a pair of bright orange trousers.
She paired the tapered style, a pair of £39.99 cigarette pants from Zara, with an ivory blouse, grey round-necked Joseph jumper and a pair of suede grey heels, also from Zara.
Westminster’s Central Methodist Hall for the London Mayoral and local elections
Lucky outfit? Samantha Cameron wore an almost identical outfit last October at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, right, even down to the grey sweater and suede pumps
It was a striking look for SamCam, and clearly one that she is fond of given that she wore the exact same ensemble, give or take a neckline, for the Conservative Party Conference last year.
Samantha debuted the vibrant cigarette pants back in October, when she paired them with a grey V-neck sweater from Zara, and the same grey Zara pumps she wore today.
The look is an interesting, albeit tried-and-tested, one for the PM’s wife, and it skilfully treads that delicate line between adventurous and sensible.
The sobering effect of the schoolgirl grey sweater acts as the perfect foil for the tropical tone of her bottom half, and the grey shoes pull the look together neatly.
It is an outfit that says ‘I’m fashionable, quirky, contemporary – but dependable and approachable’.
The juicy tangerine toned trousers are a welcome break from the norm, given that Samantha Cameron, while frequently fashion-forward, more often than not favours her trusty black Joseph cigarette pants for public events.
