Boris Johnson: I’ll create a less selfish London

The Mayor, who announced his re-election bid last week, wants to persuade more Londoners to volunteer in their communities.

He plans to harness the goodwill from the Olympic Games, taking place just weeks after the 2012 election. In coming days he will announce a seven-figure cash boost for volunteering.

A source close to the Mayor said: "We want to harness the Olympics to make London a less selfish city. There will be a big push on volunteering, not just as regards Olympics ambassadors but in the longer term."

Mr Johnson is recruiting 8,000 "London ambassadors", based at airports, stations and near Games venues, to help tourists and residents get around.

He has already launched a drive to recruit 5,000 adult volunteers to work with youngsters in uniformed groups like Scouts and Cadets. Many groups across London have long waiting lists but not enough adults to run them.

He is also calling on 1,000 black men to sign up and mentor young black boys at greater risk of social exclusion.

The Mayor wants firms to offer more apprenticeships and get Londoners to become special police constables.

The Olympics legacy is at the heart of his re-election bid. "The big overall challenge is to harness the one-off opportunity of the Olympics in a genuinely lasting way," the source said.

Mr Johnson also plans to encourage more philanthropy from wealthy individuals and firms. He has already secured £15 million from Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal for a sculpture in the Olympic park and £25 million from Barclays for his bike hire scheme.

The City Hall source added: "It's not only a good thing in itself but it's particularly beneficial at a time of government cuts."

As well as boosting volunteering and securing an Olympics legacy, the other main pledge of Mr Johnson's re-election campaign will be to lead the capital out of the economic downturn.

Sir Alan Sugar, the presenter of TV's The Apprentice, today ruled himself out from challenging for mayor in 2012. The millionaire tycoon said he would face too many conflicts of interest because of his businesses if he were running the capital.

But in a claim sure to ruffle feathers at City Hall, the Labour peer said he could do the job with his "eyes closed".

Lord Sugar has been tipped in the past as a Labour candidate — but if he changed his mind and challenged he would probably stand as an independent.

The peer's decision not to endorse either Ken Livingstone or his rival Oona King is a blow to whoever is the successful Labour candidate. He tweeted: "Not backing anyone for Mayor. Not standing either too many biz conflict of interest. Could do the job with eyes closed."