Ken will face Londoners at Standard's hustings

The Mayor will be appearing alongside a panel of leading figures at the hustings on Monday 25 February when they will be asked: How can London stay ahead as the great world city?

Joining him will be LBC presenter Nick Ferrari, whose monthly radio encounters with the Mayor regularly catch the headlines; Financial Times editor Lionel Barber and Labour MP and Livingstone supporter Diane Abbott. The meeting will be chaired by journalist Jonathan Freedland at the Royal Society of Arts in John Adam Street, Charing Cross.

Mr Livingstone's appearance comes as polls indicate he remains the frontrunner in the 1 May poll despite weeks of controversy surrounding the "dodgy grants" scandal involving his aide Lee Jasper. Six police investigations have been launched into the affair.

There have also been claims that Greater London Authority staff worked on his 2004 election campaign while receiving their salaries from City Hall.

Mr Livingstone has been called before an extraordinary meeting of the London Assembly on Thursday to answer allegations about more than £3 million of London Development Agency cash. It was allegedly paid to organisations without adequate checks on how the money was spent or whether value was received.

To get tickets for the debate featuring Mr Livingstone, visit standard.co.uk/rewards. The event is free but tickets are limited and priority will be given to Eros card holders.