Comment: the Mayoral race hots up

Mr Livingstone has previously fallen into the trap of downplaying these fears and blaming the media for his ills. But last night he showed leadership by pointing out that he had increased police numbers even at the cost of unpopular increases in the mayoral precept on council tax.

That said, Mr Johnson's campaign launch yesterday in Edmonton, where four recent teenage murders have taken place and another fatal stabbing occurred last night, has decisively shifted the mayoral race onto crime. That is an issue where incumbents, like Mr Livingstone, can sound out of touch when they claim that things are not as bad as people fear. Mr Johnson should be credited for highlighting that fear of crime - among young people as well as the old, is what most threatens peace of mind.

The change of campaign territory also allowed Mr Paddick, former Brixton borough commander turned Liberal Democrat candidate, to show off the lessons of his 30 years of police experience last night to good effect. Mr Paddick entered the race as an ingenue, but his confidence is growing - and he is not afraid to take on the mayor.

His view that Londoners' confidence in the police was declining, along with Mr Johnson's emphasis on fear of crime, together undermined Mr Livingstone's claims that overall crime levels are down.

On the congestion charge, Mr Livingstone showed that he is, at last, listening to Londoners protests about the creeping rise in the charge from £5 to £8 - and £25 for high-consumption vehicle. He has now ruled out any change in the next four years. That is a positive, if belated, development after his cavalier attitude to consultation on zone welcome commitment, and Londoners will expect him to stand by it. Mr Johnson, on the other hand, won a mixture of boos and cheers for his attack on the Mayor's proposed £25 charge for the most polluting vehicles: one of the most divisive moves of his mayoralty.

In the light of continuing police investigations into some of the organisations involved, the Mayor risked undermining his newly humble approach by insisting he would reinstate Lee Jasper if his former race adviser is cleared of wrongdoing over City Hall grants. The change of tone is marked here. As Mr Livingstone continues to trail in the polls he has laid aside some of the "arrogance" which Mr Paddick noted had marred his record. But the mayor still has much to do to wipe away the memories of high-handedness and sense that his time may be running to an end.

One thing this debate proved beyond doubt - in its turnout and the passion of the contenders, is that race is now every bit as serious as the contest to lead a great capital should be and that the leading candidates have dedicated themselves to an energetic and wide-ranging campaign. That is in the interest of all Londoners: whoever wins on May 1.