Ken takes lead over Boris in race for Mayor

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

With just over three months to go until the mayoral election, the contest is now wide open and either man could win on May 3.

A poll by YouGov suggests that in the first round of voting Londoners would line up 46 per cent for Mr Livingstone, 44 for Mr Johnson and seven per cent for Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick.

In a run-off between Mr Livingstone and Mr Johnson, the smaller party voters appear to divide evenly between the Labour and Conservative candidates.

The two-point Livingstone lead contrasts sharply with an eight-point lead of 54-46 enjoyed by Mr Johnson in June last year, when he seemed unstoppable for a second term.

"This is a huge change and allowing for sampling error the race is now too close to call," said YouGov president Peter Kellner.

"It amounts to 100,000 Labour voters switching back from Boris to Ken. It looks as though Ken Livingstone's promise to cut fares on buses and the Tube has made an impact."

Mr Johnson remains far more popular than his party among voters and beats Mr Livingstone for charisma.

But the survey reveals a drop in the number of Labour voters who are willing to vote for the Conservative incumbent. Last June almost a quarter of Labour voters said they would choose him - but the "Labour for Boris" brigade has halved to 12 per cent.

Another change is that the number who see Mr Livingstone as "in touch with the concerns of ordinary people" has risen from 37 to 40 per cent; the number who think Mr Johnson is "in touch" has fallen from 20 per cent to 13.

Moreover, the three issues that Londoners regard as most important are those that Mr Livingstone has campaigned hardest on: tackling crime (picked by 42 per cent), improving transport (41 per cent) and easing the cost of living (33 per cent). Only four per cent think promoting London abroad, a regular Boris theme, is a priority.

Looking at the two men's mayoral records, four in 10 Londoners think Mr Livingstone "achieved more" as Mayor between 2000 and 2008 than Mr Johnson has since he took office in 2000. Only three in 10 think Boris has achieved more than his rival did.

Mr Johnson's allies said the poll would be "sobering" for supporters who thought the Mayor had the election sewn up. "Boris has never taken Londoners for granted," said a spokesman.