Labour in crisis after Boris Johnson is elected as mayor

May 4 2008

Boris Johnson

BORIS Johnson signed on as the Mayor of London yesterday after his victory sealed a poll disaster for Labour.

The bumbling journalist-turned-Tory MP beat Ken Livingstone to take charge in the capital. He officially became mayor at a ceremony yesterday and said his priority was to cut crime.

His victory came after Labour's worst defeat for 40 years in the English council elections.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said voters were protesting Prime Minister Gordon Brown's scrapping the 10p tax rate. He said: "They wanted to punish him - or punish us - in respect of the 10p."

Labour lost nine authorities and 333 seats in the council poll.

The far-right BNP also won its first seat on the London Assembly.

Leader Richard Barnbrook's victory was attacked as a triumph for "hatred, violence and stupidity" by opponents.

The Prime Minister is expected to launch a PR offensive promising to "learn and listen" this week but Tory leader David Cameron said his party was now ready "to step up for Britain".