Boris Johnson is the new Mayor of London, his Liberal Democrat rival Brian Paddick conceded tonight.

The Conservative MP scored a stunning election victory to end Ken Livingstone's eight-year reign at City Hall and round off a disastrous 24 hours for the Labour Party.

After a nailbiting count, Mr Johnson was so far ahead on first-preference votes that he could not be caught by Mr Livingstone even after second preferences were taken into account.

Liberal Democrat candidate Brian Paddick was the first to concede defeat: "I think Boris Johnson didn't really want the job. Now that he has got it, that might make him a better mayor."

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23481835-details/Boris+'is+new+London+Mayor',+says+Paddick/article.do