After consulting members across the capital, the London Labour Party has confirmed Ken Livingstone as the Labour candidate for Mayor of London election election to be held in 2008. The Conservative Party have delayed their selection process with many critics saying that they are unable to find a suitable candidate to stand opposite Ken Livingstone. The Tories are thought to have approached a raft 'celebrity' names including Greg Dyke, former Governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten and actor Tom Conti.

Ken Livingstone said: "I am grateful for this opportunity to once more build upon the positive agenda for London. I intend to be Mayor for all Londoners There will be three key issues which every candidate must address in the Mayoral election.

1. London's economy must continue to be successful. Economic success is the precondition for everybody's prosperity and for the distribution of wealth throughout the capital.
2. Second, all Londoners must be able to participate in our city's success, both to achieve social justice and to guarantee a decent quality of life for everyone.
3. Third, this success must be sustainable in the long term - which means above all dealing with climate change.

"In this election there will be a straight fight between the progressive policies of my administration and Conservative plans to end free bus travel for under-18s and reduce pressure for more affordable housing.

"I will be defending the international openness which has helped London overtake New York as the world's most successful financial centre. That means showing no tolerance to any form of racism or intolerance not only because it is socially just but because it is economically efficient.

"These will be the central areas of conflict with the Tories in London."

Mr Livingstone today also made clear that stopping the BNP from being elected to the London Assembly would be an election priority. "Racism will be the policy which the British National Party will use to try to win their first ever seats in the London Assembly.

'The election of open racists to the London Assembly would be a blow to London's international reputation and undermine the good community relations which make life so much better throughout the city. The best way to stop tiny unrepresentative groups of racists being elected is for every Londoner to turn out to vote no matter which party they choose to support."

Labour Party members in London have also endorsed the sitting London Assembly members to stand in next year's election. Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron, Murad Qureshi, Jennette Arnold, John Biggs, Val Shawcross, Joanne McCartney and Len Duvall have all been reselected by Labour members. The overwhelming backing they and Ken Livingstone received indicates that the policies being delivered in London are making a real difference in the capital.

Len Duvall AM, Chair of the London Labour Party, said: "With Ken ready to stand in 2008 the contrast with the Tories could not possibly be clearer. Only a couple of weeks ago David Cameron was stabbing his candidates in the back by trying to ditch them in favour of Greg Dyke. Whoever is selected as the Tory candidate will be damaged from the start as their leader's second choice after Cameron's botched attempt to ditch them.

"But even more importantly the Conservative party stands for the abolition of free bus and tram travel for children, for cuts to the bus service, for abolishing the mayor's guarantee of the Freedom Pass and reducing transport and environment benefits by getting rid of the congestion charge. The Tories want to stop the congestion charge becoming a carbon charge on the cars with the worst carbon emissions and they want to reduce the ability of the mayor to deliver more affordable housing. There will be a very clear choice between Ken and Tories."

Ken Livinhstone milestones for London include:

• Making London the world's most successful city - challenging New York as financial capital of the world.
• Visible proofs of London's new international standing include hosting the 2012 Olympic Games, this year's Tour de France and the American NFL.
• London's prosperity boosted by record numbers of overseas visitors.
• Central London outperforming the rest of the UK in retail sales. West End theatre trade experiences a record year in 2006 for number of attendances, ticket revenue, and advance booking revenue.
• The only city in the world to achieve a shift from private car use to public transport.
• Bus and tram fares abolished for all under-18s in full time education.
• All under-11s travel free on the Underground and DLR all day every day.
• Defending the Freedom Pass for older Londoners and disabled people.
• Traffic cut in central London - 70,000 less cars entering the city centre than before the congestion charge was introduced.
• Oyster Card the largest smartcard programme in Europe. Around half of all trips in London use Oyster, providing far cheaper fares and speeding up Tube and bus journeys.
• Record police numbers - up from 25,430 to 30,917 today with an additional 3,482 Police Community Support Officers.
• Putting the police back on the beat with a local police team in every neighbourhood in London.
• As a result, crime in London has fallen for four years in a row. Racist crimes down 45 per cent since 2000.
• Doubling the number of black, Asian and ethnic minority police officers.
• Tough targets for more affordable housing with a requirement that half of all new homes built in London should be affordable.
• More new homes for Londoners - up from 17,000 new homes built in London in 1999 to nearly 25,000 by 2006.
• Of these, more than 10,000 new affordable homes provided last year - and this year's total is projected to be nearly 15,000.
• Congestion charging benefits - improved air quality, reduced CO2 emissions, and is now being considered by New York. £25 carbon charge for most polluting vehicles like 4x4s proposed for existing zone.
• Investing for the future - £10 billion pound five year investment programme in London's transport system.
• All London's 8,000 buses now accessible with low floors, giving parents with buggies and those with mobility problems the ability to travel around London.
• CCTV for every bus.
• 83 per cent increase in cycling in London since 2000.
• Licensing of the minicab trade combined with a crackdown on illegal minicabs has made private hire vehicles and journeys safer. Sexual assaults are down.
• Half price bus and tram fares for Londoners on income support to be delivered by London-Venezuela agreement.
• Improving air quality - with buses and taxis cleaned up and traffic emissions to be further cut through London Low Emission Zone from February 2008.
• London the first major city in the world to produce a comprehensive plan to tackle climate change; launched organization of 40 of world's largest cities to quicken global emissions reductions.
• Helping Londoners to insulate their homes - cutting energy bills money and reducing greenhouse gases.
• Setting a Living Wage for London .
• Support for over 9,500 childcare places across London, enabling lower income families to return to employment.
• Britain's first ever civil-partnerships register; campaigning with Stonewall against homophobic bullying in schools.
• Celebrating the culture of every community in London - from the New Year's Eve fireworks to St Patrick's Day and everything in between.
• A statue of Nelson Mandela for Parliament Square.
• Household recycling up from just six per cent to 21 per cent and over 2.5 million homes - 80 per cent - now receiving a kerbside collection.