Labour Party picks Ken Livingstone

London: Britain's Labour Party has chosen former London mayor Ken Livingstone as its candidate for the next city leadership race in 2012.

Livingstone defeated former lawmaker Oona King in a vote of party members and affiliated organisations.

Livingstone said Friday his mayoral campaign will focus on keeping public transport fares down and fighting spending cuts.

The choice sets up a rerun of the 2008 mayoral race, pitting veteran left-winger Livingstone - nicknamed "Red Ken" - against Conservative incumbent Boris Johnson.

Livingstone was London's first elected mayor, serving for eight years before being beaten by Johnson, an eccentric, bicycling former journalist and legislator.