The London Mayoral candidates

Ken livingstone
He has been branded "the great survivor of British politics" and dubbed "Red Ken" because of his leftist views. Undoubtedy, Ken Livingstone is one of the hardest hitters of the Left in the United Kingdom.

Born on June 17, 1945 to a sailor and an exotic dancer, he worked as a cancer research technician before embarking on a career in local politics. He came to public prominence in 1981, when he took control of the Greater London Council.

He is best known for introducing the congestion charge in London in 2003 - which has turned out to be a success against all expectations - and for declaring his war against pigeons in Trafalgar Square (he once reportedly called the birds "rats with wings").

He caught the national mood after the 7/7 bombings in London when he declared: "[The attack] was not aimed at presidents or prime ministers. It was aimed at ordinary, working class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old."

Livingstone has been known to talk before thinking; he once compared a Jewish reporter from the Evening Standard as a "Nazi concentration camp guard".

According to one poll, 62 per cent of the Londoners think Livingstone has been a good mayor, in both his successive terms. But the problem for the incumbent is that 28 per cent of these feel it is time for him to go.

Boris Johnson
You know you have a chance of becoming London mayor when Ken Livinstone calls you "my most formidable opponent so far". Tory Boris Johnson is as colourful as his Labour rival, and is neck and neck with him to win one of the most important posts in British politics.

He was born on June 19, 1964, in New York. He shares with Livingstone an unconventional background: His Turkish great-grandfather was executed by Kemal Ataturk. After having worked as a journalist for the Daily Telegraph and the Spectator, Johnson was elected MP from Henley in 2001.

With his mop of blond hair, he is instantly recognisable. He likes to portray a funny-guy image, but behind the facade lies a razor-sharp mind and a feel for the pulse of the voters. Johnson is also prone to gaffes.

Once, disgusted with Tory infighting, he likened it to "Papua New Guinea-style orgies of cannibalism and chief killing". Met with furore, he promised to "add Papua New Guinea to my global itinerary of apology".

Despite appearances, Johnson is an establishment figure. What remains to be seen if this proves to be a strength with a very ethnically and culturally diverse electorate.

Brian Paddick
Liberal Democrat's Brian Paddick, was dubbed "Commander Crackpot" for his liberal policing of cannabis law as the Metropolitan Police commander in Lambeth.

Later in his career he also hit the headlines after questioning the force's response to the Stockwell tube shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes.

Born on April 24, 1958, Paddick retired from the force last year, after three decades as a policeman. He was the UK's most senior openly gay police officer. Paddick describes himself as a "serious choice" for London to differentiate himself from his larger-than-life rivals.