Britannist

BBC 1 Television London area local news reported at 6.31 pm today that "there is speculation that Boris (Johnson) might just have done it (i.e. won the 2008 Mayoral Election)."

Asked if she thought Labour had lost the London Mayoral Election Dulwich MP Tessa Jowell, Campaign Manager for europhile Labour Mayoral candidate Livingstone, told the BBC local television news programme for London at 6.33 pm today "it doesn't look great for us."

ITV reporter Chris Ship said "Asked to choose with going for the man with experience or the one without London voters seem to have gone for the wild card."

"It seems that in about an hour's time Boris Johnson will be declared Mayor of London" news presenter Mark Austin said on ITV 1 news at 6.37 pm today.

Reporter Daisy McAndrew told ITV 1 news at 6.39 pm today "Of the 71% of votes counted Boris Johnson is ahead."

Of last night's local elections ITV 1 news said "A terrible night for the Labour with the Conservatives winning 250 seats." The Conservatives took control of the Vale of the Glamorgan council area from Labour.

Labour would win 173 seats in the House of Commons (less than the opposition Conservatives have now) if the voting pattern of the 2008 local elections were repeated at a General Election, ITV 1 Television news said.

"Support for Boris Johnson has piled up in the London suburbs" said Simon Hoggart, columnist for the leftist Guardian, on BBC 1 Television at 6.43 pm today.

Tim Donovan, BBC reporter said on BBC 1 Television at 6.45 pm today "The vote for 'Ken' Livingstone may have gone up - but because the overall voter turnout is up from 38% to 45% across London the vote for the Conservatives is up too - especially in the suburbs: places like Bexley, Bromley and Wandsworth."

It is now reported that the result of the 2008 London Mayoral Election will not be announced until 10 pm tonight. Counting of the votes has been taking place since 8.30 am this morning at the Excel Centre in London's East End and at Alexander Palace and Kensington-Olympia.

Gary Gibbon, Channel Four Television news reporter, said at 7.04 pm on Channel Four Television "It is expected that 'Ken' Livingstone will lose the (2008) London Mayoral Election bringing to an end an extraordinary political career."