Ken Livingstone backed by Labour to become London mayor in 2012

Ken Livingstone has won the Labour nomination for London mayor in the 2012 election.

He defeated rival Oona King with 68.8 per cent of the vote.

Mr Livingstone was mayor of London between 2000 and 2008, before he was defeated by incumbent Tory mayor Boris Johnson.

The results of the vote were announced in London today and Mr Livingstone said he would "unite Londoners" against coalition public spending cuts.

He has also promised lower transport fares if he wins the race.

Last week, he announced a series of gay equality promises, including appointing a LGBT advisory board and reinstating the annual Pride reception.

He also promised to re-enter the Greater London Authority into Stonewall's annual diversity index.

The former MP, 65, has a good gay rights record, implementing the first civil partnerships register for gay couples in London in 2001.

However, he was criticised in 2005 for inviting to London and embracing the homophobic Islamist cleric Dr Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who has called for gays and lesbians to be killed.

Mr Johnson will stand for re-election in 2012 and former MP Lembit Opik hopes to win the Liberal Democrat nomination for the post.