Greens launch campaign for Mayor of London

Sian Berry today launched her campaign to become Green Mayor of London.

Earlier this year the 33-year-old won 45% of the party member's votes to become her party's candidate.

Among the Green pledges unveiled at the launch of her campaign at City Hall was a "living wage" of Ј7.20 an hour for all Londoners working for public employers, cuts to off-peak travel fares and an increase in affordable housing across the capital.

Under the slogan "A Green London is an Affordable London," Ms Berry's said:

"The likes of Gordon Brown who think that you can get people to change their ways without making the alternatives cheaper and easier are living in a fool's paradise, she said.

"And so are people who think social justice and poverty are not 'green issues'. You can't have one without the other."

In 2000 and 2004 the Green party candidate was Darren Johnson, the openly gay London Assembly member.

The election for Mayor of London will be held on May 1st 2008.

Brian Paddick, who as Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner was the most senior gay police officer in the UK, is the Liberal Democrat candidate.

Incumbent Labour Mayor Ken Livingstone is also being challenged by Conservative party candidate Boris Johnson.

Gerard Batten will be the UKIP candidate, Lindsey German has been selected to stand for the Respect party and Richard Barnbrook will be standing for the BNP.

Tabloid journalist Garry Bushell is the English Democrats candidate and the One London party will contest the election but have yet to select a candidate.

In the 2004 election for Mayor of London the Greens came seventh.

UKIP, the BNP and Respect all polled more first preference votes.