9.29pm
There’s only half an hour to go. I’ve just had a call from a journalist who says Boris Johnson’s campaign thinks they’ve got it in the bag here is still half an hour left for you to vote for Ken and keep the Tories out.
This is the final post for this live blog today – thanks for keeping up with the campaign, especially if you helped out on the streets for Ken.
8.49pm
In some areas Ken’s supporters are really turning out. In Edmonton turn out was so high that one polling station ran out of ballot papers. This was sorted out quickly but showed a very high turnout in a strongly pro-Ken area. This shows that if you turn out you really can make a difference and Ken can win. There’s only one hour left, so if you haven’t voted yet, its not too late.
7.31pm
Ken was campaigning through the rain for an hour or so earlier but he’s literally under a rainbow now! Surely a good sign.
The Tory campaign have just sent out their fourth mass email of the day warning their supporters that Ken’s campaign are working hard to get voters to the polls. We can win this election if all Londoners who want a successful city head to the polls.
Go and vote, then text give friends to remind them to do the same.
7.06pm
There are just three hours of voting left. All the reports we’ve had from right across the city say that voting has been brisk. But it’s both Tory and Labour areas where turnout is high.
It’s so close that Ken needs every single vote. Don’t risk four years of Boris Johnson as your Mayor – go and vote. You have until 10pm tonight to do it.
If you’re not sure where the nearest polling station is, LondonElects has a handy way of finding out here.
6.49pm
Ken is now out in Harlseden with local supporters and MP Dawn Butler. Lisa, who is with Ken says that there is loads of attention and people taking a picture on their mobile phones (see below).
Nick, who’s still out campaigning in Camberwell says that the campaign is strong, but turnout could be a bit higher.
The Standard, which is no friend of Ken’s, says there is a whisker’s difference between Ken and Boris, so every single vote is going to count.
6.41pm
The Evening Standard, which has been continuously smearing Ken and carrying stories for months declaring huge Boris Johnson leads, has now been reduced to claiming in its final edition front page headline that “Boris ahead by a whisker”.
They are still trying to claim Boris Johnson is ahead of course but the reality of all the Evening Standard’s lies is now clear: if Ken’s supporters turn out he will win.
Take the time this evening to vote for the tolerant London we love and against the divisive Evening Standard and its candidate Boris Johnson.
6.30pm
Just back after a quick run out to my local tube in Brent. Despite the drizzle, the reaction was great. Lots of people said they were on their way to vote for Ken right away.
5.59pm
After walking up Stoke Newington high street – with almost every shop having a campaign poster in – Ken has now left cheering supporters and kids who had just finished their school day and were very excited to see Ken in the flesh. Ken and the campaign team with him are now heading to Harlsden in Black Cabs trailing purple balloons!
One supporter has sent in a great picture below. We can make sure it is Ken who wins this race – its not down to luck, its down who turns up to vote. Please urge all your friends and family to get down to the polling station before 10pm.
5.28pm
Tory blogger Iain Dale has shown exactly what the Johnson campaign is all about on his election live blog with an astonishing outburst against “idiotic feminazi Guardian harridans who still hanker after the muddy delights of Greenham Common”.
His rant was in reference to Zoe Williams of the Guardian, who reminded her readers of why not to vote for Boris Johnson in this morning’s paper.
As Zoe says, we know what London is, and Boris Johnson isn’t London. Iain Dale’s tirade is yet another reason to get out and vote.
5.16pm
Reports from Labour areas such as Walthamstow continue to be good but a report on the Guardian website confirms that turnout seems to be high right across London not only in Labour but in Tory areas.
But reports from areas where the BNP is strong in East London, however, also indicate they have a hardened vote. This was already shown in pre-election canvassing and turnout shows it is continuing.
It’s absolutely vital for every single Ken supporter to take the time to vote – it’s what will decide the election.
4.50pm
Fantastic picture of Ken and local campaigners over on Luke’s blog here. Really looks like great numbers of supporters are coming to help the campaign remind people to vote this evening. You can join them – find your local campaign office here.
4.11pm
Tories are coming out to vote today. If you don’t want Boris to be Mayor for four years, if you want to Ken to keep London moving forward, you need to get involved. If you can, contact your local office and help knock on doors, leaflet and tell people to make sure they vote. If you still at work, send all your friends an e-card urging them to go and vote this evening.
4.01pm
Ken has just been out and about in Tottenham with the local MP David Lammy. They were popping in and out of local shops and restaurants, with people crossing the road to shake hands with Ken.
The campaign team say that Ken was making good use of people waiting for a bus to warn them they could wake up under Boris tomorrow!
They left to a chorus of cars horns, with even buses beeping and passengers waving.
3.49pm
On Conservative Home, Boris Johnson supporters are saying that the turn-out is high among their supporters. One says ‘I’ll be on the GOTV trail in Finchley tonight. The association there seem to be doing a great job.’ Another from a north London campaign office says ‘All our supporters are turning out. Busy polling stations.’
All the evidence suggests that the turn-out is up across London – among Tory supporters as well as Ken’s. In these circumstances we need a massive push in the next few hours to really get out the vote. Go to the events page to find out how to help, and make sure everyone you know who backs Ken is voting.
3.04pm
According to this Guardian blog, transport expert Christian Wolmar has added his name to those opposed to Boris Johnson becoming Mayor.
Christian says: “It would be an utter disaster having someone like Johnson as a figurehead for London – humiliating for all of us. Just imagine what he might have said after 7/7, for example. It doesn’t bear thinking about.”
Mind the gap …… in live blogging – I am heading from Westminster back home to help get out the vote, but will carry on posting reports as they come in once I am off the tube.
2.49pm
Dan, who’s in Chiswick campaigning there, has emailed us this great picture of a local shop. He says campaigning is going well there, with voters really positive, and turnout looking like it will be higher than in 2004.
2.26pm
Lisa, who is with Ken on the campaign trail has just texted me:
“Ken has arrived in Tottenham where he’s doing a walk about meeting voters. He has been stopped by loads of voters wishing him luck and there are plenty of car horns beeping in support as he goes. It’s all really encouraging.”
The election is going to be close – so second preference votes will really have an impact. The London Paper has printed a really useful guide. Have a look at it here.
2.14pm
Mary from Walthamstow has called in again and said that when Ken toured Walthamstow market – Europe’s longest – he got a really enthusiastic reception from shoppers of all ages and communities – a supporter sent the picture in below.
One woman ran up to hug Ken, telling the crowd that had gathered round him: “We don’t want none of that joke Boris Johnson, we just want Ken”. One market stall holder, selling fresh fish to shoppers told Ken he’d vote for him later in the day, as soon as he’d finished working.
1.36pm
Theo Blackwell, a Labour councillor in Camden tells us that there has been brisk voting in Haverstock, Camden Town, St.Pancras and Regent’s Park so far today. In other good news, there has been no Tory leafleting in the area and according to Theo, local Lib Dems have been urging voters to back Ken as their second preference to make sure the Tories don’t win.
Theo has a blog, which you can read here.
1.23pm
All the reports we’ve had in so far confirm that turnout is high.
Ken Livingstone campaign organisers are reporting high turnout in areas of strength such as Islington, Kentish Town, Walthamstow and Lewisham. Tory blogger Iain Dale is reporting high turnout in Tory areas such as Pimlico, Fulham and Bromley. We’ve had confirmation that it’s the same in Bromley.
It’s going to be tight – every vote will count.
1.11pm
From Kentish Town we’re told that voting has been very brisk this morning and is still steady now despite the middle of the day often being quiet at elections.
One Ken campaigner on the ground has emailed: “People we have knocked up know that it’s a very important election and the promises for Ken are good. There’s a steady stream of volunteers working and everywhere has been leafleted.”
The news is really encouraging. But if you’re reading this at work, there is something you can do to support Ken from where you are. Please send an e-card to your friends right now:
1.04pm
Following the Guardian’s fantastic four pages saying why Boris Johnson must not be elected, from individuals ranging from Vivienne Westwood and Alan Rickman to hip hop artist Ty and Dave Rowntree of Blur, the Standard has now published a number of new endorsements of Ken.
Among those who’ve come out for Ken are violinist Nigel Kennedy. And Terence Conran backs Ken with a second preference for Sian Berry, saying ‘Ken stands head and shoulders above the others and is by far the safest candidate.’
12.55pm
Teams of Ken supporters are out in Walthamstow according to Mary who’s campaigning locally.
She says, “we’re getting a great reception from commuters piling off the buses and on to the Tube. Ken went for a quick lunch at Walthamstow’s finest waffle house ‘Eat 17’ (melon fresh smoothie and red berry waffles) and is now back on the street – kissing babies!”
Haroon Siddique is live blogging for the Guardian today and has kindly linked across to us – his blog is well worth checking out.
12.32pm
Victoria from the campaign team has just called in – Ken is on his way to Walthamstow market to meet voters.
They’ve been in Stratford this morning where the response was very warm reception. Ken got the Tube there and then went to shopping centre where he met shoppers and workers – Victoria says there were hundreds of pictures taken.
When Ken was speaking to journalists, staff at Starbucks came out with cups of iced mocha’s for the thirsty campaigners.
Ken and the team jumped into black cabs to head for Walthamstow.
12.18pm
The Evening Standard has just arrived and the Standard’s own readers’ panel – who’ve been following the campaign throughout the last six weeks – have by a majority come out for Ken.
These readers have interviewed all the main candidates, and after examining the policies and the personalities, they have disregarded the Standard’s extraordinary campaign against Ken, and voted 4-2 for Ken to be re-elected. One reader goes for Sian as their first preference, and second preferences Ken – so its a 5-2 win really.
Emma Priestley, who says she’ll first preference Ken, and give her second vote to Sian says, “From speaking to all three candidates, Ken is the best guy for the job. I like Brian a lot, but I don’t think he’s got what it takes, while the thought of Boris Johnson being Mayor sends a shiver down my spine”.
12.04pm
Labour blogger and councillor Luke Akehurst emailed in from Hackney just after I’d posted the last comment, but its worth adding in. He says, “I have about 20 people out knocking up already, Stoke Newington high street has sprouted lots of purple posters. We’ve had reports of queues at some polling stations.”
11.45am
The Londonist blog has an excellent post urging voters to vote today. From speaking to people across the city, it sounds like turnout is going to be high everywhere.
In Kentish Town, they’ve had a “flurry” of people through the polling stations, while in Islington people are saying things are very steady. An email from Nick in Camberwell has just arrived too, and he says the response this morning was great.
Ken will be on course to win this election – but only if turnout is high. Everyone who wants this city to keep moving forward has to take ten minutes to cast their vote today.
11.27am
The LondonPaper’s John Dunne (pictured with Ken below, from this morning) is blogging election day today too. He’s just posted on the paper’s website that Ken is being mobbed by voters in Stratford this morning wishing him luck.
11am
Last night, PoliticalBetting.com reported that the Evening Standard would publish an opinion poll today suggesting that Boris Johnson was leading the election. Ken’s campaign sent a statement to the Standard, which is worth reading. It’s here.
10.40am
The papers make good reading for Ken supporters today.
The Independent has come out for a vote for Ken, suggesting that readers give their first preference to the Green candidate Sian Berry, and then cast their second preference to ensure Ken wins re-election.
Supporters of other candidates are also urging a second preference for Ken. Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem’s candidate in 2004 has suggested a second vote for Ken. According to the ever excellent Dave Hill, Hughes said, “Nobody who has not served London and worked for London in the past deserves to have the votes of Londoners or the top political job in London in the future.”
And last but not least, the Guardian’s G2 supplement is an absolute must-read today. The article’s intro gives a flavour of what is to follow: “Zoe Williams and other Londoners imagine what it would be like if this bigoted, lying, Old Etonian buffoon got his hands on our diverse and liberal capital”. Click here to read the whole thing.
9.40am
Ken voted an hour or so ago. The picture below is Ken speaking to a huge number of reporters and photographers outside the polling station.
Ken was in a fantastic mood – especially so as we walked past dozens of houses with “Vote Ken” posters in the windows. Speaking to reporters who have covered the race, they all agreed it was really too close to call either way. One just said “it’s down to whether you [Ken’s supporters] work harder than they do”.
7.20am
Today, we will be posting reports here from the across the city as Londoners head to polling stations to cast their votes. In this election, there is a real choice, and Ken has hundreds of supporters out across the city leafleting tube and rail stations reminding people to cast their ballots for the candidate who will keep moving London forward.
Ken needs as many people as possible to get out and campaign for him today, but you can still help out if you’re not able to volunteer. Click here to send your friends an e-card >>>
Ken’s campaign team will be updating this page throughout the day, so keep checking back.
Matthew, Ken’s campaign
