Livingstone: Olympics must be a success so I can win a fourth term
Ken Livingstone has vowed to ensure the London Olympics are delivered on time to enable him to continue as Mayor until at least 2016.
He believes the best way of winning a fourth term in May 2012, assuming he is re-elected next year, is by making a success of the Olympic preparations.
Mr Livingstone made clear his enthusiasm for the job of Mayor, saying he works long hours because of the enjoyment it provides, and has no plans to retire. "I'm loving every minute of it and I would love to carry on until I drop," he said.
"I'm running for re-election next year and I would very much hope to run for re-election in
2012. This is a most wonderful job. It's absolutely brilliant to be Mayor of a great world city.
"When I was leader of the Greater London Council [in the Eighties] I was managing a city in decline. It's much more fun to be managing one that is growing." Addressing a London Chamber of Commerce meeting last night at City Hall, he added: "I have two elections - next May and May 2012. Once I get over next May I will start thinking about May 2012.
"I know bloody well if the Olympics isn't ready by May 2012 I won't get a fourth term. That is a real constraint on me."
Mr Livingstone, who will be 62 this year, joked that he would return to the after- dinner speech-making circuit when he left City Hall and "earn as much money as David Blunkett and Boris Johnson".
He complained that his £136,677 salary was inadequate and resulted in the Tories struggling to find a suitable candidate to challenge him next year.
Today he will attend a meeting of the Olympic board, which will focus on the legacy of the 2012 Games and the cost of the main 80,000-seat stadium.
Originally budgeted in London's bid at £280million, there have been reports saying that the contractors, led by McAlpine, put the cost nearer £630million. This has fuelled speculation that only one side of the stadium will have a roof.
Mr Livingstone, who mistakenly thought the stadium was being built by another bidder, Laing, said: "We are now negotiating with Laings about the exact form of the stadium, getting it down to a budget we can afford."
He admitted he only backed the Olympic bid because hosting the Games would regenerate a deprived part of east London. The Games will now cost in excess of £10 billion, more than three times original estimates.
"We didn't bid for the Olympic Games because I liked sport," he said. "I have never been to a sports event in my life. The nearest I get to sport is a rowdy Labour party conference."
