Ken Livingstone has been confirmed as the Labour candidate to run for Mayor of London in 2008.

Reacting to the news Mr Livingstone said he was "grateful for this opportunity to once more build upon the positive agenda for London".

Mr Livingstone explained that each candidate must focus on three main areas in their election campaign - London's economy must continue to be successful, second, all Londoners must be able to participate in our city's success, both to achieve social justice and to guarantee a decent quality of life for everyone and third, this success must be sustainable in the long term - which means above all dealing with climate change."

And Mr Livingstone has already started laying the ground work for a political scrap between Labour and Conservative over free travel for under-18-year-olds on buses.

He said: "In this election there will be a straight fight between the progressive policies of my administration and Conservative plans to end free bus travel for under-18s and reduce pressure for more affordable housing.

"I will be defending the international openness which has helped London overtake New York as the world's most successful financial centre. That means showing no tolerance to any form of racism or intolerance not only because it is socially just but because it is economically efficient.

"These will be the central areas of conflict with the Tories in London."

Thursday's confirmation that Ken Livingstone will stand in 2008 contrasts with the crisis in the Conservative Party. The Tories have already delayed their selection process for Mayor once. Recent events have shown that David Cameron has no confidence in the ability of his members to choose an effective candidate.

Liberal Democrats have delayed selecting a candidate after failing to come up with any senior figures willing to stand against Ken Livingstone.

Mr Livingstone also made clear that stopping the BNP from being elected to the London Assembly would be an election priority.

He said: "Racism will be the policy which the British National Party will use to try to win their first ever seats in the London Assembly.

"The election of open racists to the London Assembly would be a blow to London's international reputation and undermine the good community relations which make life so much better throughout the city. The best way to stop tiny unrepresentative groups of racists being elected is for every Londoner to turn out to vote no matter which party they choose to support."

Len Duvall AM, Chair of the London Labour Party, said: "With Ken ready to stand in 2008 the contrast with the Tories could not possibly be clearer.

"Only a couple of weeks ago David Cameron was stabbing his candidates in the back by trying to ditch them in favour of Greg Dyke. Whoever is selected as the Tory candidate will be damaged from the start as their leader's second choice after Cameron's botched attempt to ditch them."