Simon Hughes beat off stiff competition from others

Simon Hughes is the Liberal Democrat candidate in the race to become London Mayor, the party has announced.

The announcement completes the line-up of major party contenders for the 2004 election.

The MP for Bermondsey and Southwark North beat off stiff competition from Susan Kramer, who came fourth in the last mayoral election, and the deputy chair of the party's federal executive Donnachadh McCarthy,

Nicky Gavron is standing for the Labour party and the Conservative candidate is Steve Norris.

All three will take on current mayor Ken Livingstone, who is expected to stand as an independent in next year's poll.

They are likely to be joined by a host of fringe party candidates.

The Lib Dem's home affair spokesman came out on top after the postal votes of Lib Dem members in London were counted on Wednesday.

He took almost 63% of the vote.