Green Party member to run for London mayor to improve air quality

A member of the Green Party has announced she will run for the role of mayor of London in an attempt to change environmental legislation and improve the capital's air quality.

Jenny Jones is set to campaign against Boris Johnson who is currently in the position for the Conservative Party, as well as the previous mayor Ken Livingstone, representing Labour.

Ms Jones said she is hoping to be adopted as her party's candidate of choice next year after members of the group formally take a ballot in March 2011.

She stated that her desire to take on the role stems from London "desperately" needing "the green measures that a Green mayor would introduce for a cleaner, safer city".

The MP added that if she is chosen for the job she intends to invest in public transport, increase the supply of affordable homes and clean up the city's air pollution.

Earlier this week, Green Party leader Caroline Lucas outlined the intentions of the group for 2011, saying that the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition has brought "fresh assaults on the environment, whether from proposed nuclear power stations [or] increases in rail fares".

Posted by Lauren Steadman