Ken Livingstone (54)
Forced to choose between the party he loves and "upholding the democratic rights of Londoners", Ken Livingstone (54), has chosen London. The MP who invented the Loony Left, according to the former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, will now be cast out of the party which has been his political home for more than 30 years.
Livingstone's relationship with the Labour leadership post May 1997, now in tatters, could never be described as cosy. Laughed off as "Red Ken" and "Cuddly Ken" by his political opponents within and beyond New Labour, Livingstone has been a threat to Tony Blair's devolution dream ever since Labour announced its plans to create a mayor for London.
He battled his way on to the shortlist of candidates against the opposition of Blair and the Millbank militia only to lose to Frank Dobson despite winning the majority of votes. Now the former GLC leader, who once predicted he had "a horrible feeling Britain isn't ready for me yet", will have to draw on his considerable charisma and popularity with Londoners for what will be a bitter fight against the Labour leadership.
On the key issue of the Tube, Livingstone opposes the Labour government's plans for a public-private finance initiative. He says he will do "everything in my power" as mayor to keep the Tube in the public sector.