Turnout was 49 per cent of Party members in London - higher than the previous Mayoral selection ballot. Mr Norris will make his debut campaign appearance alongside Iain Duncan Smith at Smithfield Market on Monday 17 February, as part of the Conservative campaign against Ken Livingstone's new congestion tax.

Mr Norris concluded, “I have the experience to get London moving again. But my top priority as Mayor of London will be to make the capital a safer place to live and work. I will be a Mayor for the whole of London, and campaign to improve the quality of life for everyone in all London’s 33 Boroughs, rich or poor, black or white.”

Roger Evans, runner-up in the ballot added, “I enthusiastically urge all London Conservatives to campaign for Steve to become the next Mayor of London - and help remove Ken Livingstone. Steve will make a great candidate.”

James Davenport, Chairman of Torch, welcomed Steve's selection. "Steve Norris will make an excellent Mayor of London. He has always supported London's communities, including the gay community. His top priority is making London a safe place to live - particularly important to the gay community when hate crime is rising under Labour.

"The most important thing to remember is that there is only one person who can beat Livingstone: Steve Norris. Not the Liberal candidate, not the Labour candidate - only Steve."