Mr Johnson is one of the best known figures in UK politics

 

Boris Johnson is to enter the race to be the Conservative candidate for London mayor in next year's election.

 

Mr Johnson, one of the best-known MPs, has confirmed that he wants to take on Labour's Ken Livingstone.

 

He said he had been "overwhelmed" by the support he had received. He has resigned as a shadow minister, but he is to remain MP for Henley.

 

Mr Johnson is likely to face a number of rivals to be Conservative candidate. The deadline for hopefuls was noon.

 

In a statement, Mr Johnson said: "I have been overwhelmed by the support I have received from so many people across London."

 

'Fresh ideas'

 

He added: "London is an outstandingly varied and beautiful place and it deserves a proper debate. I want to bring fresh ideas to the capital and offer a new direction for Londoners.

 

"I believe that the Mayor of London should keep things simple and direct his or her intellectual energy at the core problems that affect people's everyday lives."

 

If he is shortlisted as the Tory candidate, he said he would put forward detailed proposals later in the summer.

 

"Even the greatest cities have further greatness in them. I will stand for a greater London and for putting the smile back on London's face," said Mr Johnson.

 

The confirmation brings to an end a long search by the Conservatives for a big name candidate with a realistic chance of beating Ken Livingstone.

 

High profile

 

Previous possible runners have included Greg Dyke, Digby Jones, Nick Ferrari, Lord Stevens and Sir John Major.

 

Mr Livingstone - who was elected London's first mayor as an independent and then won a second term after being allowed back into the Labour Party - has said he wants a third term.

 

Like Mr Johnson the current mayor is a politician with a high media and public profile.

 

To enter the official race next year Mr Johnson will first have to win over voters in London to become the Conservative candidate.

 

In April the party set out a five-month timetable to find a candidate - shortlisting applicants to go on to an "open primary" - with all Londoners on the electoral roll being allowed to vote.

 

A Conservative Party spokeswoman said the party would not comment on Mr Johnson's application - or the more than 40 other contenders who have applied to be the party's candidate.

 

'Electric' contest

 

But Tory MP Ed Vaizey,who is close to Mr Johnson and Mr Cameron, said a contest between Mr Johnson and Mr Livingstone would be "electric" and would boost voter turnout.

 

"Boris finds it quite hard to resist a challenge and I think taking on Ken would be the kind of 'big beast' challenge that would be very attractive to Boris," he told the BBC.

 

The deadline to apply to be the Conservative mayoral candidate is noon, but the party says it will not name candidates yet - it will be up to them to promote themselves.

 

They will be considered by a committee who will put forward about ten candidates for interview by an electoral college of London Conservatives this weekend.

 

A shortlist will be drawn up of between two and five candidates to go forward to an "open primary" of all London voters, closing on 26 September.

 

The winner is likely to be announced at the end of September.

 

Mr Johnson had been shadow higher education minister before launching his mayoral bid, and was previously editor of the Spectator magazine.

 

He has been a frequent guest on television shows such as Have I Got News for You, and has come under fire in Liverpool and Portsmouth for critical comments he made about the cities.

 

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