Jenny Jones to run for London mayor in 2012 election
Jenny Jones has been selected as the Green Party's London mayoral candidate.
Ms Jones will go up against Labour's Ken Livingstone and Conservative incumbent Boris Johnson at the 2012 election after winning 67% of the vote.
After the result was announced Ms Jones said: "London needs a mayor who will create a fairer city and reduce the gap between rich and the poor."
Meanwhile Liberal Democrat Lembit Opik said his party must choose a candidate soon to avoid damaging its chances.
The former MP wants to stand in the mayoral race but he must first win the support of his party.
A spokesman for the London Lib Dems said they were very confident they would have enough time to run a successful campaign in May when they announce their candidate.
He said: "We have had a selection process and were not able to find a suitable candidate to fit the criteria.
"However, we are planning another round and section process and will announce the result in May after the local elections."
Jenny Jones fought off competition from Shahrar Ali and Farid Bakht to win what she described as a genuine contest.
She said: "These are hard times for people who care about quality services, local businesses, and protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities."
And she pledged to make fighting cuts to housing benefit, the NHS and youth services a key part of her mayoral campaign.
"Unlike elections for parliament or local councils, the elections for the London Assembly are held under proportional representation. That means every vote counts.
"I'll be urging Londoners to use their vote to elect more Green Assembly Members next year," she said.
Ms Jones was first elected to the London Assembly in May 2000 and has served as Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Assembly's Planning and Housing Committee.