London - London mayoral candidate Mr Ken Livingstone last night pledged his support for the market economy in a speech to City financiers and business people.
In an attempt to shake off the "Red Ken" image he won as leader of the GLC, the MP admitted he had been wrong in the 1980s to believe central state planning was more dynamic than the market.
Since declaring as an independent candidate for the May 4th poll, Mr Livingstone has been attacked as anti-business by the Labour leadership and his rival Mr Frank Dobson.