About one million Londoners are expected to elect new councillors . Its largely ceremonial but it controls $ 23 billion budget . Front - runners are incumbent Conservative Boris Johnson and Labour 's Kenneth Clarke . Transport is key issue , especially design of city 's famous red buses .
About 6 million Londoners are voting to elect new mayor . Role largely ceremonial but mayor controls $ 23 billion budget . Front-runners are incumbent Conservative Boris Johnson and Labour 's Ken Livingstone . Transport is key issue , especially design of city 's famous red buses .