LONDON ASSEMBLY: Winner Coleman's astonishing attack on rival

VICTORIOUS Tory candidate Brian Coleman launched a bewildering personal attack on his Labour rival Nicky Gavron, after winning the Barnet and Camden London Assembly seat.

After hearing he had collected 17,693 more votes than Ms Gavron, who is Ken Livingstone's deputy mayor, Mr Coleman appeared furious while delivering his acceptance speech.

He said: "Tonight has proved one thing. You can import candidates from outside our A to Z but it doesn't make a blind bit of difference. I say to the deputy mayor her hands are dripping with blood from carrying the Olympic torch and she can take her A to Z back to Haringey because the people of Barnet and Camden have rejected her. She says I had bling well the King of Bling is back and proud to represent the people of Barnet and Camden."

Ms Gavron stood by open mouthed as Coleman delivered his tirade. He then stormed out escorting his mother out of the building.

Mr Coleman refused to comment.

When asked about his bizarre reaction to holding onto the Barnet and Camden seat his spokesman said: "Oh he's just tired. It has been a long day."

Brian Coleman, Conservative Party: 70,659

Nicky Gavron, Labour: 52,966

Miranda Dunn, Green Party: 16,782

Nick Russell, Liberal Democrats: 22,213

Clement Adebayo, Christian Peoples Alliance and Christian Party: 3,536

Graham Dare, Veritas: 510

Dave Hoefling, Left List: 2,074

Magnus Nielsen, UK Independence Party: 3,678

David Stevens, English Democrats: 2,146

2004 Result

Brian Coleman, Conservative Party: 47,640 - 33.41% 11,519 majority

Lucy Anderson, Labour Party: 36,121 25.34%

Jonathan Simpson, Liberal Democrats: 23,603, 16.56%

Miranda Dunn, Green Party: 11,921, 8.36%

Magnus Nielsen, UK Independence Party: 8,685, 6.09%

Elisabeth Wheatley, Respect: 5,150, 3.61%

Humberto Heliotrope, Christian Peoples Alliance: 1,194, 1.34%