In May 2000, Londoners voted for a directly elected mayor for the capital and for a separately elected assembly of 25 members. Subsequent elections will take place every four years
The Mayor of London sets key strategies on a range of London-wide issues, such as transport, economic development, strategic and spatial development and the environment. He also sets budgets for the GLA, Transport for London, the London Development Agency and the Metropolitan Police and London's fire services, and chairs Transport for London. The London Assembly scrutinises both the activities of the mayor and issues of concern to Londoners.
In elections for London's mayor, voters are required to mark both their first and second choices on their ballot papers. If, in the first round, no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the total votes cast, the second choices for the two leading candidates are added to their initial scores to decide the overall winner.
For the assembly elections, London is divided into 14 constituencies, whose members are elected using the 'first-past-the-post' system. A further 11 London-wide seats are allocated on a 'top-up' basis, whereby votes are counted across London and the seats are shared among the political parties in proportion to the votes each party receives.
Hounslow is in the south west constituency.
The elections for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly took place on 1 May 2008.
To get all the results as they come in visit the London Elects website from Friday evening.