Ken announces his 'inclusive' cabinet

Tony Blair's got one. William Hague's got one. And now, despite their best efforts, Ken Livingstone is choosing his. The independent new Mayor of London spent yesterday making key appoint-ments of the men and women who will help him lead London.

Mr Livingstone has made "inclusivity" the watchword of his fledgling administration, but it remains to be seen whether the Tory Steve Norris and the Liberal Democrat Susan Kramer will accept the hand of mayoral patronage. His defeated Labour rival, Frank Dobson, has already indicated he won't.

In a clear sign that Labour may have decided they are better off pulling with Mr Livingstone than against him, Nicky Gavron, the Labour GLA member for Enfield and Haringey agreed yesterday to become the Deputy Mayor.

Ms Gavron was recently appointed by John Prescott to the independent commission for integrated transport and has worked with London community groups for 30 years.

Lord (Toby) Harris of Haringey, 46, was named as the chairman of police. Blairite Lord Harris is a loyalist who was rewarded with a life peerage in 1998 and has been the chairman of the Association of London Government and leader of Haringey council since 1987. He is married, with two teenage sons and a baby daughter .

The Liberal Democrat peer Graham Tope, a party hero when he secured the Sutton and Cheam seat at 29 for his party at a 1972 by-election, will be the chair of the fire and civil defence office. And Green mayoral hopeful Darren Johnson will take the environment brief.

The rest of the nine Labour members on the assembly will be left to decide for themselves whether to take up posts if they are offered them and many may choose to adopt "scrutiny" roles, keeping tabs on the work of the London Mayor.

A Labour source said: "It is up to the GLA group to decide. All we would say is that as a party and a Government they should think long and hard about the implications and think long and hard about the relationships.

"The key thing is making this work for London. It's not about giving Ken a bloody nose, it's what's best for London."

Mr Livingstone, at his first official press conference as Mayor on Friday, signalled his intention to include all parties in the running of London.

"The job of the mayor is to unite all of the capital so I will immediately be taking measures to involve all parties in the government of the city," he said. "The process of consultation has already begun."

But after his conservative start, Mr Livingstone will also have the power to select people for key positions whether they won seats on the Assembly or not.

As Mayor, Mr Livingstone will be in charge of London's transport, policing, economic regeneration, culture and planning - all funded from a £3.6bn budget.

Mr Dobson, he said, would be offered the post of "poverty tsar", and other names touted for jobs include the gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and anti-racism activist Lee Jasper.

Broadcaster Trevor Phillips, who was Frank Dobson's running mate, is also understood to be under consideration for a post despite a run-in with Mr Livingstone during Labour's internal contest when he accused the leftwinger of being racist and patronising by offering him the post of deputy mayor.

Tomorrow Mr Livingstone will start earning £75,136 a year, his deputy will receive £51,743 and the Assembly members get £34,438 each.