On Sunday Tuffrey told the BBC’s Politics Show he would be seeking his party’s nomination, pitching him against former MP Lembit Opik who lost his Montgomeryshire seat in last year’s General Election.
Tuffrey is the longest serving of the three Lib Dem members on the London Assembly and is a former GLC and Lambeth councillor.
Speaking ahead of the launch Tuffrey said it was “time for serious solutions to the big challenges we face if London is to remain a great city to live, work and raise a family in over the next decade.”
Mr Tuffrey was joined at the launch by the 2000 Lib Dem Mayoral candidate, Baroness Susan Kramer as well as former Assembly Member Baroness Sally Hamwee and retiring AM Baroness Dee Doocey.
The would-be Mayoral candidate has issued a “personal five point action plan” detailing what Londoners could expect if he won next year:
- more, better and cheaper housing
- investment in transport to keep London moving
- action for jobs and a challenge to big business to pay fair wages
- protect neighbourhood policing and promote youth opportunities
- clean air and healthy London
Speaking at the launch, Tuffrey said he was confident of winning the nomination and believed he could secure the Mayoralty.
Nominations in the selection close on June 17th after which the party will hold a series of hustings.
All members in London will be entitled to a vote in the ballot to select the candidate and the winner will be announced on August 12th.
The party will be looking to improve on its performance at the 2008 election when its share of the vote fell by over 5.11% from the previous election.
