Stephen Greenhalgh, London’s deputy Mayor for policing and crime, has confirmed that he hopes to replace Boris Johnson as Mayor.
The former Hammersmith and Fulham council leader has proven a controversial figure since joining Mr Johnson’s team in 2012.
His tenure at City Hall got off to a bad start after he attempted to ban the London Assembly from questioning the Met Police commissioner and senior officers on behalf of Londoners.
AMs from all four parties, including his own Conservative colleagues, were scathing as he sat before them unable to answer many of their questions.
He was eventually overruled by the Mayor’s chief of staff, Sir Eddie Lister, who instructed that the Assembly would have access to all senior Met officers and any information they needed from the force.
Video: Stephen Greenhalgh appears before AMs for the first time
Mr Greenhalgh is the driving force behind plans to equip the Met with water cannon, despite lacking the support of the majority of Tory AMs.
Last month he was accused of seeking to get positive personal PR after u-turning on his own decision to sell Met owned residential properties, many of which are occupied by key workers.
Despite brushing off concerns raised by opposition AMs since March, Mr Greenhalgh claimed not to be aware of the nature of many tenants’ jobs.
Speaking to London Live, Mr Greenhalgh said: “It’s been an immense privilege working for Boris in the last two and a half years. I’ve enjoyed it more than I ever thought possible.
“But I’ve decided today to announce the fact that I want to succeed Boris in 2016. I’m putting my name forward.”
There are two other declared Tory candidates – entrepreneur Ivan Massow and London Assembly member Andrew Boff who also ran in 2008.
