A new YouGov poll commissioned by the Evening Standard reveals Tottenham MP David Lammy has taken second place in the race to become Labour’s mayoral candidate, narrowly overtaking rival Sadiq Khan.
Khan’s team have spent months briefing that the contest is a two-horse race between him and former London and Olympics minister Dame Tessa Jowell who polling has consistently put in first place. However today’s poll shows the Tooting MP has been knocked into third place among party members asked to name their preferred candidate to replace Boris Johnson next May.
Support for Mr Lammy has risen seven points since YouGov’s previous poll to put him on 22%, one point ahead of Khan. Among all voters the pair are tied on 18% each with Lammy’s support in this group rising 4 points against a 2 point increase for Khan.
Dame Tessa remains in pole-position with the backing of 37% of Labour members and 38% of the public at large.
Today’s poll shows Lammy’s bid is picking up much-needed momentum after months of him being squeezed by the media’s focus on Jowell and Khan.
It’ll also be a blow to Khan who just weeks ago boasted he was “neck-and-neck” with Dame Tessa.
Speaking to the New Statesman last month, he said: “I’m confident that over the next few weeks and months I’ll show that I’m not only the only candidate that can win, I’m winning for a purpose.”
According to YouGov’s poll, that confidence risks looking misplaced.
