• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Tories announce four-strong shortlist in Mayoral selection

July 25, 2015 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

Top to Bottom: Zac Goldsmith, Syed Kamal, Andrew Boff and Stephen Greenhalgh are on the shortlist
Top to Bottom: Zac Goldsmith, Syed Kamall, Andrew Boff and Stephen Greenhalgh are on the shortlist
London Assembly member Andrew Boff, Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith, Stephen Greenhalgh, London’s deputy mayor for policing, and MEP Syed Kamall are to compete to become the Conservative’s 2016 Mayoral candidate.

While Mr Goldsmith is widely regarded as the front runner due to his cross-party appeal he could face stiff competition from Andrew Boff, the party’s leader on the Assembly, and Mr Greenhalgh who is the only candidate to have executive experience at City Hall.

Perhaps less well known to most Londoners, Mr Kamall has represented the capital in the European Parliament since 2005 where he’s been Leader of the Conservative group. He previously stood in the inaugural London Assembly election in 2000.

The party revealed the four-strong shortlist on Saturday, ending the mayoral ambitions of footballer Sol Campbell, entrepreneur Ivan Massow and Westminster council leader Philippa Roe.

Speaking after the shortlist was revealed, Mr Goldsmith said he was “thrilled” to make it through to the next stage of the contest while Mr Kamall promised to run “on a platform of ambition, opportunity & enterprise.”

Last month it was announced that party bosses would draw up a shortlist of possible candidates before opening up the selection process to party members and non-members who can pay a £1 registration fee to take part.

All four of the successful contenders will now take part in a series of hustings ahead of the vote to select a final candidate, the result of that ballot is expected to be announced in September.

London regional chairman Ian Twinn said: “We have four excellent candidates who will now campaign across London over the summer before all Londoners will get the opportunity to vote in our primary in September.”

The decision not to put Philippa Roe on the shortlist has prompted criticism from Labour’s Dame Tessa Jowell who is widely expected to win her party’s selection.

Dame Tessa said: “It is extraordinary that Tory central office believe that they have no women who are fit even to be considered to be their candidate for Mayor of London.

“London is a modern, open city built on diversity, it’s time the Conservatives caught up.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Tagged With: 2016 London Elections

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2022 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.