Personalities, backstories and the threat of Zac dominate Labour’s London mayoral race

The Evening Standard hosted a hustings for Labour’s mayoral candidacy last night and it appears the contest is being fought more over clichés than anything else. The six candidates opened by extolling their love of London: Diane Abbott (Stoke Newington MP) claimed London has suffered from ‘too much social cleansing’. Tessa Jowell (former Olympics minister the bookies’ favourite to win) said ‘the engine of our city must be constantly recharged’. Sadiq Khan (MP for Tooting) argued ‘London needs a modern Mayor for a modern city’.

David Lammy (MP for Tottenham) said ‘we need a mayor with a serious plan’. Gareth Thomas (MP for Harrow West) acknowledged that his campaign ‘isn’t the best financed, but as you can see, I’m the best looking candidate’. Christian Wolmar, transport columnist, the only non-MP in the race and arguably the most interesting candidate, said ‘instead of talking about my parentage, I’m going to talk about what I want to do.’

On policy, there was little to differentiate between them.