The cynicism of picking Idris Elba for London mayor

Could Idris Elba, the film star and anti-knife crime campaigner, be in the running to be Labour candidate for London mayor? He is rumoured to be the party’s top choice to replace Sir Sadiq Khan, who is expected to stand down ahead of the next London mayoral election, likely to take place in 2028. Could he? Would he? Why would someone as rich and famous as Elba – as close as it comes to a genuine box office star – throw it all away for the chance to be the capital’s political top dog? Are long meetings at City Hall discussing the congestion charge that interesting?

Labour bigwigs say Idris is ‘top of our wish list’ to be the next candidate for City Hall. A senior party source, positively salivating at the prospect, told the Sun newspaper: ‘We can pick a Labour insider and try to make them famous.