‘Men wanted for hazardous journey… Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success.’ Ernest Shackleton’s supposed plea for explorers on his Antarctic expedition would nicely double up as the job advert for the Tory London mayoral candidate. CCHQ formally opened applications yesterday but there seems to be a lack of early frontrunners.
Indeed, Labour’s 40-point poll lead in the capital means that there appears to be more people who have ruled themselves out than ruled themselves in, including Karren Brady, Tom Tugendhat, Iain Dale, George Osborne and Ed Vaizey. So far the only declared contenders are Samuel Kasumu, a former adviser to Boris Johnson, and the Assembly trio of Susan Hall, Nick Rogers and (inevitably) Andrew Boff. Paul Scully, the minister for London, and Daniel Korski, a onetime No. 10 aide, could join the fray too, with Tory backbencher Kit Malthouse not ruling himself out either.
Applications will close on 24 May, when the candidates will be whittled down to eight – if they can get that many – plus two reserves. On 4 June, a shortlisting committee will then select two or three final candidates, who will take part in hustings events, before voting opens to members in London between 4 July and 18 July. The lucky winner will then be announced on 19 July, after party members in London have had the chance to select from two or three finalists.
Let’s just hope it’s a competitive election…
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