Why does the skin colour of London’s next Mayor matter one toss, Margaret Hodge?

Shocking news belatedly reaches me that the Labour MP Margaret Hodge has pulled out of the race to become the next Mayor of London. I am not sure how London will cope without this colossus, but there we are. She said: ‘I actually think the time is right for us to have a non-white mayor.’

Oh, DO you, actually? Is it possible to be more patronising than this? Why does the colour of a candidate’s skin matter one toss, you privately-educated, minted offspring of a multi-millionaire? It may well be that the best Labour candidate for mayor – David Lammy – happens to be black. But to suggest one should vote for him on account of his skin colour is repulsive and, I would suggest, racist.

Mind you, I couldn’t give a monkey’s who ends up Mayor of London, if I’m honest. Jihadi John, Rolf Harris, Dominique Strauss-Kahn – none of them would surprise me or interest me that much. London – you’re welcome to it.