Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing a new challenge as one of his own MPs contemplates running as an independent in the London Mayoral race. Paul Scully, a Tory MP, is considering the move after being encouraged by fellow party members. This poses a fresh headache for the PM as he strives to secure a victory for his party.
Tory MP Paul Scully may run for Mayor of London as an independent
Paul Scully, a current Tory MP, is contemplating running for Mayor of London as an independent candidate. While he initially sought to be the Conservative party's candidate for the position, he did not make it to the final round of selection. Now, Scully is weighing his options and could potentially shake up the race as an independent contender.
The current Tory candidate, Susan Hall, has been mocked for her gaffe-prone campaign.
Susan Hall, the current Tory candidate for London Mayor, has faced criticism for her campaign blunders. Her missteps have become a source of mockery, raising concerns among party members. This has led some Tories to believe that Scully would be a stronger candidate and a better choice for Londoners.
A Tory source said: "It just feels like the Tories have given up on London. To be honest, Paul Scully remains far and away the best candidate and Londoners deserve the best. So obviously many of us are still pushing him to stand, even at this late stage."
Current Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan is the bookies' favourite to win.
Sadiq Khan, the current Labour Mayor of London, is the frontrunner according to bookmakers. However, Khan's implementation of the Ulez car pollution charge in outer London has made him unpopular among many voters. Some believe that if the Tory Party had a stronger candidate, they could have a real chance of winning in London.
One Labour party source commented: "We would be in serious trouble if the Tories had a better candidate."
Final nomination papers to decide who is in the race for City Hall are submitted next month.
The deadline for submitting nomination papers for the London Mayoral race is approaching next month. This will determine the final list of candidates vying for the position of Mayor of London.
Ex-minister Mr Scully, MP for Sutton in South West London, threw his hat into the ring to be the Conservative party London Mayor candidate last year.
Paul Scully, a former minister and current MP for Sutton in South West London, expressed his interest in becoming the Conservative party's candidate for London Mayor last year. However, he did not make it to the final round of selection.
Ms Hall was mocked last year after she claimed her wallet was pickpocketed on the Tube — only for a member of the public to return it with her cash in it.
Last year, Susan Hall faced ridicule when she claimed that her wallet had been pickpocketed on the Tube, only to have a member of the public return it with the cash still inside. This incident further added to the criticism surrounding her campaign.
Sadiq Khan is favourite to win the race to be London Mayor
