Labour’s David Lammy today has announced he will stand in the race to be the next Mayor of London.
The Tottenham MP became the first Labour politician to announce his candidacy for the battle to succeed Boris Johnson in 2016.
The former Minister, who would be the first black mayor if he wins, said he wanted a London of “opportunity for all”.
His surprise declaration was provoked a backlash from some Labour politicians who claim he should have waited until after the 2015 general election.
“This is desperate. What does he say to his constituents in Tottenham? That he is fighting to win the general election or fighting to be Mayor?” said one London MP.
Mr Lammy is first of a string of Labour heavyweights expected to run for the Mayoralship. They include shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan, former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, Diane Abbott MP and, possibly, Margaret Hodge, the feisty chair of the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr Lammy, the son of immigrants who grew up on the Broadwater Farm estate in his constituency, said: “the kind of mayoralty I want is one that extends to all Londoners.
“At its best this is a city of opportunity, as it was for my parents. But I worry whether that prosperity is now available to everyone.”
Setting out his agenda, he called for building on parts of the greenbelt, rent controls to protect tenants and more affordable homes.
“A significant lack of homes is now a critical issue for the future of London and a problem that requires a bold solution.
“We are facing some complex and contentious issues, which require a grown up and serious debate – issues like how we reclassify greenbelt land that doesn’t live up to its name and changing how we define affordability.
“It’s big issues like this that will define the future of London and working on this has led me to declare my intention to run for Mayor of London,” he said.
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