Ex-Shadow Equalities Minister Dawn Butler has revealed she will run for London Mayor in 2028 if Sir Sadiq Khan confirms that he intends to step down at the end of his third term.
Butler, who first entered the House of Commons in 2005, has already been laying the groundwork for her campaign woo Londoners.
The Brent East MP has shared videos of her highlighting issues outside of her constituency, including in Notting Hill and Canary Wharf.
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However, Ms Butler took a step closer to officially entering the race after appearing in an episode of The Mirror's web series, Party Games.
When asked if she would rather become Prime Minister or London Mayor, the 55-year-old said: “London Mayor, to represent London. I’m a Londoner through and through, born in East London.
“Just having London the way I have experienced it and seen it and just making London wonderful for everyone and everyone being proud of London and being a Londoner… Yeah, I’d love to be a Mayor of London.”
After being pushed on whether she would run in 2028, Ms Butler added: “Once there’s a vacancy, I will pop my hat in the ring.”
There have been reports that Labour is compiling a star-studded of potential celebrities to take over from Sir Sadiq, including Luther star Idris Elba and Dragon's Den icon Deborah Meaden.
Labour MP puts pressure on Sadiq Khan to step down as London Mayor as race blown wide open | PA
However, it is still not yet known if Sir Sadiq will step down from City Hall.
The 54-year-old, who sat as the MP for Tooting from 2005 to 2016, has won a historic three terms as London Mayor, surpassing the previous record shared by Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson of two terms.
Despite defeating Zac Goldsmith in 2016, Shaun Bailey in 2021, and Susan Hall in 2024, Sir Sadiq divides opinion across the capital.
Concerns about crime and opposition to the Mayor's carbon-cutting Ulez expansion has fuelled much of the discontent, particularly along London's outer boroughs.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Dawn Butler, MP for Brent East at a reception during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool
|PA
However, Sir Sadiq has not yet confirmed his plans for 2028, with City Hall instead insisting: “Sadiq hasn’t decided yet if he’s standing again at the next mayoral election."
A spokesman for the London Mayor added: “This is the same as the last election cycle when he didn’t announce his decision until much later in the mayoral term.”
Ms Butler's announcement will seemingly put pressure on Sir Sadiq to make a decision sooner rather than later.
Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan, Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy and Vauxhall MP Florence Eshalomi have also been earmarked as potential Labour candidates.
Dawn Butler during the Labour leadership hustings at the SEC centre, Glasgow
|PA
There has also been speculation that the Tories could put forward ex-Olympian Sebastian Coe or former London Minister Paul Scully.
However, former Apprentice star Thomas Skinner is also considered a potential Conservative candidate given his close relationship with Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick.
Despite Reform UK widely being expected to put forward ex-soldier Ant Middleton, ex-Tory Councillor Laila Cunningham is now being tipped as Nigel Farage's preferred candidate.
Opinion polls suggest that Labour is still significantly ahead of its main rivals across London, albeit with a much smaller lead compared to 2024.
London Mayoral Election results and opinion polls since 2000
|GB NEWS
Polling gurus at Savanta put Labour's support on 35 per cent, 12-points ahead of the Tory Party on 23 per cent.
The Liberal Democrats and Reform UK were level-pegging on 14 per cent, leaving the Greens in fifth place on 11 per cent.
However, Find Out Now suggests a more significant surge for Reform UK, jumping from just 3.1 per cent in 2024 to 20 per cent.
Such a scenario would put Reform UK in joint-second with the Tories and just 13 per cent behind Labour.
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