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Former home secretary Alan Johnson emerged as a possible challenger to Boris Johnson today as Labour decided to select its 2012 mayoral candidate by the autumn.
The party fired the starting gun for its selection process after its ruling National Executive Committee voted to have a candidate installed before the end of the year. Mr Johnson, a “born and bred” Londoner and a former postman in the capital, is being urged by friends to run for City Hall.
He is one of several big hitters from the Blair-Brown Cabinets who could step forward to take on the Mayor. Former work and pensions secretary James Purnell is also being touted as a contender, and former mayor Ken Livingstone, who was defeated in 2008, is almost certain to stand for selection.
With the 2012 race taking place at a time when the Cameron-Clegg coalition could be suffering mid-term blues, Labour believes it has a good chance of recapturing City Hall.
The prize for the winner of the mayoral election is to host the 2012 Olympics in July that year — 10 weeks after taking office in May.
Labour wants to get a candidate in place this year to give them plenty of time to scrutinise and oppose the current City Hall regime.
After deciding to opt out of the Labour leadership race and back David Miliband, Mr Johnson said it was time for the “next generation” of politicians to take up the fight against the Conservatives nationally. But his media skills could make him a formidable contender for the London mayoralty.
Brought up by his teenage sister after his mother died, Mr Johnson lived in poverty in Notting Hill before going on to lead the postal workers' union and being elected to Parliament. He also served as health secretary and work and pensions secretary.
Labour hopes that ousting Boris Johnson would give the party a springboard for the next general election.
The Mayor has yet to commit himself to running for a second term and some senior Tories believe he may yet try to return to the Commons and line himself up as a successor to David Cameron.
Some Labour insiders even speculate that Boris would step down to make way for another Tory candidate — possibly deputy mayor Kit Malthouse — if Mr Johnson decided to run against him.
A key obstacle to any national ambitions for the current Mayor is that he would have to rely on a by-election in the next year to return to Parliament.
Mr Livingstone still has supporters within the London Labour Party and trade unions, but some MPs want a fresher face. Mr Purnell, who stood down as an MP at the election, is an arch Blairite who at one stage was seen as a possible future Labour leader.
Labour challengers for London crown
Alan Johnson: Former home secretary and postie, has envied media skills and “100% Londoner” credentials
David Lammy: Shadow universities minister and Harvard Law School graduate
Jon Cruddas: Smashed BNP in Dagenham, backed by activists in deputy leader race in 2007
Ken Livingstone: Ex-mayor and GLC leader, still has following in the London Labour Party
James Purnell: Former work and pensions secretary. Arch moderniser who oversaw the 2012 Olympics at DCMS
Lord Sugar: An outsider, given his baptism of fire in the Lords and would face compromise with television work
Reader views (23)
No contest. It's either going to be Boris Johnson or Ken Livingstone at the next Mayoral election and I will vote for one of those.
- Nicky, London, 02/09/2010 00:47
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What about Robin Wales Newham mayor, biggest swing to Labour in the country
- mike lawman, e12 london, 31/05/2010 09:49
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Johnson is the wettest of wet blankets I have ever seen. He also has a most annoying tick with scratching and wringing his hands in his palms. No good for London.
- albert hall, hove england, 25/05/2010 16:48
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The "Desirable Job Qualifications" for a LONDON MAYOR are not analogous to those of a Circus-Clown.
BORIS would be well-advised, to lessen his demeanour as a BUFFOON and BOMBAST.
'ST. LONDON' Comments -"..and the remaining SANE 90% can vote for Boris".
BORIS: who has indulged himself, in spending millions on an un-necessary 'New' Route-master;
Causing further road-congestion by the abandonment of BENDY-BUSES for DOUBLE-DECKERS that carry 50%-less Passengers. An expensive exercise that will be wasteful of more millions;
DEPRIVING Tfl of £55 million from next December, once the extension of the C-Zone is halted;
Is it SANE, to ignore CONGESTION?
- Edward Macmillan, Finchley, 25/05/2010 01:10
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The fact is Labour did very well in London and had it repeated the same in the rest of the country Gordon Brown would still be Prime Minister!!
As to the 2012 Mayoral Contest then Ken has to be the right choice given that he polled more than a million votes at the last mayoral election despite the daily campaign waged against him.
As for Boris still no sign of any consultation on the Western C-Charge Zone while schemes he cancelled in haste like the Thames Gateway Bridge now haunt him whenever the blackwall tunnel has to be closed with no alternative in sight.
As for bendy buses they should have been allocated to long straight routes and seen as a stepping stone to trams and light railways but the problem is unlike Ken Boris simply has no vision of the future living in some time locked world where he would be more suited to playing Mr Chips in an Oxford University.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 18/05/2010 19:43
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nicely spoken London lass.
James from Camden - I hope you haven't used you GLA address to post this comment.
At least they are thinking about it - but not ken please - prefered him as mayor - but move on - you've had your time London wants to move forward. It would only be a humilitating loss if he stood.
- jc, se1, 18/05/2010 18:49
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I fail to believe anyone who thinks Ken should run again does not carry the surname "livingstone". even if they do sign their name marshall.
that said, free country and all that so if Alan Johnson wants to stand where's the problem?
Wouldn't fancy his chances, but he's entitled to try.
- scotty, london, 18/05/2010 17:13
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They are indeed a pair of Johnsons.
- Keith, King's Cross, 18/05/2010 16:59
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What has Boris done? He's made me feel proud to be a Londoner again and he often puts a smile on my face. Two priceless achievements which were not even on Livingstone's list, let alone anywhere near the top.
- ST, London, 18/05/2010 15:27
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Vote for Johnson- you know it makes sense!
- M Miguel, Old Isleworth, London, England, 18/05/2010 15:14
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Will the contest be sponsored by Johnson & Johnson then?
- Guy, London, 18/05/2010 14:44
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What has Boris done apart from scrapping bendy buses and other transport projects, and commissioning the ridiculous Borismaster and Mittal tower?
If Boris wants to be re elected, he needs to start chalking up some concrete achievements QUICKLY.
Alan Johnson comes across as likeable and moderate, and has extensive high level government experience. Definitely the best option for Labour if he can be persuaded to stand.
- Kev, London, 18/05/2010 14:38
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Postman Pat can be accused of many things."Media skills" are not in that list.Bland,empty and dim ... yes.
- paula DOFF, Filey UK, 18/05/2010 14:33
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When you say "big hitters", you mean people who clearly have no hope of standing for the party leadership, which means people even less impressive than Ed Balls and the Flying Milliband Brothers. I think Boris can sleep easy.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 18/05/2010 13:46
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This is great news - all the communists can vote for Livingstone, all the looney lefties can vote for Postman Pat and the remaining sane 90% can vote for Boris!
- ST, London, 18/05/2010 13:38
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Just what we don't need... another leftie unionite.
- D. Miner, London, UK, 18/05/2010 13:33
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Boris is a good boy...
They share the same 'shifty' look though 
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK, 18/05/2010 13:32
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I am a conservative voter through and through although I did vite for Labour teh first time, hoping it would teach the then dysfunctional conservative government a good lesson.
A short while after I realised my mistake and never strayed away again. But Boris has become ineffective and with no real plan save the legacy to date of a bus that no needs, a sculptre in the Olympic park no one likes and cycle lanes that serve little to no purpose.
I never thought it possible but I have to say when Ken Livingstone you did see tangible results and its about time Boris got his act together because if there are more like me he has no chance come the next election
Alan Johnson is clearly a decent fellow but Ken will I think have another chance
- Robert Marshall, London, 18/05/2010 13:13
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Blimey! If Labour think they can get into City Hall with someone as bland and boring as Alan Johnson, they'd better think again. We Londoners have a right to be amused and embarrassed by the Mayor, as well as represented by him. Boris and Ken both know this, and have entertained us in style over the past few years. The fact that they are both perceived as somewhat outside the Palace of Westminster also helps. We expect the Mayor to bash Westminster politicians in our interest if need be, not meekly carry out diktats from their own party hierarchy. If any Blair-Brown poodle from the recently unlamented Labour Govt tries to get a stranglehold on a big City office with a gloal platform, they had better find out what Londoners really think - and book themselves on a good drama course pretty damn quick.
- London Lass, London, 18/05/2010 12:58
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All the media skills in the world is not going to win over all of your intended public to striking up against the conservatives nationally, that's unless they all still believe that the public believe still need protecting from the tories! I think you will find that many Labour and still hope to be voting Labour one day are already appreciating what the Cs are doing!
Labour, put forward another man, he is not the best for the Labour Party today, show him!
M, no fixed party, I've moved on!
- M, London, 18/05/2010 12:53
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I think I speak for much of the country when I say this:
Boris as PM. Noooooooooooarghhhhhhhhh!!
- Mike, London, 18/05/2010 12:51
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No contest! Boris Johnson is charismatic,intelligent and delivers for London. Alan Johnson is a failed politician from a failed party. Who wants a man standing for London's interest when he acted weak and feeble and would not stand up to the American demands to extradite Gary McKinnon to the USA.
Alan Johnson should return to what he does best - deliver letters.
- James from Camden, London, 18/05/2010 12:41
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I think Tony Blair should stand for Labour; then he could start a war with the North of England, using Northern Unemployment as a weapon of mass destruction on London millionaires.
- mickinlondon, london, 18/05/2010 12:39
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