Is the Tooting MP Sadiq Khan going to run for London Mayor?

It seems even he cannot answer that straight question with a yes or no answer.

Wandsworth Times:

City Hall: Is Tooting's MP going for mayor? People want to know 

Labour’s Shadow Minister for London, Mr Khan, has featured in multiple newspaper articles and radio interviews questioning him about whether he intends to run for London Mayor.

He has so far managed to skirt around the question, repeatedly citing the general election as his main priority.

But some of his constituents seem to think such a plan would be in motion already. 

Tooting resident Frederick Shepherd, 29, said: “There have been countless rumours in the press about Sadiq Khan’s intention to stand as Mayor of London.  

"This is serious because as MP for Tooting he would struggle to put the people of Tooting first among the significant commitments required as Mayor. 

“It is high time Sadiq stops ducking the question: Is he going to stand as Mayor of London? The people of Tooting have the right to know.”

Susan Tomlinson, 48, a marketing manager from Earlsfield, added: “The rumour is Sadiq is going to go for Mayor after the election and if that is the case I think he should make it clear.”

So, we asked his office. Is Sadiq Khan going to run for London Mayor? 

He said: “Tooting is the place where I was born, went to school, met my wife, and now it’s the place where we are raising our own family. I am incredibly proud to get to serve my community in Parliament, and I have always said I wouldn’t want to be MP for anywhere else.

“As well as being MP for Tooting, I am also the Shadow Minister for London. This means I’m in charge of running Labour’s election campaign in London – and while I am flattered at the increasing number of people encouraging me to run to be London’s Mayor I love being MP for my community.

"My priority is to make sure Tooting has a Labour MP (me!), and I am also doing my bit to help Battersea elect Labour’s brilliant Will Martindale and to get as many Labour MPs elected around London and the country. Tooting and London are best served by a Labour Government.”

When pressed further about running for London Mayor a spokeswoman said: “He’s not thinking about that now.”

His general election competition, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Tooting Dan Watkins, said: “We need an MP who will give 100 per cent of their time to the constituency – not an MP who will be spending time campaigning to become Mayor.”