Goldsmith joins race to become London’s mayor

ZAC Goldsmith has thrown his hat into the ring for London mayor when Boris Johnson steps down next May.

The Tory MP is the first major figure in his party to announce he is entering the race, with his supporters hoping he has the charisma to win over Labour voters.

The Old Etonian is known for being independent-minded and is strongly opposed to proposals for a third runway at Heathrow. He is seeking the approval of his constituents in Richmond Park, west London, to stand down as their MP.

In an unusual step, Mr Goldsmith is spending £50,000 on sending out 77,000 letters with postage-paid reply forms asking the people who elected him: ‘ Do you give your consent to Zac Goldsmith to stand for election to be Mayor of London?’

He was returned to represent the safe Conservative seat with a majority of more than 23,000 last month.

The 40- year- old is the son of billionaire financier Sir James Goldsmith who founded the Eurosceptic Referendum Party and brother of socialite and journalist Jemima Khan.

Expelled from Eton for smoking cannabis, he went on to edit The Ecologist magazine and is a passionate environmentalist who has advised David Cameron on green issues.

He said he would use the mayoralty to ‘mend our politics’, boost high streets, improve transport and provide a healthier environment.

‘London needs a mayor who can work with government to get the resources that London needs to deal with massive pressures on housing, transport and policing but is also strong enough to stand up to the Government when it gets things wrong’, he told the Evening Standard.

It is understood he was pressed by high- profile figures in his party, including Mr Johnson – also an opponent of Heathrow expansion – to run, as one of the few Tories who could beat Labour in London.

Several Labour figures have already thrown their hats into the ring including former minister Tessa Jowell, the party’s justice spokesman Sadiq Khan and Tottenham MP David Lammy.

Former England footballer Sol Campbell has announced he will run for the Conservatives.