Will Tories pick top Brexiteer for London mayor?

BORIS JOHNSON used his time as London mayor to carve out a place as one of the Tories’ most popular figures. Now, Tory high command is once again turning its attention to this important post for a candidate to fight the 2020 mayoral contest against lightweight Labour mayor Sadiq Khan.

Former education Secretary Justine Greening is being tipped as a front-runner, but she only narrowly held on to her seat in Putney at last year’s election. The London meP Syed Kamall, a muslim, is also expected to throw his hat in the ring.

But I hear that an intriguing new name has emerged: that of multi-millionaire businessman richard Tice. He’s certainly a man used to winning, having co-founded Leave.eU.

Blessed with matinee idol good looks, the married father of three is a polished performer on BBC1’s Question Time and radio 4’s Today programme. a long standing party member, he’s been a key figure in the academy schools programme and has imaginative proposals to revitalise house building, while serving as co-chairman of Leave means Leave.

No wonder, then, that he’s under pressure from some senior Tories to stand. my Tory mole says: ‘The last thing we want is another “retread” politician. We want an entrepreneur who knows how to make things work.’

Tice fits the bill, but after the Tories’ worst local election result in London in may for almost 50 years, the party may need a miracle worker, not a businessman.