Dame Tessa is our only chance to beat Zac Goldsmith, says shadow minister

SHADOW Europe minister Pat McFadden today claimed Tessa Jowell is the only Labour candidate who could beat Zac Goldsmith in the race for City Hall.

He admitted the green millionaire Tory MP, who invigorated the mayoral race by announcing his bid yesterday, was a “very serious challenger”.

But he said London could not afford to be led by an “avowedly” Eurosceptic mayor at such a defining moment for British business and added: “London’s success is based on being open to the world, it would be a mistake for London and Britain to turn inwards.” Mr Gold- smith’s entrance into the race, which he said depended on his Richmond Park constituents approving, has worried Labour figures who thought victory in London was inevitable.

But it is likely to bolster Dame Tessa’s position as she is seen as a more centrist candidate. Mr McFadden said she can “deliver for Londoners and she can win support from across London”.

All six main Labour candidates, who also include MPs Sadiq Khan, David Lammy and Diane Abbott, have made the shortlist for Labour’s nomination. to give every party member an equal vote. Members of the public can gain voting rights without becoming a full member by becoming a registered supporter, while union members can vote by becoming affiliate supporters.

Internal party figures seen by the Standard show 1,197 affiliates have been re c r ui t e d i n L o ndon a l o ne , compared with only 92 registered supporters. Unite has more than 200,000 members in its London region. The overall number of full Labour members in the capital stands at 48,891.

The union is using a phone bank at Newcastle to cold-call London members and enlist them as affiliates.

One senior officer told Labour’s ruling NEC in May that between 500 and 1,000 affiliates were being signed up across the country each day.

L abour recently repor ted it had attracted 30,000 new members nationwide since the election.

A Unite source said its members were being affiliated in accordance with rules set out by Labour, adding that individual affiliate members could chose to vote as they wished.

The last date to register as a supporter or affiliate before the selection begins will be August 12, with the ballot closing on September 10.