2024 London mayoral election
← 2021 2 May 2024 (2024-05-02) 2028 →
Mayor before election

Sadiq Khan
Labour

Elected Mayor

TBD
TBD

The 2024 London mayoral election is scheduled to be held on 2 May 2024 to elect the mayor of London. The election will take place the same day as elections to the London Assembly, as well as local elections across England and Wales. Two-term incumbent Sadiq Khan has indicated his intention to stand for a third term.[1][2]

Background

Political context

First elected in 2016, Sadiq Khan of the Labour Party won a second term in office in the 2021 election. As the previous contest was initially scheduled for 2020 before being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Khan's current term only covers a three-year period.[3] Khan has indicated that he plans to stand again for a third term in 2024.[1][2]

Polling in January 2022 found that 48% thought he was doing badly as mayor and 38% thought he was doing well. This gave him a net approval rating of -10%, the first time approval polling has been negative for Khan since he took office as mayor.[4]

Electoral system

Under the Elections Act 2022, in contrast to the supplementary vote system used in previous mayoral elections, the 2024 election will be held under a first past the post system: the candidate receiving the highest number of votes will be elected mayor, even if they do not receive an overall majority.[5] In January 2022, a report to the London Assembly also recommended that ballots be counted by hand, rather than electronically as at previous elections.[6]

Candidates

Labour Party

Expressed interest

Potential

There was media speculation in 2021 as to whether incumbent mayor Sadiq Khan would stand for a third term as mayor or attempt alternatively to stand for leader of the Labour Party in a future contest. Khan has stated that he would stand again for a third term.[1][2] Nevertheless, some commentators have speculated that Khan may instead choose to stand for the House of Commons in the next United Kingdom general election.[9]

David Lammy, MP for Tottenham and Shadow Foreign Secretary, has been mentioned as a possible Labour candidate should Khan not seek another term. Lammy had previously ran for Mayor in the 2016 election.[7] John Bercow, former Speaker of the House of Commons, has also been mentioned as a possible contender.[8]

Conservative Party

Expressed interest

Party uncertain

Potential

Jeremy Corbyn has been subject to speculation about a potential run. Elected as a member of the Labour Party, he currently sits as an independent MP, having had the whip withdrawn.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Mortimer, Josiah (30 November 2021). "Sadiq Khan hints at third run for London mayor in 2024". MyLondon. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Talora, Joe (13 January 2022). "Sadiq Khan plots third mayoral term as he 'doesn't want' Starmer's job". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  3. ^ Atkin, Elizabeth (9 May 2021). "When the next London mayoral election will be held". Metro. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  4. ^ Bond, David (29 January 2022). "Sadiq poll: Mayor's approval rating firmly negative for first time". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Elections Act 2022: Section 13", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 2022 c. 37 (s. 13)
  6. ^ Hill, Dave (7 January 2022). "Votes for next London Mayor and Assembly elections could be counted manually". OnLondon. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b Mandrake (26 April 2022). "Lammy eyes Khan's City Hall role". The New European. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  8. ^ a b Hope, Christopher (4 March 2022). "Is London ready for Mayor John Bercow?". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  9. ^ Steerpike. "Will Sadiq make a Commons comeback? | The Spectator". The Spectator. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  10. ^ Lydall, Ross (11 June 2021). "Shaun Bailey: 'Boris has asked me to consider running for mayor again'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  11. ^ Rogers, Alexandra (22 July 2022). "Exclusive: Jeremy Corbyn Allies Urge Him To Run For London Mayor". Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
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