As I argue at Comment Is Free, London needs Oona King to make a strong and imaginative bid to become Labour's next mayoral candidate. She has a huge battle on her hands to defeat Ken Livingstone, one she seems unlikely to win. But the better her performance, the better the hope of Ken being persuaded to freshen up his pitch to Londoners. If he fails to do that he won't really deserve his chance of a re-match with Boris, and will also damage his prospects of winning one - in which case, King might even emerge as a better bet for Labour.
What about some other contenders? The list of those mentioned as possibles is quite long and in large part highly speculative (though no less enjoyable for that). Here it is, in no particular order:
Jon Cruddas
I don't think he's up for it, for much the same reasons as he hasn't joined the Labour leadership race. He's a grassroots grafter and a deep thinker, not a limelight-seeker. Any of the candidates would be mad not to seek his support and his advice about issues in Barking and Dagenham though.
Alan Johnson
Suggested by the Standard's Anne McElvoy and re-examined last Friday by the Standard's Paul Waugh, who noted that when asked about the London mayoralty by the local newspaper in his Hull constituency he used the time-honoured "no plans" formula. Even so, Paul thought this sounded like a "pretty firm" declaration of non-interest. On the other hand, the grapevine is still murmuring his name. And he does tick lot of boxes.*
James Purnell
Toby Harris made a very confident prediction that the former work and pensions secretary would be in the frame. But has anybody heard from him lately?
Peter Mandelson
Suggested by me last November in order to stimulate idle gossip. Plenty followed. The Evil Baron has recently stepped down as a shadow cabinet member. How will he fill in his spare time? Though mostly known as a backstage operator, the glamour and the challenge of leading London surely holds some appeal, especially as his grandfather did it with such distinction. Definitely not to be ruled out yet.
Harriet Harman
Suggested by me in order to stimulate idle gossip. Not much followed. Anyway, she's probably too busy being acting leader of the Labour Party.
Eddie Izzard
Suggested by me for your Friday afternoon amusement. To be judged accordingly.
Alan Sugar
Suggested by someone else to the unplanned amusement of a wider public.
Trevor Phillips
Forget it.
Tessa Jowell
The former minister for London and the Olympics. Very popular with lots of Labour Party people including those who disagree with her, though not sure if she has a wider popular appeal. Seems genuinely fond of Boris and vice versa, which, when you think about it, could be to her advantage. Which of them would emerge stronger from a campaign dominated by sweetness and light?
David Lammy
Definitely interested and has been signaling to that effect for quite some time. Not sure where Oona King's move leaves him, and would have liked an open primary method of candidates selection. This appears to be off the cards.
Diane Abbott
In February she told The Independent that she "wouldn't mind being London Mayor". She then told me it was just a throwaway remark. I believed her. Not everyone did.
Just imagine: Ken, Mandy, Oona and Al The Mod* fight it out. I'd pay a lot of money to watch that one.
Update, 17:50 I'll be on LBC's Petrie Hosken show tonight discussing this issue. A man from the station tells me that Alan Johnson ruled himself out unequivocally during an appearance on David Mellor's programme on Friday evening. He's "dedicated to his constituency," he said. Sounds like we can scratch Al The Mod then. Pity.
