Sadiq Khan, the former shadow justice secretary, has been elected to stand as Labour’s candidate for mayor of London.
Khan beat Tessa Jowell, the Blairite former cabinet minister, who was thought to have been the frontrunner, suggesting a surge in support for the Labour leadership favourite Jeremy Corbyn.
The result was announced at an event at the Royal Festival Hall in south-east London.
It was thought that the surge in new members to the party since the election benefited Khan, who was endorsed by Ken Livingstone, the former London mayor, who supports Corbyn in the national leadership vote.
Khan also beat David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, Diane Abbott, the leftwing MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Christian Wolmar, the transport writer and activist, and Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West, who wanted to devolve more economic powers to London.
The Conservatives have yet to choose their candidate, but it is expected to be Zac Goldsmith, the wealthy environmentalist and MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston.
Central issues in the election next spring will be airport expansion in the south-east, housing and the powers of the mayor, but the personalities of the candidates will also play a critical role.
Goldsmith prizes his independence from Downing Street, so both candidates are likely to make a virtue of their differences with their national leadership.
In previous London mayoral elections, the efficient Labour machine got the vote in inner London but was unable to overcome strong Conservative support in the suburbs.
