The London Tories keep making the same mistake every four years and expecting a different result. Since the re-election of Boris Johnson as Mayor in 2012, no Conservative candidate has even achieved more than 35.3 per cent in the first round of voting. Looking at the current crop of mayoral hopefuls, it begs the question: has the party stopped to consider why?
The capital is not an impossible task for the Tories. The city has a Labour bent, but it is full of open-minded voters always on the lookout for an upgrade. If only the Conservatives would offer it. Why is it that a heavyweight candidate such as Sajid Javid, Justine Greening or Rory Stewart has no interest in seeking and even less chance of winning the Conservative nomination? Being Mayor of London is one of the best jobs in politics and, even if you don’t succeed, candidates who perform well can use it as a platform for other pursuits.
