Sarah Olney to run for Mayor of London in 2028

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney has announced her intention to seek the nomination for Mayor of London in the election scheduled for 4 May 2028. The Richmond Park MP stated her ambition to replace the current mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, in a bid to lead the capital. The mayoral election involves a constituency of approximately 6.2 million voters, representing the largest personal electoral mandate for any politician in the United Kingdom, as reported by BBC London.

Olney, who has served as a London MP intermittently for nearly a decade, outlined key policy proposals for her potential administration. She intends to introduce a deputy mayor position, to be elected by London businesses, with the stated aim of boosting economic growth and facilitating the construction of new homes. Furthermore, Olney criticised past and present mayors for the closure of police front counters in London constituencies, including her own, and pledged to work towards reopening them.

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London Mayoral Election Set for May 2028

Voters will choose a new Mayor and London Assembly members using the Supplementary Vote system.

Conservative Candidates Declare Interest

The Conservative Party has seen several candidates declare their interest in seeking the nomination for the mayoral election. Sir James Cleverly, a former foreign secretary and home secretary, announced his intention to run in August. He previously served as a member of the London Assembly for eight years and chaired the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. Sir James has stated his desire to restore London's reputation and make it an attractive place to live, work, and invest.

Festus Akinbusoye is another declared Conservative candidate. He was recently elected to Westminster City Council and previously served as the police and crime commissioner for Bedfordshire. Akinbusoye is expected to focus his campaign on policing and public safety, with reports from the Evening Standard indicating he believes the Metropolitan Police is facing a significant crisis due to officer departures.

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Other Parties and Potential Candidates

Reform UK has confirmed Laila Cunningham as its candidate for the mayoralty, having announced her selection in January. Cunningham, a former Conservative councillor, stated upon her selection that she would "launch an all-out war on crime." The Green Party's candidate in the last election, Zoë Garbett, is now the elected mayor of Hackney. Zack Polanski, the party's leader and a London Assembly member, is also considered a potential candidate, though his current focus is on the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

The incumbent Mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, has not yet declared his intentions regarding a fourth term. When asked by BBC London, he indicated that he would announce his decision the year before the election, as he has done previously. The next election for Mayor of London is confirmed to take place on 4 May 2028.