The Tory candidate lost to Sadiq Khan by an 11-point margin prompting complaints the party should have picked a better challenger
Susan Hall, the party’s surprise choice to challenge Labour for one of the biggest political positions in the country, hadDuring the long gap between polls closing on Thursday evening and the announcement of the election’s result on Saturday afternoon, wild rumours suggested she was running Mr Khan close and could even win – but in the end that proved a mirage as she, 11 points behind the incumbent.
While some Tories insist Lord Goldsmith was a good candidate, the fact that he allowed himself to head up a viciously toxic campaign that prompted his own sister to publicly state that she did not recognise him suggests that he was not the best person for the job. “Instead, one of the most successful political forces in history completely lost the plot and took its eye off the ball allowing Susan Hall to become the candidate.”
With the Conservatives predicted to lose the forthcoming general election, the suggestion is that candidates of a higher calibre may emerge once the party is in opposition and the prospect of running the capital could appeal to former Cabinet ministers. “I’m not convinced that London is that winnable for the Tories,” he said. “In fact, it has been moving against them for about the last five years. When the Tories are in power the London mayoralty tends to be out of reach for the party. So any candidates are going to have to be prepared for a protracted campaign – it’s a big ask.
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