Tottenham MP David Lammy preparing to run for London mayor, sources claim

The former deputy PM held a fundraising dinner last night via a party affiliate organisation, reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter

David Lammy (right) has been the MP for Tottenham for 26 years — David Lammy (right) has been the MP for Tottenham since 2000

Tottenham MP and former deputy prime minister David Lammy is preparing for a second run to become mayor of London, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has been told.

The senior Labour figure, who was in government for two years under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, held a fundraising dinner last night (Wednesday 9th) via a party affiliate organisation.

While the money from the tickets, which ranged from £80 to £150, went directly to the hosts, Small and Medium Enterprises for Labour, party sources told the LDRS the event was a testing ground for a run at City Hall should Sir Sadiq Khan decide not to run for a fourth term.

At the event, Lammy addressed the rumours directly, suggesting that the fundraiser was not to drum up support for a mayoral campaign but to raise the resources to defend his own parliamentary seat at the next election.

However the MP, who has represented Tottenham since 2000, has still not explicitly ruled out a mayoral run in 2028.

Rumours have spread around Lammy’s prospects ever since he left government in July, when Prime Minister Andy Burnham entered Downing Street.

Lammy is a former London Assembly member, having served in the role for two months prior to becoming Tottenham MP in July 2000 following the sudden death of his predecessor Bernie Grant, and has tried for the top job at City Hall once before – ahead of the 2016 election – but lost out to the current mayor in the Labour Party’s selection process.

Some in the party have downplayed Lammy’s chances, even if he officially announces his candidacy bid. He will likely have to fight a fierce contest with other London MPs, including Dawn Butler and Rosena Allin-Khan, who would be bidding to become the capital’s first female mayor should either of them win the Labour candidacy.

“I am not sure he can even count on support from his local party in Tottenham for his future ambitions in London,” one source told the LDRS.

However, others in Labour are more supportive, saying he has the credentials to go for the role if the mayor announces he will not seek a fourth term in office.

“I expect he’d go for it as soon as Sadiq announces he will stand down,” one source predicted. “He’s out of government now so it makes sense. Lammy has been very impressive since he was first elected.”

Lammy did not respond to several requests for comment.

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