Given that the 2021 elections are coming up, I figured this would be an interesting conversation.
While Ken Livingstone was the clear frontrunner for the 2000 election, there seemed to be one candidate that could defeat him. Polls showed that 66% of Londoners would probably or definitely vote for Richard Branson as an independent, as opposed to 55% for Red Ken. Only 30% said they would not vote for Branson. What vision does Branson bring forward for the city, and does he use this to kickstart a new political movement? I could also see Branson aligning with New Labour, but he is rather eccentric and independent-minded. As for the Tories, while Jeffrey Archer's reputation was rather poor even before the perjury scandal, if Heseltine accepted Hague's offer he'd be a much more formidable opponent.
Boris Johnson's candidacy in 2008 was a bit of a shock, as several other candidates declined to step forward. Cameron famously wanted John Major to run and @Thande has noted that a number of Tory activists wanted Jeremy Clarkson to stand. Imagining a Clarkson vs. Livingstone debate is good fun, but this could bizarrely result in Britain's other Jezza C becoming PM as a politically incorrect oaf staunchly opposed to Brexit (he's even said he'd vote for Starmer's Labour!). This could give us a very cursed Clarkson GNU to stop No Deal instead of Clarke or Bercow (lol remember that?). Cameron was also aiming to recruit Nick Ferrari, but he was disinterested in giving up broadcasting. Greg Dyke said he'd run only as a LibDem/Tory fusion candidate, but I suspect he was never really interested after saying Livingstone had done "not that bad a job."
As always, I imagine @cikka will have some good Ken ideas.
For a more general question, how inevitable is it for the mayor of London to enter national politics? Johnson seems to have set the trend as it looks like Khan is a frontrunner to replace Starmer. Of course, several of the names mentioned here are political outsiders Johnson and Khan were already in the shadow cabinet when they ran. Could someone with the profile that being mayor provides start a new party? Branson is probably the best bet for this, as he has enough cash to get the ball rolling.
While Ken Livingstone was the clear frontrunner for the 2000 election, there seemed to be one candidate that could defeat him. Polls showed that 66% of Londoners would probably or definitely vote for Richard Branson as an independent, as opposed to 55% for Red Ken. Only 30% said they would not vote for Branson. What vision does Branson bring forward for the city, and does he use this to kickstart a new political movement? I could also see Branson aligning with New Labour, but he is rather eccentric and independent-minded. As for the Tories, while Jeffrey Archer's reputation was rather poor even before the perjury scandal, if Heseltine accepted Hague's offer he'd be a much more formidable opponent.
Boris Johnson's candidacy in 2008 was a bit of a shock, as several other candidates declined to step forward. Cameron famously wanted John Major to run and @Thande has noted that a number of Tory activists wanted Jeremy Clarkson to stand. Imagining a Clarkson vs. Livingstone debate is good fun, but this could bizarrely result in Britain's other Jezza C becoming PM as a politically incorrect oaf staunchly opposed to Brexit (he's even said he'd vote for Starmer's Labour!). This could give us a very cursed Clarkson GNU to stop No Deal instead of Clarke or Bercow (lol remember that?). Cameron was also aiming to recruit Nick Ferrari, but he was disinterested in giving up broadcasting. Greg Dyke said he'd run only as a LibDem/Tory fusion candidate, but I suspect he was never really interested after saying Livingstone had done "not that bad a job."
As always, I imagine @cikka will have some good Ken ideas.
For a more general question, how inevitable is it for the mayor of London to enter national politics? Johnson seems to have set the trend as it looks like Khan is a frontrunner to replace Starmer. Of course, several of the names mentioned here are political outsiders Johnson and Khan were already in the shadow cabinet when they ran. Could someone with the profile that being mayor provides start a new party? Branson is probably the best bet for this, as he has enough cash to get the ball rolling.