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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Tory Justine Greening rules herself out of London mayoral race | Tory Justine Greening rules herself out of London mayoral race |
| (6 days later) | |
| The former education secretary Justine Greening has ruled herself out from running as the Conservative candidate for London mayor, leaving the party without a big name in the race to take on Sadiq Khan. | The former education secretary Justine Greening has ruled herself out from running as the Conservative candidate for London mayor, leaving the party without a big name in the race to take on Sadiq Khan. |
| The Putney MP had been tipped as the favourite to challenge the incumbent Labour mayor in the next contest, which takes place in 2020. | The Putney MP had been tipped as the favourite to challenge the incumbent Labour mayor in the next contest, which takes place in 2020. |
| Many Tory insiders believed that Greening, as a socially liberal woman with a newly found independent streak who was the first openly gay woman in the cabinet, was ideally placed to present the modern face of the party. | Many Tory insiders believed that Greening, as a socially liberal woman with a newly found independent streak who was the first openly gay woman in the cabinet, was ideally placed to present the modern face of the party. |
| The Tories were badly tainted by Zac Goldsmith’s unsuccessful campaign in 2016, which was criticised for its racist undertones and which many London Conservative politicians feared did the party permanent damage to its reputation in the capital. | The Tories were badly tainted by Zac Goldsmith’s unsuccessful campaign in 2016, which was criticised for its racist undertones and which many London Conservative politicians feared did the party permanent damage to its reputation in the capital. |
| Greening also gained a wealth of experience in transport – a key responsibility for the mayor – during her stint as transport secretary, as well as a clear passion for social mobility, founded in her working-class, comprehensive-educated background, and crystallised during her time as education secretary. | Greening also gained a wealth of experience in transport – a key responsibility for the mayor – during her stint as transport secretary, as well as a clear passion for social mobility, founded in her working-class, comprehensive-educated background, and crystallised during her time as education secretary. |
| She revealed her decision in a tweet to a grassroots campaign group, JustineForMayor, which also featured a video setting out her plans for improving social mobility. Sources close to the MP confirmed to the Guardian she had ruled herself out of the mayoral race. | She revealed her decision in a tweet to a grassroots campaign group, JustineForMayor, which also featured a video setting out her plans for improving social mobility. Sources close to the MP confirmed to the Guardian she had ruled herself out of the mayoral race. |
| Greening tweeted: “All your support is hugely appreciated, but as an MP I’m focusing on socialmobilitypledge.org to drive opportunity for people across our whole country so won’t be putting my name forward.” | Greening tweeted: “All your support is hugely appreciated, but as an MP I’m focusing on socialmobilitypledge.org to drive opportunity for people across our whole country so won’t be putting my name forward.” |
| The Conservatives began their process of selecting their candidate this month, giving them a two-year campaign to unseat Khan, who is expected to be the favourite to win in 2020. | The Conservatives began their process of selecting their candidate this month, giving them a two-year campaign to unseat Khan, who is expected to be the favourite to win in 2020. |
| The timetable for the Tory selection means that nominations close in July, with a summer campaign culminating in a final vote in September. | The timetable for the Tory selection means that nominations close in July, with a summer campaign culminating in a final vote in September. |
| The Conservatives are understood to feel that Goldsmith was not given enough time to establish his campaign, having only been selected in September 2015 before the vote in May 2016. His campaign also suffered from the allegations of using dog-whistle tactics against Khan. | The Conservatives are understood to feel that Goldsmith was not given enough time to establish his campaign, having only been selected in September 2015 before the vote in May 2016. His campaign also suffered from the allegations of using dog-whistle tactics against Khan. |
| Since leaving the cabinet in January, Greening, a vocal remain campaigner, has been outspoken about the need for the Tories to broaden their appeal to younger, socially liberal voters. Her majority was slashed at the last general election, from more than 10,000 to just 1,554. | Since leaving the cabinet in January, Greening, a vocal remain campaigner, has been outspoken about the need for the Tories to broaden their appeal to younger, socially liberal voters. Her majority was slashed at the last general election, from more than 10,000 to just 1,554. |
| Labour are polling ahead in London, although the Conservatives have been buoyed by better-than-expected local election results, in which Labour failed to take target councils including Barnet and Wandsworth. | Labour are polling ahead in London, although the Conservatives have been buoyed by better-than-expected local election results, in which Labour failed to take target councils including Barnet and Wandsworth. |
| Other candidates who have been tipped to run for London mayor include the MEP Syed Kamall, who was defeated by Goldsmith to be the Tory candidate in 2016. | Other candidates who have been tipped to run for London mayor include the MEP Syed Kamall, who was defeated by Goldsmith to be the Tory candidate in 2016. |
| A senior Tory party source said: “Justine would have made a great mayor, I have no doubt. I get why she wants to focus on Westminster. | A senior Tory party source said: “Justine would have made a great mayor, I have no doubt. I get why she wants to focus on Westminster. |
| “We have a number of interesting and impressive people talking to us about running with some great ideas for London. These people, and their plans, will show what a weak mayor Khan has been and how much better the capital would be under a Conservative mayor.” | “We have a number of interesting and impressive people talking to us about running with some great ideas for London. These people, and their plans, will show what a weak mayor Khan has been and how much better the capital would be under a Conservative mayor.” |
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