Galloway: I Will Run For Mayor If MP Bid Fails

George Galloway has said he will run for London Mayor in 2016 if he is not re-elected as MP in Bradford West on 7 May.

It has been suggested for some time that the controversial Respect Party politician will run for the top spot in the capital when Boris Johnson steps down in May next year.

However, he had refused to confirm whether he would throw his hat into the ring, instead concentrating on his campaign to be re-elected in Bradford West.

But speaking to Sky News on the election trail, he said: "I won't run for London Mayor if I am re-elected on 7 May. If I am not re-elected I will run. It's as clear an answer as I can possibly give up."

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Although he had not previously confirmed a run, a number of people had said he should not run for the post if he was still MP because he would not be able to devote his time fully to the job.

The same criticism had been levelled at Mr Johnson, who is running for election in Uxbridge.

Deputy Political Editor Joey Jones said it was odd that Mr Galloway confirmed his interest during campaigning for the General Election and suggested it could play into the hands of his Labour opponents.

Mr Galloway's Labour rival Naz Shah said: "He's just committed political suicide. How can the people of Bradford trust him if he's already looking at the next thing?"

Mr Galloway has a large majority in Bradford West, taking it from Labour in a shock by election that saw him win by 10,000 votes in 2012.

As he toured the city in his open-topped bus Mr Galloway told Sky's Joe Tidy that "every vote counts" and that he's "not taking the voters for granted".

Mr Galloway is a controversial figure largely because of his charity work in Iraq during the Saddam Hussein regime and his outspoken comments on Israel. He suffered a suspected broken jaw after being attacked for his views in public in the summer.

Others who have announced their intention to run for London Mayor include footballer Sol Campbell, for the Conservatives, Liberal Democrat Lembit Opik and Labour's Dianne Abbott and Dame Tessa Jowell.