Zac Goldsmith Announces London Mayoral Run

Tory MP Zac Goldsmith has announced his intention to run for London Mayor - by asking his constituents for their permission.

The popular Richmond Park MP, who increased his majority by four times in May’s election, has spent around £53,000 sending a letter to 77,000 people asking for consent to run.

Mr Goldsmith, son of billionaire financier Sir James Goldsmith, told the Evening Standard he had been “approached by many people from across the political spectrum” who had urged him to put his name forward.

However, he added the people he represented “must have the right to say no”.

Mr Goldsmith has long opposed the plans for a third runway at Heathrow and said before the election if a Conservative government voted through proposals he would step down, triggering a by-election.

The environmentalist made clear he would use his platform as mayor to continue to make his case on the issue.

He told the Standard: "London needs a mayor who can work with Government to get the resources that London needs to deal with massive pressures on housing, transport and policing but is also strong enough to stand up to the Government when it gets things wrong.”

Current mayor Boris Johnson has also fiercely opposed the airport expansion plans, suggesting instead a new development in the Thames Estuary.

It is expected Mr Goldsmith will give up his Commons seat if he is elected to the top London job next year.

Mr Johnson, who became MP for Uxbridge and whose term comes to an end in May 2016, faced criticism for being an MP at the same time as mayor.

Critics said politicians would be unable to devote adequate time to both jobs to do them properly.

Mr Goldsmith’s announcement comes after former England footballer Sol Campbell declared his intention to run for the mayoralty.

Campbell said his working-class background would bring something “new to the table” accusing “Oxbridge” politicians of “royally mucking up”.

Mr Goldsmith and Campbell will be up against entrepreneur Ivan Massow, current deputy mayor Stephen Greenhalgh and London Assembly member Andrew Boff for the Conservative candidacy.

In the running for the Labour candidacy are Dame Tessa Jowell, and Labour MPs Dianne Abbott, David Lammy and Sadiq Khan.