‘Unhappy’ deputy mayors look for Westminster move
Two deputy mayors of London are seeking a move to parliament amidst claims the pair are unhappy with how Sadiq Khan runs City Hall.
Deputy mayor for business Rajesh Agrawal and deputy mayor for housing James Murray have both been shortlisted to represent Labour in Ealing North at the next general election.
Read more: Fintech boss Rajesh Agrawal set to be named as deputy mayor
Current Ealing North MP Stephen Pound, who has held the seat since 1997, is retiring at the next election.
The shortlist for the Labour safe seat also includes Ealing North councillor Aysha Raza.
Morning Wire understands Murray is strongly favoured to win the seat.
Murray and Agrawal have been with Khan since he was elected mayor in 2016, however they are reportedly unhappy with their roles.
A Labour source familiar with the situation told Morning Wire the pair were looking to get out of the mayor’s office, because they thought decision making was too centralised.
“They’re not at all happy with their roles,” the source said.
“They feel they have no input into any of the important decisions being made in the mayor’s office.”
Murray and Agrawal both labelled the claims as “nonsense”.
Murray said: “I’m proud of what I’ve achieved as a key member of Sadiq’s team for the past four years and, if I am not selected, I want to continue helping him deliver for Londoners.”
Agrawal added: “I have thoroughly enjoyed being a Deputy Mayor in Sadiq’s administration, making the case alongside him that London is the best city in the world in which to do business.”
The news comes as Morning Wire revealed yesterday that internal polling showed Khan’s satisfaction rating had increased to +4.
The latest figures were a marked increase from the last poll publicly released by City Hall, which indicated Khan had a negative satisfaction rating in May.
Read more: Sadiq Khan sees internal poll rating boost
He will contest the 2020 mayoral election in May against Conservative Shaun Bailey, Liberal Democrat Siobhan Benita, Green Sian Berry and independent Rory Stewart.
Khan was contacted for comment.