Can Syed Kamall beat Zac Goldsmith?

While we have focused on Sayed Khan’s selection as the Labour candidate for the Mayor of London election next year, let’s not overlook the Conservative contest.

Four men have been shortlisted: Zac Goldsmith, Richmond Park and North Kingston MP; Andrew Boff, London Assembly Member; Syed Kamall, London MEP; and Stephen Greenhalgh, London's deputy mayor for crime and policing.

Following several hustings, registered voters will make their choice online with the winner announced at the end of this month.

Goldsmith is the bookies’ favourite to win the Tory selection process, but serious consideration should be given to the chances of the impressive Syed Kamall.

Informed observers describe Kamall, who has been MEP for London since 2005 and led the Tory Euro campaign at the last European elections, as ‘a political heavyweight’ who heads the third largest MEP grouping, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, with considerable skill. He is also an outstanding campaigner with a growing grassroots popularity.

Syed Kamall is not a typical Tory given that one of his goals is to inspire young people from poorer backgrounds to make the best of themselves. He speaks at schools, colleges and youth clubs to instil the spirit of ambition into young people, to explain to them, in his own words: “that whatever their race, religion or family background they can achieve their goals.”

Kamall’s a Muslim who, not unlike Sadiq Khan, is the son of a bus driver, who migrated from Guyana. The starting point between him and the extremely privileged up bringing of Goldsmith.

London returned 45 Labour MPs at the May General Election against 27 Conservatives, so many Tory voters will bear in mind that representing diversity could be a winning asset.

Paul Hensby