Khan’s beatable, so why have Tories made such a hash of picking a runner?

IF YOU discovered yesterday that the Tory mayoral contest had been “thrown into chaos” over accusations of groping by one of the candidates, you might be forgiven for asking: what contest?

- Jack Kessler

Back in the mists of time, the Conservatives could be relied upon to nominate a political heavyweight as their mayoral candidate. To run London was to show the country that the party was back from electoral oblivion. Looking at the current shortlist of three — Susan Hall, Mozammel Hossain and Daniel Korski — the Tories risk giving the impression they have conceded before a single ballot has been cast.

In 2000 and again in 2004, the Conservatives selected the avuncular and experienced Steve Norris, a former transport minister, as their standard bearer. Norris even managed to surpass the Labour candidate, Frank Dobson, albeit with an assist from Ken Livingstone.

But it was in 2008 and 2012 that the party showed it was all in on the capital. Pre-Brexit, partygate and a thousand other indiscretions, Boris Johnson really was that awful cliché, the Heineken politician, seducing parts (and reportedly members of) the electorate no other Tory could.