A government frontbencher has announced a bid to replace Sadiq Khan as Mayor of London.
Paul Scully is “pausing” his role as minister for the capital while he campaigns to be the Conservative candidate for next year’s mayoral race.
The MP for Sutton and Cheam is up against several other Tory hopefuls including Daniel Korski, a businessman and one-time adviser to former prime minister David Cameron.
He has said he believes he can beat Labour mayor Mr Khan, who is seeking a third term.
Mr Scully told Sky News: “London is the greatest city in the world but it can be greater still. You’re not going to get that under the incumbent mayor because he seeks to deflect rather than deliver.
“It’s not surprising because the Met Police is in special measures, the fire brigade is in special measures, Transport for London is on its knees, we aren’t building enough houses for our children and we need better.”
Politics live: UK ‘engaged in a dialogue’ with EU after ‘existential threat’ warning
Mr Scully also attacked Mr Khan’s proposed expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to the Greater London boundary and vowed to scrap this on “day one”.
The plan, which will see drivers in areas like Surrey and Kent required to pay £12.50 a day to travel to the capital if their cars fail to meet emission standards, is set to become a major battleground for the election.
Mr Khan said it is essential to improve London’s air quality but he is facing a legal challenge from five Conservative-run councils who oppose it.
Mr Scully said he would seek to improve air quality on the Tube and complete the electrification of the capital’s 9,000-vehicle bus fleet.
“The ULEZ expansion isn’t going to have the effect people think its going to have,” he said.
“We can use that money far better to tackle air pollution while not targeting businesses, charities and people on the lowest pay.”
Mr Scully also said he would look to follow in the footsteps of Boris Johnson, who was Mayor of London before becoming an MP, in a bid to “reach out beyond” tribal lines “to do a lot of good things for London”.
However he said: “I am not Boris, no one can be like Boris. I want to bring my own character into tackling housing, transport and crime in particular.”
Mr Johnson was the last Tory incumbent of City Hall and held the position between 2008 and 2016, stepping down to focus on his national political ambitions.
Mr Scully will “pause” his activities as minister for London while involved in the selection race and will “relinquish that role” if he makes the shortlist, he said.
Other runners he is up against include former No 10 adviser Samuel Kasumu and London Assembly members Andrew Boff, Nick Rogers and Susan Hall.
Read more on Sky News:
Japan to invest almost £18bn in UK
Sunak rejects calls from Truss to fast-track Taiwan’s entry to CPTPP
Mr Khan has been in post since 2016, when he took over from Mr Johnson and has announced he will be standing for an unprecedented third term in the capital.
A Labour source, when asked about Mr Scully’s criticisms of Mr Khan’s leadership, said: “Londoners know exactly what the Tories are about – a cost-of-living crisis, soaring housing costs, huge cuts to public services, and opposing measures to clean up our dirty air.
“Despite this, Sadiq is getting on with building a better London for everyone – reducing violent crime, cleaning up the air, delivering a record number of council homes and providing free school meals for all London children.”
The deadline for Tory candidates to declare is 9 May, when they will be whittled down to a two or three-person shortlist.
Hustings will take place from 12 June to 3 July before members are given the chance to vote for their preferred candidate between 4-18 July, with the winner announced the next day.
