Could Idris Elba be the next Mayor of London? Labour bosses eye up Luther star to squeeze out controversial Sadiq Khan in the next election_Nhy
Labour bosses are eyeing up Luther star Idris Elba as a potential candidate to squeeze out Sadiq Khan in the next election.
The actor is reportedly the party’s top choice and he has worked with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on tackling surging knife crime.
Labour sources said the 52-year-old campaigner – from Hackney, East London – is ‘top of our wish list’ to run for mayor.
They told The Sun: ‘Idris has star appeal – but he is also a thoughtful political campaigner.
‘We can pick a Labour insider and try to make them famous. Or we can pick someone famous aligned with Labour. Idris would be at the absolute top of our wish list.’
Sir Sadiq has come under fire for the hated Ulez scheme and being embroiled in the Labour freebies row.
He is expected to stand down before the next mayoral election which will likely be held in 2028.
Just last week, it was revealed Sir Sadiq has accepted more free tickets to watch his beloved Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
Labour bosses are eyeing up Luther star Idris Elba as a potential candidate to squeeze out Sadiq Khan in the next election. Sir Sadiq is pictured with the PM
The actor is reportedly the party’s top choice
Liverpool took on Newcastle United in the Carabou Cup final on March 16 where Mr Khan would have been left disappointed as his side were beaten 2-1.
The mayor was gifted two tickets, worth £275 each, by the Football Association with Mr Khan declaring them in the City Hall register of gifts saying they were accepted due to a ‘stakeholder engagement’.
Emma Best, deputy leader of the City Hall Conservatives, told the Evening Standard: ‘Sir Sadiq has enjoyed over £100k worth of freebies so far as mayor of London.
‘Perhaps he’d do well to listen to his Parliamentary colleagues and consider whether accepting these tickets whilst telling Londoners to expect council tax rises, police cuts, and crumbling infrastructure smacks a little of ‘Let them eat cake’.
‘Does he really think Londoners believe all of these gifts were necessary to accept?’
Mr Khan has accepted tickets to see Liverpool on three other occasions this season.
He was invited as a guest of Liverpool FC for their game against Bournemouth while he was in Liverpool for the Labour Party conference as well as their games against London-based team Tottenham in December and Brentford in January.
The ticket was worth £1,500 and his attendance was an ‘official engagement to visit the new Riverside stand development, a world-class riverfront sports, culture and hospitality destination’.
He also attended a Fulham v Aston Villa match last October. The ticket was worth £1,500 with his attendance recorded as an ‘official engagement to visit the new Riverside stand development, a world-class riverfront sports, culture and hospitality destination’.
Elba has worked with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on tackling surging knife crime
Just last week, it was revealed Sir Sadiq has accepted more free tickets to watch his beloved Liverpool at Wembley Stadium
Mr Khan also attended the Carabao Cup final last year, when Liverpool won the trophy after defeating Chelsea 1-0.
He has also received tickets to attend three Champions League finals, including Real Madrid’s victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1 last year – with his seat that evening valued at £1,000.
The mayor was also at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium in 2019 to see Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur in their Champions League final.
And he watched Liverpool lose to Real Madrid in the May 2022 final in Paris, on that occasion receiving two tickets worth £1,150 and – as on his other Champions League final trips – which were provided by European football’s governing body Uefa.
He has also registered tickets to football matches at Spurs – including their first Premier League match at their new stadium in April 2019 – as well as Liverpool, West Ham United and AFC Wimbledon.
It comes amid ongoing controversy about politicians accepting free gifts.
