Claim made that newly registered web domain will be campaign web site

The speculation that Putney MP Justine Greening intends to launch a bid to become London Mayor has increased this week. Despite denials that a newly registered domain will be her campaign web site it is widely thought that she will announce her candidacy in the near future.

The Conservative party will be declaring their list of those contesting their party's nomination this month and Ms Greening is already the runaway favourite. At this stage the bookies have her as 12/1 to be the next Mayor with other potential Tory candidates such as George Osborne and Shaun Bailey rated as rank outsiders. The winner of the nomination is likely to announced around the time of the party conference this year in September or October. Sadiq Khan remains the odds on favourite to get a second term when the vote is held on 7 May 2020.

A story appeared in Buzzfeed this week saying that the registration of the domain name justinegreening.london was an indication that her campaign planning had already begun. According to the Huffington Post, Ms Greening's office responded when asked if they knew who had registered domain, “It wasn’t by us.”

Last week, Ed Vaizey dropped out of the race and has stated that he would back her. In interviews Ms Greening has refused to deny or confirm any plans to put herself forward for nomination, however her recent comments have suggested her candidacy was imminent. In an interview with CityAM she said: “People want to see a mayor who will roll up their sleeves, get on with the job, but also have a vision of what 21st century London is about - which for me is about social mobility and connecting young people with the undoubted opportunity that our city provides."

In the same interview she responded to Catherine Neilan's question: 'So is it time for a woman mayor?' by saying, “Yes, I don’t see why not!”.

In the same interview she criticised Mr Khan for not fulfilling his electoral promises, "He should be held to account for that, but in the end the people want to know what our alternative is: how London will be different if you vote Conservative.”

Her narrow victory in the last general election and the ending of her ministerial career when she stood down as Education Secretary have been given as two more reasons why she might stand. Out of step with her party at the national level on issues such as Brexit and Heathrow, the independence the role of London Mayor would give her may prove irresistible.

The incumbent Mayor Sadiq Khan has stated that he is interested in running again as the Labour candidate. Mr Khan was elected in 2016 with 44.2% of the first round vote.

We have asked for clarification from Ms Greening and her office.

June 15, 2018