The race is on in the Conservative Mayoral Primary, with four candidates battling to stand against Ken Livingstone. We asked London Labour and Lib Dem MPs and the Green Party's candidate for London Mayor who they're backing...
This contest is deeply depressing. With the buffoon-like Boris Johnson put forward as a candidate this is little more than grandstanding. Out of the four I'd back Warwick, he's the one asking the right questions. He's obviously not going to be elected but at least he's looking at the important issues and has put forward the right kind of economic policies.
Vincent Cable, Lib Dem MP for Twickenham
Even with Boris, this lot look like a right shower. I think Londoners are better off sticking with Ken.
Gareth Thomas, Labour MP for Harrow West
I don't think it's very appropriate to get involved in other party's internal matters and I certainly won't be paying £1.50 to vote in this primary, but if I was a Tory and wanted the Tory candidate for Mayor to be taken seriously, I definitely wouldn't vote for Boris. He's clearly a liability, not up to the job, and an unreconstructed right-wing toff who cares nothing for the real concerns of ordinary Londoners. Any of this lot would probably be better than him.
Sian Berry, Green Party London Mayoral candidate
Lib Dem money is on Boris for the Tory primaries. None of the three Tory contenders in the vote could hope to match his unique brand of foot in mouth, gaffe-prone delivery. Boris would have as much credibility as London's Mayor as Russell Brand would have as Governor of the Bank of England. So Boris is our man.
Tom Brake, Lib Dem London Spokesman and MP for Carshalton and Wallington
It’s only a matter of time before Boris insults London like he did Liverpool and Portsmouth. I’m going to register to vote because as someone who wants Ken to continue as London mayor I’ll be delighted if he’s up against Boris Johnson who’s an embarrassment in the league of Lord Archer.
Stephen Pound, Labour MP for Ealing North
Boris is one of my constituents and a fellow cyclist. He can be thoroughly charming and entertaining, but that hardly qualifies him to run a world city. I would not have trusted Boris to give the strong unifying leadership that Ken gave us after the 7/7 outrage when we lost 12 people from Islington.
Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury
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