Tessa Jowell increases lead in latest London Mayor poll

Tessa Jowell has moved further ahead in the latest poll tracking the Labour race for London Mayor candidacy. Among Labour support, YouGov now puts Jowell on 40% – 22 points clear of her closest rival.

The poll, in today’s Evening Standard, shows the standings as:

Tessa Jowell 40% (+6), Diane Abbott 18% (n/c), Sadiq Khan 17% (-2), David Lammy 15% (+2), Doreen Lawrence 8% (-6)

Only four points separates Abbott in second from Lammy in fourth, but no two candidates together can currently command the support that Tessa Jowell enjoys alone. It is still unclear whether Baroness Lawrence intends to run for the Labour nomination or not.

The poll does not include Christian Wolmar, who has declared his intention, or Gareth Thomas, who recent rumours suggest could be contemplating a bid.

Jowell is not standing for Parliament again, and so could be free to spend more time campaigning in vital marginal London seats for Labour over the coming weeks, while Abbott, Khan and Lammy all have their own constituency commitments. However, Abbott and Lammy’s seats are considered very safe and Khan will be travelling around London as part of his Shadow London Secretary role.

LabourList this week surveyed readers on their preferences for Labour’s London Mayor candidate – the results will be published tomorrow morning.