Alan Johnson endorses Tessa Jowell’s mayoral bid

Alan Johnson has given his public support to Tessa Jowell’s bid to become the Labour candidate for next year’s Mayor of London election. Although an MP in Hull, Johnson was born and raised in London – and his memoirs detailing growing up in impoverished 1950s West London have proved popular.

Himself tipped to run for Labour mayoral candidacy in 2010, Johnson has penned an article for today’s Independent backing former Olympics Minister Jowell. He writes:

“The Tories are terrified of Tessa, with good reason. She is a genuinely popular politician with all the warmth in the world but a core of absolute steel. Emotional intelligence and intellectual depth personified, she fizzes with ideas, is passionate, and has a record of delivering for London that is unmatched.

Tessa was at the very heart of two superb Labour achievements which have shaped London and touched millions of lives – Sure Start and the Olympics. Imagine what she can do as mayor; solving the housing crisis, sorting out the transport system, unleashing the full potential of young Londoners.”

Johnson also includes some disguised advice for the leadership candidates, and confirms that he has “yet to decide which of the array of talented candidates can lead us to victory in 2020”. He reminds them that the “Labour Party isn’t a pressure group” and that a core part of the party’s mission is to “deliver” from government. The former Home Secretary delivers a stark message for winning the next election:

“Labour will win again if we focus on what it takes to prove ourselves worthy of the electorate’s trust.

The public is never wrong. We lose elections because we deserve to.”