David Lammy eyes major new role after Andy Burnham sacked him_t

Former deputy prime min­is­ter David Lammy is to stand for Mayor of London if Sir Sadiq Khan decides he’s had enough. Mr Lammy, who served as Foreign Secretary and Justice Secretary under Sir Keir Starmer, is now a backbench MP after he did not take up a job in Andy Burnham’s new Cabinet. But it is understood that he will run for Mayor if Sir Sadiq Khan, the current Labour mayor who has been in the job since 2016, chooses not to stand for a fourth term. The next elections are in 2028.

Mr Lammy, London-born Labour MP for Tottenham, thinks he is in with a good chance because support for the Green Party appears to be falling. The Greens had been seen as the main challengers in London, particularly if party leader Zack Polanksi was the candidate. But it is thought that enthusiasm for Mr Polanski among left-wing voters is waning.

However, Sir Sadiq could stand again, and will not make an announcement about his plans until 2027. He said last week: “My tank is full, I’m still fizz­ing with ideas.”

One minister was reported saying: “David Lammy’s plan­ning to go for it. His cal­cu­la­tion is that with Polanski going back­wards, the door’s opened for him.”

The Green leader recently refused to apologise after reposting a photo of a Green activist sporting an image of a guillotine with the slogan ‘We’re only making plans for Nigel’ on his social media account.

Mr Lammy had been one of Sir Keir Starmer’s most loyal supporters, but did not receive a ministerial role once Andy Burnham took over and appointed a new Cabinet.

He earned the nickname “calamity Lammy” after it emerged 179 prisoners had been released in error, but built close relations with the Trump administration during his stint as foreign secretary.

Mr Burnham does not have a Deputy Prime Minister but appointed Louise Haigh, his Cabinet Office Minister, as First Secretary of State – a title which means the same thing in practice.