Apparently, according to those in the know, this is the likely answer to who the average Londoner thinks the next elected Mayor will be. The loveable rogue, the man who tells us how things really are. The man who is elected to serve and govern London but still manages to pontificate on international affairs. More accurately, on international affairs of his own choice. The man who vociferously attacks George Bush at any opportunity, but has little to say publicly about the human rights record of the Chinese on a recent visit to Beijing. The man who likened the massacre in Tiananmen Square of 1989 to the ‘Poll Tax’ riots of 1990: the first killed an estimated 3000 people, the second killed none. The first led to a further crackdown on individual freedoms, the second led to reform of local taxation in Britain. Similar? Or could it be that the true ‘leftie’ is following the Chinese billions? Mr Principle, I presume?

The London Mayoralty is a position of real political power. It has a very important role in the government of arguably the greatest city on Earth. It sets the budget for the Greater London Authority and oversees or controls policy areas as diverse as transport, policing, health (tackling inequalities), environment and culture. The Mayor has a remarkable degree of independence. This is a political position that every serious political party should aim to gain. That is why the Conservatives should take their time over the selection of their candidate.

Although I understand Darren Caplan’s frustration at the apparent delay in selection of the Conservative Mayoral candidate, his article does eloquently and passionately highlight the political weaknesses of the incumbent Mayor. The Conservative Party needs a positive candidate, a candidate who can express the hopes as well as concerns of average Londoners. A candidate who can positively address the quality of life issues – environment, crime, public transport – that David Cameron will seek to address on the national stage. The Conservative Party also needs their candidate to reach out to all of London’s communities. Not in the often crude way of the incumbent Mayor, but rather to forge links and foster integration between the city’s established communities.

The London I know is already a fantastic city. It deserves a fantastic Conservative candidate who can lead it confidently and successfully into the next decade. With the right candidate in place, the Conservatives are in a strong position to take over the government of the world’s premier city.