Candidates for the London mayoral and Assembly elections on 2 May have been announced.
There are 13 candidates for London Mayor, including the current mayor and Labour candidate Sadiq Khan. Khan is looking to win a third term and is currently leading the polls. The Conservative candidate is Susan Hall, the Liberal Democrats’ Rob Blackie, and the Green candidate is Zoe Garbett.
Other political parties fielding candidates are the Animal Welfare Party, ReformUK, the Social Democratic Party, London Real Party, Britain First, three independent candidates and satirical candidate Count Binface.
The winner this time will be decided by whoever gets the most votes (“first past the post”) where previously Londoners were able to give their second and third choice for the role and the winner was decided by who gained the most support overall. This time, you will simply put an ‘X’ in the box next to your preferred candidate on a pink ballot paper.
As for Putney, we are part of the Borough of Wandsworth and will be represented by a London Assembly member for Merton and Wandsworth. The candidates for that position are:
- Leonie Cooper (Labour)
- Ellie Cox (Conservative)
- Tania Marszalek (Reform UK)
- Pippa Maslin (Green Party)
- Sue Wixley (Liberal Democrat)
The constituency winner will also be decided by the “first past the post” system meaning you put a single ‘X’ next to your preferred candidate on a yellow ballot paper.
In addition to the 14 constituency members that are voted onto the Greater London Authority (GLA), Londoners will also vote for 11 to represent London as a whole. Each party puts forward a list of candidates and the spaces are allocated according to a mathematical formula (the ‘Modified d’Hondt Formula’ if you want to know). You put a vote next to the party or the independent candidate of your choice on an orange ballot paper.
There are three London-wide candidates based in Wandsworth, and they are:
- Michael Squires (Communist Party)
- Sue Wixley (Liberal Democrat)
- Alessandro Gallo (Rejoin EU)
If you want more information about the election, including how to register to vote, ID requirements, how to complete your ballot papers, or general frequently asked questions, go to the London Elects website.
