Watch: Sadiq Khan on running against ‘charming’ Zac Goldsmith

How is Sadiq Khan feeling about the prospect of taking on Zac Goldsmith, who is favourite to be the Tory London mayoral candidate? Shortly after he was unveiled as the Labour candidate, Sadiq Khan had a chat with Coffee House about his campaign. He seemed confident that he could beat Goldsmith but acknowledged he is a formidable opponent:

‘I like Zac, he’s a charming guy…let’s wait and see what the Tory party do. They still believe in democracy, let them vote for their candidate. Once they choose — it’s gonna be him, we know that — once they choose their candidate, well then see what happens. But, my key thing is to make sure I have a positive campaign — my policies, my priories for London rather than one dictated by who my opponent is going to be.’

Watch: what @sadiqkhan thinks about @ZacGoldsmith #labourmayor pic.twitter.com/x7HMCz83rF — Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) September 11, 2015

Khan also said he would step down as MP for Tooting if he is elected Mayor of London, saying ‘it’s a full time job’. But he will remain an MP throughout the campaign. If Khan wins in May 2016, this could prompt the first by-election of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour leadership. Corbyn winning tomorrow now looks like a certainty given Khan’s victory over Tessa Jowell. Although his campaign were feeling confident this morning, none of them predicted a nine point victory. Modestly, Khan told the press he ‘never thought it was going to be a close race’.