London Mayoral candidates announced including popular Youtubers and new political parties

By Joe Talora, local democracy reporter

Londoners will head to the polls on Thursday May 6 to vote for the next Mayor of London, and we now know all the candidates who will be appearing on the ballot.

Standing alongside the candidates representing the traditional political parties are two popular Youtubers, several independents, and candidates representing smaller parties.

This year’s election also sees the formation of several new political parties, including Laurence Fox’s Reclaim Party and Brian Rose’s London Real Party.

The full list of candidates standing to be Mayor of London, in the order they will appear on the ballot, is as follows:

• Shaun Bailey – Conservative Party
• Kam Balayev – Renew
• Sian Berry – Green Party
• Count Binface – Count Binface for Mayor of London
• Piers Corbyn – Let London Live
• Max Fosh – Independent
• Laurence Fox – The Reclaim Party
• Peter Gammons – UKIP
• Richard Hewison – Rejoin EU
• Vanessa Hudson – Animal Welfare Party – People, Animals, Environment
• Steve Kelleher – Social Democratic Party
• Sadiq Khan – Labour Party
• David Kurten – Heritage Party
• Farah London – Independent
• Valerie Brown – The Burning Pink Party
• Nims Obunge – Independent
• Niko Omilana – Independent
• Luisa Porritt – Liberal Democrats
• Mandu Reid – Women’s Equality Party
• Brian Rose – London Real Party

In order to have been included on the ballot, candidates will have had to secure 66 signatures from registered voters in London, two in each borough and two from the City of London.

Candidates will have also had to pay a deposit of £10,000 to have their manifesto included in a booklet sent to all voters, with the deposit only returned if they secure at least five per cent of the votes.

According to the latest opinion polls, only four of the 20 candidates are expected to reach at least five per cent of the vote and have their deposits returned.