Tories 'need to pick ultimate outsider Moz Hossain' to beat Sadiq Khan

Tories ‘need to pick ultimate outsider’ to beat Sadiq Khan: Pollster says Moz Hossain – who did not own shoes until he was aged 16 but grew up to be a high-flying barrister – would have best chance in London Mayor battle as Priti Patel backs him

The Tories need to pick an ‘outsider’ to have a chance of defeating Sadiq Khan next year, a top pollster warned today.

James Johnson, who founded JL Partners and previously ran research for Downing Street, said Moz Hossain’s colourful back story and status as a criminal lawyer made him the best option. 

He suggested that rival Susan Hall would be a ‘fine’ candidate but ‘a dull one’, arguing that the Labour incumbent would win ‘by default’. 

The assessment came as former home secretary Priti Patel endorsed Mr Hossain to become the party’s standard-bearer in the capital.

The Tory candidate is due to be confirmed on July 19 after a chaotic race.

Daniel Korski withdrew from the race last week after being accused of groping a female TV producer a decade ago – something he denies. 

James Johnson, who founded JL Partners and previously ran research for Downing Street, said Moz Hossain’s (pictured) colourful backstory and status as a criminal lawyer made him the best option

Mr Johnson suggested that Susan Hall would be a ‘fine’ Tory candidate but ‘a dull one’, arguing that Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan would win ‘by default’

Mr Hossain has been dubbed ‘mystery Moz’ because of his sudden arrival, grew up in a family of ten in Bangladesh before moving to Britain at 21 to study law.

He is now the first Bangladesh-born criminal barrister to become a Queen’s or King’s Counsel.

He is a bus driver’s son like Labour’s Sadiq Khan, who will fight to win a third term in the mayoral election on May 2 next year. 

The main pledge from Mr Hossain, who lives in Mile End and is single, is to make London’s streets safer.

Writing on the grass-roots ConservativeHome site, Mr Johnson said Mr Khan was beatable amid deeply unpopular policies such as ULEZ – but only by an unconventional Tory contender.

‘Voters want radicalism, excitement, and a clear alternative to what they see as a failed Mayor,’ Mr Johnson said. 

‘High up their list of priorities for their next mayor is someone who is ‘not a career politician’. 

‘London Tories cannot afford a candidate who is seen as a classic Conservative in a climate where the Tories are twenty points behind in the national polls.’

He added: ‘A ‘safety first’ approach will lose the Tories the election by default. It did not work in 2021, nor will it in 2024. 

‘Nominating Hossain would be a gamble. But if London Conservatives want to win next year, the data shows that their best bet is to vote for Mozammel Hossain.’

Ms Patel, MP for Witham, told the Guido Fawkes website: ‘The governance of London requires radical change and fresh Conservative leadership. 

‘I want a London which is safe for everyone, open to the world, dynamic and no longer in retreat. 

‘Moz Hossain can beat Labour’s Sadiq Khan and make London safe and a great City again. 

‘He will bring policing back into London’s communities, scrap the ULEZ tax on our drivers and make London open for business again. Conservative members have the strongest choice in Moz to beat Sadiq Khan and now is the time to vote for this change.’ 

The assessment came as former home secretary Priti Patel (pictured) endorsed Mr Hossain to become the party’s standard-bearer in the capital

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