Who will be the key players in the new Mayor’s team?

Who will be the key players in the new Mayor’s team?

Sadiq Khan will bring a new top team with him into City Hall. Here’s our look at the contenders for the top jobs.

Candidates for Chief of Staff:

  • David Bellamy — Sadiq’s campaign manager and his former Tooting agent, looks the favourite to become Chief of Staff
  • Dr Nick Bowes – The driving force behind Sadiq’s Manifesto
  • Patrick Hennessy – Communications Director for the Khan campaign and previously deputy director of communications under Ed Miliband. Hennessy is a former political editor at Sunday Telegraph with 30 years of journalism experience. He is likely to become the new Mayor’s Director of Communications.
  • Cllr Richard Watts – Current Leader of Islington Council, Richard Watts is a close ally of Sadiq Khan and would have the executive experience to help the new Mayor run his City Hall operation

Candidates for Deputy Mayor:

  • Cllr James Murray – The current Cabinet Member for Housing in Islington is mooted to be in line to be made Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. Islington and Murray have taken a tough stance with developers around the provision of affordable housing. His appointment is an indication that the new Mayor will be taking seriously his pledge to implement 50% affordable housing on new developments
  • Tom Copley AM – Current London Assembly Member, Copley has acquitted himself well as Labour’s Housing spokesperson on the GLA and retains an interest in arts and theatre. He could pick up either the Housing or the Culture brief
  • Lord Adonis – The former Labour Cabinet Minister and current Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission would have been Tessa Jowell’s Chief of Staff had she been successful. Given the scale of the infrastructure challenges facing the capital, there are rumours he could be made Deputy Mayor for Transport

Others to watch:

  • Jack Stenner – A loyal ally of Sadiq Khan, he was the Political Director of his Mayoral campaign. Though young, Stenner has significant parliamentary and Labour Party experience so may have a prominent role in the new Mayor’s office
  • Leah Kreitzman – Leah Kreitzman has worked with Sadiq Khan from 2006 to 2008 on communications and campaigns, and then from 2011 to 2012 as a political adviser. She reportedly has close links to London’s Jewish Community which could see her given a prominent role given the Labour Party’s current issues with anti-Semitism
  • Ali Picton – Sadiq’s Head of Operations and a senior adviser, she also serves as his diary and office manager and is a key advisor to the Mayor
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