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The Conservatives have picked London assembly member Susan Hall as their candidate to challenge Sadiq Khan for Mayor of London next year.
Ms Hall beat rival Mozammel Hossain in a ballot of Tory members, winning 57 per cent of the vote to be selected.
Labour immediately branded the Tory candidate a “hard-right politician” – pointing to her support for Donald Trump, hard Brexit, and Liz Truss’s economic policies.
A dossier of previous statements by Ms Hall collated by Labour shows her support for the controversial US president. In 2020 she posted: “Come on Donald Trump – make sure you win”.
And last year she expressed her “deep joy” following Liz Truss mini budget, which caused financial chaos.
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The Independent reported in February 2022 that Ms Hall had caused an outcry after saying the Black community has a “problem with crime.”
In a post on social media following her selection Ms Hall said: “It is a huge honour to be the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London, I’m so grateful to everyone for their support.
“Thanks to [Mozammel Hossain] for his positive and hard fought campaign. I will work tirelessly to defeat Sadiq Khan and offer Londoners the change we need. “
The 2024 London mayoral election is due to be held on 2 May 2024. A poll by Redfield & Wilton released last month found Sadiq Khan with a theoretical 8 per cent lead over an as-yet-unnamed Tory opponent.
A spokesperson for London Labour said: “The Conservative candidate for Mayor is a hard-right politician who couldn’t be more out of touch with our city and its values. She’s an outspoken supporter of Trump, Boris Johnson and a hard Brexit. She cheered Liz Truss's mini-budget, which sent mortgages and rents soaring. She doesn't stand up for women. And she hates London's diversity.
UK news in pictures Show all 50
1/ 50UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures 18 July 2023 Tony Blair (left) speaks with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change's Future of Britain Conference in central London
PA
UK news in pictures 17 July 2023 David Barber, the King’s Swan Marker, examines a swan during the annual census of the swan population along sections of the River Thames
Reuters
UK news in pictures 16 July 2023 Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz holds the winner’s trophy after beating Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during their men’s singles final tennis match on the last day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships
AFP/Getty
UK news in pictures 15 July 2023 Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur is interviewed in the Media Theatre in the Broadcast Centre after her defeat in the final of the Ladies’ Singles on day thirteen of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London
PA Wire
UK news in pictures 13 July 2023 His Majesty The King’s Coronation Ensemble and Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation Ensemble, during a photo call for the new Coronation display for the summer opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace.
PA
UK news in pictures 12 July 2023 Beavers are released by the National Trust at Wallington estate in Northumberland in a project to improve local biodiversity and mitigate the effects of climate change
PA
UK news in pictures 11 July 2023 People hug as they admire Submergence inside Propyard, Bristol, where a 20,000 sq ft immersive art installation, curated by art collective Squidsoup, titled Beyond Submergence, is being exhibited
PA
UK news in pictures 10 July 2023 Tracy Seven with a Beef Shorthorn as she prepares her cattle ahead of the Great Yorkshire Show at the Showground in Harrogate, which opens to the public on Tuesday.
PA
UK news in pictures 9 July 2023 Mark Wood, right, celebrates with Chris Woakes, left after England won the third test match in the series
AFP via Getty
UK news in pictures 8 July 2023 Zharnel Hughes of Shaftesbury celebrates after winning the Men’s 100m Final at the UK Athletics Championships at Manchester Regional Arena
Getty
UK news in pictures 7 July 2023 Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a backhand against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the Men's Singles second round match during day five of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Getty
UK news in pictures 6 July 2023 Queen Camilla during a visit to Lochcarron of Scotland at the Waverley textile mill in Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders, as part of the first Holyrood Week since the King's coronation.
PA
UK news in pictures 5 July 2023 Anti-monarchy protesters hold placards near the St Giles’ Cathedral on the day of the National Service of Dedication and Thanksgiving for Britain’s King Charles, in Edinburgh
Reuters
UK news in pictures 4 July 2023 Andy Murray celebrates break point against Ryan Peniston in their men’s singles first round match at Wimbledon
Getty
UK news in pictures 3 July 2023 A cigar smoked by Winston Churchill, which is expected to fetch ￡600-800 is pictured on his statue in Westerham, Kent
PA
UK news in pictures 2 July 2023 England’s Ben Stokes hits a six off the bowling of Australia’s Josh Hazlewood during the last day of the second Ashes test at Lords Cricket Ground in London
Action Images via Reuters
UK news in pictures 1 July 2023 Pata Yamaha Prometeon rider Toprak Razgatiloglu followed by Aruba.It Racing - Ducati rider Alvaro Bautista (right) during the World SBK race 1 on day two of the FIM Superbike World Championship 2023 at Donington Park, Derby
PA
UK news in pictures 30 June 2023 Rembrandt Harmensz’s Portrait of Jan Willemsz, van der Pluym and Jaapgen Carels is held by gallery staff, during a photo call for highlights from the forthcoming Classic Week Sales, at Christie’s, London.
PA
UK news in pictures 29 June 2023 A visitor walks through a part of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s installation “You, Me and The Balloons” during a preview ahead of the start of the Manchester International Festival
Reuters
UK news in pictures 28 June 2023 England player Jonny Bairstow carries a “Just Stop Oil” pitch invader during day one of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground
Getty
UK news in pictures 27 June 2023 A Dolly Parton impersonator banned from Facebook protests outside the offices of parent company Meta in King’s Cross, London, as part of their “Stop Banning Us” appeal
Lucy North/PA
UK news in pictures 26 June 2023 Glastonbury site clean-up operation in progress
PA
UK news in pictures 25 June 2023 Lil Nas X performs on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury
AFP via Getty
UK news in pictures 24 June 2023 Chemical Brothers perform beneath the Arcadia spider in the very early morning at the Glastonbury Festival
PA
UK news in pictures 23 June 2023 A performer entertains festivalgoers in the circus field at Glastonbury festival
AFP/Getty
UK news in pictures 22 June 2023 Ladies Day at Royal Ascot Racecourse
AP
UK news in pictures 21 June 2023 Katherine Jenkinson from Carlisle with her jersey calf in the wash bay at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh, ahead of the Royal Highland Show
PA
UK news in pictures 20 June 2023 The sunrises at 04.25am at St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, on the North East coast of England, the day before Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year
PA
UK news in pictures 19 June 2023 The King and Queen depart the annual Order of the Garter Service
PA
UK news in pictures 17 June 2023 Typhoon fighter jets fly over The Mall after the Royal family attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London, as King Charles III celebrates his first official birthday since becoming sovereign.
PA
UK news in pictures 16 June 2023 A peregrine falcon nesting at Malham Cove, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park
PA
UK news in pictures 15 June 2023 Newborn alpaca Sir Steveo, who has been named after one of his keepers, ventures outside in the Pets Farm area of Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling
PA
UK news in pictures 14 June 2023 Grace Kumar’s father and Barnaby Webber’s brother, Charlie, embrace ahead of a vigil at the University of Nottingham after they and Ian Coates were killed and another three hurt in connected attacks on 13 June
PA
UK news in pictures 13 June 2023 Police forensics officers on Ilkeston Road
PA
UK news in pictures 12 June 2023 People relax in a suspended swimming pool as hot weather continues, in London
Reuters
UK news in pictures 11 June 2023 Usain Bolt and teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning Soccer Aid 2023
Action Images via Reuters
UK news in pictures 10 June 2023 A cyclist trains in the early morning, as hot weather continues, in Richmond Park, London
Reuters
UK news in pictures 9 June 2023 A performer walks on a tightrope at Covent Garden during a sunny day in London
AP
UK news in pictures 8 June 2023 A women rides her horse through the river during the Appleby Horse Fair
PA
UK news in pictures 7 June 2023 The Princess of Wales during a game of walking rugby during her visit to meet local and national male rugby players at Maidenhead Rugby Club
PA
UK news in pictures 6 June 2023 An aerial view shows the dry bed of Woodhead Reservoir, revealed by a falling water level after a prolonged period of dry weather, near Glossop, northern England
AFP/Getty
UK news in pictures 5 June 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak onboard Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover
PA
UK news in pictures 4 June 2023 A hot air balloon rises into the sky above Ragley Hall, Alcester, south of Birmingham in central England
AFP via Getty Images
UK news in pictures 2 June 2023 Skaters use the mini ramp at the Wavelength Spring Classic festival in Woolacombe Bay in Devon
PA
UK news in pictures 1 June 2023 The And Beyond installation, during a photo call for the London Design Biennale at Somerset House in London
PA
UK news in pictures 31 May 2023 Emergency services attending to a blaze at a derelict listed building in Samuel Street, Belfast
PA
UK news in pictures 30 May 2023 A robot named Stella interacts with visitors during the International Conference on Robotics and Automation ICRA in London
AP
UK news in pictures 29 May 2023 Dave Hackett and his daughter Daisy, five, explore the laburnum arch in the grounds of Preston Tower, East Lothian, in the warm Spring Bank Holiday weather
PA
UK news in pictures 28 May 2023 Great Britain’s Nick Bandurak scores their side’s third goal of the game during the FIH Hockey Pro League men’s match at Lee Valley, London
PA
UK news in pictures 27 May 2023 People enjoy the sunny weather at a park in London
AP
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“Londoners deserve better than a candidate who represents the worst of the Tory failure and incompetence over the last 13 years.
“The London election next year will be a two-horse race and the choice is clear – a Labour Mayor with a positive vision who will continue to build a fairer, greener and safer London for everyone, or the extreme Tory candidate, who stands for cuts to London’s public services, inequality and division. The Tories have failed the country. They can't be trusted to run London.“
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1/ 1Tories pick Trump supporter as London mayor candidate
Tories pick Trump supporter as London mayor candidate
Susan Hall speaks to the media at the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge, west London, after being named as the Conservative Party candidate for the Mayor of London election in 2024
PA
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