Furious London Tories fear low-wattage mayor shortlist looks like surrender

Observers say a strong candidate could get closer to Labour under new voting system – but names in frame lack heft

For most parties, having a former prime minister labelled a liar and exiting the Commons amid furious internal rows would be the biggest political disaster in years. But if you ask some Conservatives, it wasn’t even the worst this month.

Even the most optimistic Tories in London are politely baffled, it is fair to say, by the decision of party officials to unveil a shortlist of candidates for mayor comprising Daniel Korski, Susan Hall and Mozammel Hossain.