Diane Abbot to run for London Mayor

Diane Abbott MP at The Women of the Year awards earlier this year Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

Diane Abbott, the serving MP for North Hackney and Stoke Newington, has announced her intention to run for the position of London's elected mayor in 2016.

She is the latest in a line of high-profile Labour figures who have said they will campaign to become London's mayor.

They include fellow MPs Tessa Jowell and David Lammy, and the journalist Christian Wolmar. Mr Wolmar and Mr Lammy are seeking nomination as Labour's candidate for the election and Ms Jowell has said she is working on a bid to become mayor, but has not yet formally announced.

Today Ms Abbott told ITV London she was working on potential policies, but that she thought stabilising rents, looking at the cost of fares and building affordable housing would be important for Londoners.

Commenting on her potential Labour rivals, she said: "I think Labour is fortunate to have some really great people who are talking about standing and I consider all of the Labour people personal friends, so I think it's going to be a great race."

Tottenham MP David Lammy has also said he will seek Labour's nomination to be London's next mayor Credit: Lindsey Parnaby/PA Wire

Asked if her constituents would be getting a watered-down MP she said: "No, Hackney is in no danger of having a watered-down MP, clearly if I became the mayor, I would step down, but we're a long way from that."

She added: "I want to be a unifying candidate and I want to be a candidate that runs a pluralistic campaign."

Asked about her chances of success, Ms Abbott said: "I think the campaign is absolutely wide open."