Senior London Tories 'regard Coe as Boris successor'

Senior London Tories are thought to regard Coe as Johnson's "natural successor" with a broad appeal beyond traditional Conservative voters. But their efforts to persuade him to change his mind and stand in 2016 have so far come to nothing.

Coe has previously indicated his ambitions lie in international sport. He's widely tipped to be the next president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, a job which includes a prestigous place on the IOC.