Rory Stewart quits from London Mayoral race

London mayoral candidate Rory Stewart has dropped out of the race to replace Sadiq Khan after the campaign was delayed for a year.

The former Tory cabinet minister gave the excuse that it was impossible to ask unpaid campaign volunteers to work for another 12 months.

The independent candidate said it had been an “agonising decision” for him to make.

It is with sadness that I have decided not to run in the postponed London Mayoral election next year. Thank you to all who supported me, engaged with the campaign and shared my vision of all London can achieve. pic.twitter.com/yF4loR2nvL

— Rory Stewart (@RoryStewartUK) May 6, 2020

The announcement comes the day before what would have been polling day.

It would have been the honour of my life to serve the city as mayor, but while the considerable challenges of running as an independent were manageable for a normal race they are forbidding for an extended and delayed election.”