A Hatfield councillor has emerged as the Conservative frontrunner for next year's London mayoral election, and already has the backing of plenty of senior Tories.

Hatfield Villages councillor Samuel Kasumu believes he is right man to take on current Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, with the election set to be held on May 2, 2024.

The 35-year-old has already received the backing of Conservatives including Priti Patel, Welwyn Hatfield MP Grant Shapps, and Steve Baker.

"I am delighted to have these endorsements," he said in a statement.

"Very soon London Conservatives will have the opportunity to select the candidate they feel is best suited to pull off one of the greatest upsets in modern political history.

"I believe that person is me, and I look forward to making the case in the coming weeks and months."

Ms Patel described Mr Kasumu as "authentic and hardworking", while Mr Shapps called him a "dedicated campaigner" who has "London in his heart".

Mr Kasumu also worked as a special adviser on civil society and communications for then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson between 2019 and 2021, but quit over fears the Government was exploiting cultural divisions in society.

He also claimed we would likely see "another Jo Cox" if this continued, predicting the murder of Southend West MP Sir David Amess, who was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea just months later.