Boris, you're fired?

It seems that Sir Alan is being touted by some to take on Boris for the Mayoralty next time, this news hasn't gone down well with some, thinking this a desperate grab for celebrity.

The thinking behind the Sugar approach seems to be that Boris won because he was a celebrity figure, which I think is only half the story.

Boris was for some a celebrity vote, but without the anti-Ken, anti-Labour and pro-change feelings last year, celebrity or not, he would not have won.

There is a growing 'anyone but Ken' feeling, and without another credible candidate, it seems natural that people will look outside Parliament.

Celebrity for celebrity's sake is not what is needed, but if a businessman such as Michael Bloomberg can make a decent stab at running New York, then that should be no bar to Sir Alan. However, has he got a political bone in his body (has he got a Labour bone in his body?)

The pickings next time round are slim, Politicians such as David Lammy, Oona King and Tessa Jowell all tick some boxes, and perhaps if we could pick and mix their differing pro's then perhaps.

Young candidates such as Chuka Umunna, Rushanara Ali and Stella Creasy are all great hopes, but they will probably want to get elected first before thinking about the Mayor's office.

Local candidates such as Mayors Jules Pipe and Sir Robin Wales would be a safe pair of hands, Assembly Member John Biggs has been having great fun ripping into Boris in the GLA, and Claude Moraes is a good speaker and very likable, but none of the above have the broad appeal or name-recognition.

As with contenders for the party leadership post-Brown, there are plenty of candidates, but all with drawbacks.

We may need to look to those outside the political world, but perhaps we shouldn't select a man best known for the catchphrase "you're fired" when people all over the capital are losing their jobs.

I'm trying to think of other celebrity Labour backers, Sir Alex Ferguson...Mick Hucknell...Ross Kemp...oh dear.

Ken, all is forgiven.

James

UPDATE
I have seen the current betting for this and obviously forgot about Jon Cruddas, probably better placed as most. However, I have also thought of a couple not on the list. Alan Johnson is a genuine 'lahndoner' and would be instant front runner if he wanted it, a more leftfield candidate could be Alistair Campbell, his web 2.0 efforts, TV and charity work are going some way to detoxifying him, worth a punt?