Meet the Tory hopeful seeking to oust Sadiq Khan in London mayor election

ملخص مفصل

Sara Gezdari said a high-profile jewellery store robbery in Richmond earlier this year persuaded her to run for mayor

Conservative mayoral hopeful Sara Gezdari says her experience as an immigrant and mother has shaped her vision for London as she seeks her party's nomination for the 2028 City Hall contest.

Born in Albania, Gezdari moved to Italy with her family following the country's civil unrest in 1997 before later settling in south-west London, where she now lives with her two children.

The international politics graduate was the Conservative candidate for Richmond Park at the 2024 general election, finishing behind Liberal Democrat Sarah Olney. She is now one of three contenders hoping to become the party's candidate for Mayor of London.

Gezdari said a high-profile jewellery store robbery in Richmond earlier this year persuaded her to enter the race to succeed Sir Sadiq Khan at City Hall.

Three men took to the windows of Gregory and Co. Jewellers, located on Paved Court in Richmond – an iconic filming location for the Apple TV show Ted Lasso – with sledgehammers before making off with £225,000 worth of stock.

She is now one of three choices to be the Tory candidate to run in the London mayoral race in 2028. Ms Gezdari is up against former foreign secretary Sir James Cleverly and Westminster councillor Festus Akinbusoye, with ballot papers having gone out to Conservative members in London this week.

Her message is based on a simple prospect of returning London to its “former glory”.

City Hall would, as ever, fervently push back against this – the Mayor has regularly espoused statistics showing that crime of all different types is coming down under his leadership.

For many, however, it is the perception of safety that has disappeared in recent years.

مطلع المقال، مقتطف من Evening Standard. لقراءة المقال كاملًا، افتحه على موقع الناشر.