Tory MP Zac Goldsmith set to woo the 'green vote' with mayor of London bid

The Tories will be boosted after Zac Goldsmith dramatically announced his plan to enter the race to become the next mayor of London today (9 June), a move which could see the blues hold onto City Hall after Boris Johnson stands down next year.

The young Richmond Park MP, elected to the green benches in 2010, is an environmentalist and is expected to put blocking a third runway at Heathrow airport at the top of his campaign.

"London needs a mayor who can work with government to get the resources that London needs to deal with massive pressures on housing, transport and policing but is also strong enough to stand up to the government when it gets things wrong," he told the Evening Standard.

But before Goldsmith can take his campaign any further, the Standard reported he will first gain the consent of his London constituents.

The Old Etonian will ask the local electorate: "Do you give your consent to Zac Goldsmith to stand for election to be mayor of London?"

The effort will cost the 40-year-old at least £41,000 ($62,653) and constituents will have until Monday 22 June to reply.

The move comes after former England and Arsenal footballer Sol Campbell announced his bid to gain the Tory nomination and become the next mayor of London.

The 40-year-old argued that he could "bring something new to the table" and told The Sun that "I know I'm not going to be a frontrunner".

Goldsmith and Campbell will be up against Stephen Greenhalgh, Andrew Boff and Ivan Massow in a five-horse race for the Conservative nomination.

Meanwhile, Tessa Jowell, Diane Abbott, Sadiq Khan and David Lammy are some of the biggest names hoping to secure the Labour candidacy.