Idris Elba has emerged as a frontrunner to become Labour’s next candidate for Mayor of London following his recent high-profile work tackling knife crime, according to reports.
The actor, who recently presented Our Knife Crime Crisis on BBC One, is said to be in contention to replace Sir Sadiq Khan.
The 52-year-old has won acclaim for his activism and his clear message to young people that gangs “are not big and scary”—a theme emphasised in his recent documentary, Idris Elba: A Year Of Knife Crime.
Sir Sadiq, who was recently knighted, is widely expected to step down at the next mayoral election, having held the office since 2016.
Elba—known for playing TV detective Luther and for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in a 2016 film—is “top of the list,” a Labour insider told The Sun.
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“Idris has star appeal — but he is also a thoughtful political campaigner,” a source told the paper.
“Labour [has] a choice about who we choose to run in London. We can pick a Labour insider and try to make them famous. Or we can pick someone famous aligned with Labour. Idris would be at the absolute top of our wish list.”
Elba, who was previously considered a frontrunner for the role of James Bond, was born in Hackney and currently lives in east London. Alongside his acting and activism, he also works as a DJ and producer.
In January, he told BBC Radio 4 that more could be done to make kitchen knives safer to help reduce violent crime rates.
“Not all kitchen knives need to have a point on them, that sounds like a crazy thing to say," he said, "but you can still cut your food without the point on your knife, which is an innovative way to look at it.”
His recent documentary was met with positive feedback, despite some of the scenes perhaps feeling out of place.
“When Idris Elba speaks, people listen,” wrote the Standard’s Vicky Jessop in a four star review of Our Knife Crime Crisis.
“More importantly, his fame doesn’t get in the way of his ability to connect with his interviewees, even if it does grant him access to the corridors of power. In one particularly mind-boggling scene, the King is shown greeting Elba at the door to Buckingham Palace. Everybody, it seems, wants a bit of his stardust.”
Labour MPs Dawn Butler, Stella Creasy and Rosena Allin-Khan are other names that have been linked to the Mayor of London post.
