Heidi Alexander quits as Labour MP to take London deputy mayor role
Labour MP Heidi Alexander will quit the House of Commons this summer to become Sadiq Khan’s deputy mayor for transport after Val Shawcross on Tuesday announced her intention to retire from the role.
The move will spark a fierce battle for former shadow health secretary’s safe Lewisham seat and see her working with Khan once again after successfully chairing his mayoral campaign in 2016.
Of her appointment to the role Alexander said: "I know just how important it is we ensure everyone has access to a high-quality and affordable public transport network, with safe cycling routes across the capital. London is a fantastic city. I know Sadiq wants its transport system to be the envy of the world and I am looking forward to playing my part in making that happen."
Alexander was first elected in 2010 and amassed a majority of 21,000 in her constituency at the last election, presenting a tricky task for any opposition looking to pry the seat from Labour hands.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn paid tribute to Alexander in light of her confirmed departure, saying that the MP would "put her talents and knowledge to great use for the people of London."
The former shadow health secretary has butted heads with Corbyn in the past, resigning from the shadow cabinet in 2016 and pushing for the party to adopt a more anti-Brexit stance.
A number of names are already understood to be in the frame to stand for the Labour party in an upcoming by-election, including freshly minted Lewisham councillor Sakina Sheikh, GMB organiser Nadine Houghton, and Claudia Webbe, former chair of the Metropolitan police’s Operation Trident and now a Labour NEC member.
Away from parliamentary politics meanwhile, Khan also said he intends to nominate Alexander to succeed Shawcross as deputy chair of Transport for London and paid tribute to the outgoing deputy mayor.
Khan said: "Val is hugely respected by politicians from all parties and her deep expertise on transport in London has made life better for millions of Londoners – whether making our public transport network more accessible and affordable, delivering huge projects such as the Elizabeth Line, or improving TfL as an organisation."