Is it worth 4/1 that she’ll be the one to take on Boris?

Until now I have followed the received wisdom that Ken is a near certianty to secure his party’s nomination for London mayor in that other Labour election that will be taking place in the capital next month alongside the vote for next leader.

The wily Ken, the argument goes, has been about for so long and he has such name recognition that he’s almost untouchable.

But is he? Are his campaign messages that sound like him not having moved on from his 2008 defeat resonating with the ordinary party members and trade unionists who will decide his fate?

If you’ve got 20 minutes it’s worth watching the recent London Politics Show debate between him and Oona King. His challenger has come on enormously and makes one telling point after another.

King also appears to be getting the backing of the Labour establishment with prominent figures like Yougov boss, Peter Kellner, and telly historian, Simon Sharma, named as financial backers .

Ladbrokes have Oona at 4/1 to get the nomination. That might be worth a flutter. She’s 8/1 to win the mayoralty.

Ken is still favourite but Oona has better than a 4/1 chance.

Mike Smithson