Dianne Abbott Pic: Wikimedia Commons

Dianne Abbott, the long serving MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington could become the Labour candidate in the 2016 London Mayoral elections according to a recent YouGov poll.

Over 1,000 London adults were asked chose between Abbot and former Olympics supremo Tessa Jowell MP as the best Labour candidate to be the next Mayor of London. Seventeen per cent bacled Abbott with Jowell getting 14 per cent.

Abbott said the latest results were “encouraging”, adding: “We have got a year to go before Labour selects its candidate and I certainly don’t rule out running for Mayor.”

The poll has no direct influence on the Labour mayoral candidate as all candidates will be selected through a Labour Party member ballot in 2015. However, the party will take note of public opinion in the capital.

In May this year the process was changed to allow Labour Party members to hold the entire ballot; previously unions had 50 per cent of the vote and party membership the remainder.

Abbott stood for the Party leadership against Miliband in 2010 but was eliminated after first round only securing 7.2 per cent of the votes.