Tory hopes of unseating London mayor Sadiq Khan Tuesday suffered a setback when MP James Cleverly ruled himself out of the next race for City Hall.
Mr Cleverly, a former London Assembly member, was regarded as a possible front runner in the Conservative contest to choose a candidate for the 2020 election.
But the Braintree, Essex MP and party Vice Chair became the latest high profile figure to dash the hopes of party activists.
Mr Cleverly tweeted: 'we will have a strong candidate who will beat weak, petulant and disappointing Sadiq Khan in 2020 but it won't be me.'
Putney MP and former cabinet minister Justine Greening ruled herself out last week. Her decision was mirrored Monday by London MEP Syed Kamall.
The Conservatives set a deadline of midday Wednesday for aspiring candidates to apply but party bosses will be alarmed at the lack of heavyweight contenders.
London Assembly member Andrew Boff, former Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis and pro-Brexit entrepreneur Richard Tice have all expressed an interest.
