OPINION - The Standard View: London's mayoral contest is looking much closer

The mayoral election, which to date seemed a drearily foregone conclusion, is looking like more of a real contest. Conservative contender Susan Hall is closing the gap with Sadiq Khan, according to a poll which suggests the Labour Mayor is just 13 points ahead of her. This is still a handsome advantage, and similar to his lead over his previous Tory rival, Shaun Bailey, at the same point in the last election (although the results are hard to compare precisely). But the result of that contest in the first round was a gap of less than five points. And the crucial difference between this election and the last is that it will be decided using first past the post; so no more transfers from small parties, from which Mr Khan has previously profited.