Sadiq Khan is backing Keir Starmer to be the next Labour leader.

The Mayor of London says the shadow Brexit secretary is “the best person to unite our party”.

Current Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn announced he would quit in the wake of the General Election, which saw the party lose 60 seats in Parliament.

Mr Starmer is now going head-to-head with Momentum favourite Rebecca Long-Bailey, and towns advocate Lisa Nandy to lead the party.

Mr Khan says he has known the Holborn and St Pancras MP for “decades” and believes he can take on the Conservatives and win a majority for Labour.

The Mayor has until today refused to reveal his preferred leadership candidate – although he ruled out supporting Ms Long-Bailey last week.

But writing on Twitter this morning, Mr Khan backed Mr Starmer.

He said: “I will be voting for Keir Starmer to be the next Labour leader.

“I’ve known Keir for decades. He’s the best person to unite our party, take the fight to the Tories and put Labour in government.”

Responding on Twitter, Mr Starmer thanked the Mayor for his support.

He said: “I’m honoured to have received Sadiq’s backing to be the next Labour leader.

“Sadiq is demonstrating that Labour in power can change lives.

“I look forward to campaigning alongside him to keep London Labour.”

Mr Starmer, former Director of Public Prosecutions and an MP since 2015, is currently the frontrunner in the race to succeed Mr Corbyn.

He has won the backing of 88 MPs and 369 local Labour party branches, as well as trade unions and affiliate groups including Unison and USDAW.

Rebecca Long-Bailey has 33 MPs and 161 local party branches backing her, as well as Unite union.

And Lisa Nandy has 31 MPs, 70 constituency Labour party branches, and the Jewish Labour Movement and National Union of Mineworkers.

But the next leader will ultimately be chosen by a ballot of party members.

Voting among opened this week, and the results of the leadership and deputy leadership contest will be announced on April 4.