London MP and government minister Paul Scully has failed to make the shortlist to become the Conservative candidate to fight the city’s next mayoral contest.

He was beaten into the final three by Susan Hall, a member of the London Assembly, former Number 10 aide Daniel Korski and barrister Mozammel Hossain.

The shortlist was drawn up following interviews by a selection panel at Conservative party headquarters.

The eventual winner will go up against Labour mayor Sadiq Khan next May.

The successful Tory candidate is due to be announced on 19 July after a series of hustings and a ballot of party members.

Mr Scully was elected MP for Sutton and Cheam in 2015 and has been minister for London since 2020 but stood back from that role during the selection process.

As minister for technology and the digital economy, he had a key part in shaping the Online Safety Bill – legislation designed to protect people from harmful content while preserving principles of freedom of speech.