Labour insiders want Dragons Den star Deborah Meaden to be their candidate for London Mayor

DRAGONS Den star Deborah Meaden is in the frame to be Labour’s next candidate for London Mayor, according to party insiders.

Sadiq Khan is widely expected to stand down when he finishes his current term - and the unofficial race to succeed him is already underway.

Labour MPs Dawn Butler and Dr Rosena Allin Khan have got their eyes on the job - which Boris Johnson did before becoming PM.

But some party insiders are keen for a big-hitter away from Westminster and want the Dragon, 65, to be their candidate.

A senior Labour Party source said: “Deborah’s name is being talked about.

“She has star power and business know-how, and she is close to Rachel Reeves.”

Deborah ran a multi million pound family holiday business before finding fame on the hit BBC TV show.

She has posted several messages on Twitter / X which are supportive of Labour and the chancellor Rachel Reeves.

In one she defended Ms Reeves over accusations the Labour politicians had sexed up her CV.

And in another she praised Ms Reeves on “getting on with it” by appointing a commissioner to investigate Covid corruption.

Labour may be pitching hard for Deborah to be their woman in City Hall.

But it remains to be seen if the telly star will invest - or tell them “I'm out.”