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Zac Goldsmith’s chances of becoming next Mayor of London received a significant boost today after the Greens said they would back him for second preference.

The multi-millionaire Tory MP for Richmond, a committed environmentalist, has been under pressure from senior Tory figures to throw his hat into the ring. He has publicly ruled out standing but sources close to him suggested he may be open to considering the prospect.

Labour is expected to perform well in next year’s mayoral contest. Almost 100,000 Londoners — eight per cent of voters — supported the Green party in 2012 so their second-preference votes could be vital. Green peer Baroness Jenny Jones, who stood as the party’s mayoral candidate last time, said it was likely that many Greens would back the Tory MP over any Labour rival.

She said: “Most, though not all, Greens would usually vote Labour in a second vote in an election like the London mayoralty. But if Zac Goldsmith is standing, it’s a different scenario. Many of us very much like that he comes across as very green and committed and passionate.”

Baroness Jones said many Greens feared that Labour front-runner Tessa Jowell would bring former transport secretary Andrew Adonis to City Hall. A strong proponent of new Thames crossings, he is mistrusted by many in the green lobby.

Mr Goldsmith did not comment.