Labour member of Parliament David Lammy has declared his interest in becoming the first black mayor of London during a fact-finding mission to several U.S. cities.

Speaking from Chicago before visiting Boston and New York last week, the London-born representative for Tottenham said that the job — which is attracting the interest of several other top Labour names — holds massive appeal and that he is preparing the ground for a likely bid for the Labour candidacy.

"I am thinking seriously about putting my hat into the ring to be Labour candidate for mayor in 2016," he said.