Within a week of starting his new job as Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has returned to the campaign trail, to encourage the people of Tooting to vote for Rosena Allin-Khan in the upcoming by-election.

Wandsworth Times:

Mr Khan, who held the seat for 11 years before stepping down, joined the junior doctor outside Tooting Broadway station on Monday to begin the month long campaign.

He said: "It is going to be neck-and-neck, every single person who wants a champion for Tooting must vote for Rosena.

"I think she will be a great MP, dare I say it, even better than the last one."

May 11: Confirmed: Tooting by-election will be held on June 16 following Sadiq Khan's resignation

May 13: Conservatives set to appoint Dan Watkins as their candidate for Tooting by-election

May 14: Junior doctor Rosena Allin-Khan selected as Labour's candidate for Tooting by-election​

Dr Allin-Khan has been an emergency doctor for 11 years, working in the Accident and Emergency department at St George's Hospital.

A mum-of-two, she will advocate her Tooting connections, born and bred in the town and raising her family here too.

She said: "I have always been really impressed with the work he [Sadiq Khan] has done in the community, he has been inspiring to me.

"I believe that Tooting needs a voice to stand up for key issues like the NHS, to address the housing criss and to make Tooting a safe place to live.

"Living here and being from here, when the opportunity came up for an MP candidate, I thought I would love to continue his legacy."

Wandsworth Times:

As a junior doctor, Dr Allin-Khan has been vocal and supportive of strike action taken by her colleagues.

She said: "It was the saddest day for the NHS when junior doctors felt they had no choice but to strike.

"It has been an incredibly distressing time for the NHS family.

"I am optimistic that they will fight hard to find a solution and not have to continue the strikes.

"If this does not happen, I will be tireless in my pursuit to take this issue to the government and fighting for patients and their wellbeing, as that is what this is about."

Dr Allin-Khan said her work in the A and E department had allowed her to see many facets of human life, with issues like homelessness and the effect of insecurity impacting on NHS waiting rooms and hospitals.

On Tooting issues, Dr Allin-Khan said she is pro Crossrail 2 in Tooting, although she has also said she wants to keep the area affordable.

Crossrail 1 has added £5.5bn to house prices along the route.

She said: "It will bring economic development to Tooting which will benefit the area and everyone who lives here.

"We need more affordable housing that is something I will work with Sadiq on to ensure it happens here."

Dr Allin-Khan said she and Mr Khan had "shared values" and that she could think of no greater honour than working with him for a better Tooting.

She has been a councillor since 2014, and was deputy leader of the Labour group in Wandsworth Council.

Wandsworth Times:

Her job fighting to keep Tooting Labour will not be an easy one, with a slim majority of about 2,500 votes in 2015.

Dan Watkins, the Conservative candidate, has been working in the community since then, on Crossrail and with a business awards project to name just a few.

George Galloway announced he would not be standing, a decision he said he took to prevent a "Tory victory".

Dr Allin-Khan said: "This is an exciting opportunity for Tooting to select who is going to be their voice in Parliament.

"I hope they will be enthused to get out an have their say.

"I have been an elected representative in Tooting for two years and I am confident about my work in the community.

"George Galloway is his own man, I am confident in the messages that I will put forward."

The by-election will be held on June 16.