THE chips were down last night for two Labour politicians as they were grilled over why they want to be the next Mayor of London.

The Barracuda Fish and Chip Shop served up a political treat for Labour activists as former MPs Oona King and Ken Livingstone dueled over who should be the party's official candidate for mayor in 2012.

Mr Livingstone is hoping to regain the job he lost to Boris Johnson two years ago, while Ms King is making a bid to re-enter top-level politics since she was defeated in the 2005 General Election in Bethnal Green and Bow.

Yannis Christofis, owner of the shop in Headstone Drive, acted as host for the dinner, which was organised by Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West.