London Mayoral candidate forced to stand down over vaginal mesh concerns

A London Mayoral candidate is standing down from the race because of problems with a vaginal mesh implant.

The Women’s Equality Party’s (WEP) Professor Sue Black has been hampered by ongoing health issues related to the device, forcing her to be replaced by party leader Mandu Reid ahead of the election.

The shock announcement comes after Ms Reid stepped down from City Hall following 12 years in various roles to lead the party full time. She has paid tribute to her former candidate and promised to put equality at the heart of her campaign.

Explaining her decision to withdraw from the May 7 contest, computer scientist Professor Black told Metro.co.uk: ‘I just had a day where I realised I wasn’t going to be able to do it. It was a depressing day.

‘I am a very energetic person but I just would not be able to wholeheartedly go for it… I am not in a fit state to lead the charge.’

Calling for a ‘complete worldwide ban’ on mesh, Ms Black explained that she lost her energy after complications with her implant meant she needed a second operation just before Christmas.

She had previously had ‘weird issues’ which she blamed on mesh, including pain, extreme thirst and lumps on her skin – but said other patients faced problems that are ‘so much worse’.

The mum-of-four, 57, who hopes to eventually make a full recovery, added: ‘Mandu has enough energy for both of us – she is an incredible person.’

The WEP are not expected to be serious contenders for the position, with current Mayor Sadiq Khan widely expected to be re-elected.

Competition will also come from Conservative Shaun Bailey, Green Party leader Sian Berry, independent Rory Stewart, Liberal Democrat Siobhan Benita and a number of less well-known candidates.

But Ms Reid, who resigned as a Senior Programme Delivery Manager of Community Sport before Christmas, says she would be a mayor with a ‘different kind of politics’ and introduce a citizens assembly.

Branding herself ‘devastated for Sue’, she hailed her colleague’s ‘ground-breaking’ work in the tech world and on gender equality.

Hitting out at the vaginal mesh ‘scandal’ which she said has ‘irreversibly harmed thousands’ of women, she promised to install a Women’s Research Institute in London to focus on female health.

Expanding on her priorities for the race, Ms Reid told Metro.co.uk that London has the most expensive childcare in Europe, the country’s lowest maternal employment rates and the biggest gender pay gap – meaning parents are leaving the city.

She said: ‘I would increase the supply of new social housing, ensure social care is prioritised in the transformation plans of the London Health Board and make childcare and social care pivotal to London’s economic development strategy.’

Ms Reid claimed her plan would help ‘ensure that everyone can afford to live, work and spend time with their families in our wonderful city.’

Other candidates for the role have been setting out some of their priorities in a series of exclusive interviews with Metro.co.uk.

This week Mr Khan said he would launch a commission to look at trust in public institutions after explaining his personal fear of the Metropolitan Police during his youth, while Ms Berry said she wanted an ‘immediate’ rent freeze.

Both Mr Bailey and Mr Stewart have said they would prioritise safety on the capital’s streets if they are elected, while Ms Benita would like to bring the Women’s World Cup to the capital and legalise weed.

Ms Reid, who also wants to ‘heal’ the city from violence against women and knife crime, suggested she is open to the idea of endorsing another candidate for a second preference vote.

Founding leader Sophie Walker came sixth out of 12 candidates in the 2016 London Mayoral election but all seven of the party’s candidates lost their deposits at the general election a year later.

Yet the party hailed its 2019 campaign which targeted MPs facing prominent accusations of abuse against women. All five lost their seats.

The party is also standing 25 candidates for the London Assembly.

Ms Black has not ruled out running for the mayoralty in future.