The former governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, has said that he might consider running for the position of Mayor of London.

In an interview in The Times newspaper, Mr Patten, the former Tory chairman and Cabinet minister, said: "It does depend, not just for me but for other people, on what the job looks like.

"I am sure, however, if the job was right ... that [it] would be an extremely attractive thing to do."

Chris Patten: I like to run things

His comments set the stage for an intriguing showdown between himself and the multi-millionaire novelist and former Conservative deputy chairman, Lord Archer, in a Tory "primary" to choose the official Conservative candidate for the job.

Mr Patten's comments fall short of an out-and-out commitment to run for the job.

But his words leave no doubt that he would like to be considered, should it match Tony Blair's vision of the job as a role for an ideas man to drive forward a distinctive agenda for the capital.

In his interview, Mr Patten also said that he would possibly like further jobs in the public services, admitting that he "liked running things".

Mr Patten has had a formidable political career

The prospects of Mr Patten running for the Mayor of London appear to be heightened by his doubts about returning to the House of Commons as an MP.

In the interview, he said: "That is the 110%, 18-carat honest answer. I really have not come to a firm conclusion and I don't want to seem to be grand about it.

"The notion that Conservative grandees can be parachuted into constituencies has been exploded with regular hilarity.

"You try and get parachuted in and you end up breaking both legs."

Lord Archer faces tough opposition

The news that Mr Patten is a potential candidate is the second blow to Lord Archer's hopes in the last few days.

At the weekend, the former leader of the City of London Corporation, Michael Cassidy, also claimed that Lord Archer had offered him a post running one of five portfolios which would be created if he became Mayor.

Lord Archer's hopes of election could dwindle if Mr Patten stands

The move was seen as an attempt to buy off Mr Cassidy. But the former City of London boss suggested he had ambitions of his own to run as a candidate.

Other candidates to have expressed an interest include the left-winger Ken Livingstone, though he would be highly unlikely to win the Labour Party's official endorsement, and the Liberal Democrats' Simon Hughes.

The Southwark and Bermondsey MP would almost certainly win his party's backing for the contest.

Other names linked to the post include Virgin's Richard Branson.

But in a final twist Mr Patten said his future will depend largely on what happens to the family's Norfolk terriers, Whisky and Soda.

"The extent to which we can base ourselves back in Britain will be affected in part by the quarantine regulations.

"Without our dogs, life would be very difficult. I certainly do not want to put them in quarantine. It is such a stupid policy with no scientific basis for it any more.

"People say you should not be soppy about animals but they become part of the family."
 

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