Rotterdam’s popular mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb has been urged by 13 of his fellow Labour mayors to challenge Diederik Samsom for the leadership of the PvdA (Labour party) ahead of next year’s general election.

‘Your party needs you,’ the mayors wrote in an open letter to the Volkskrant. ‘But more than that, this country needs a leader who is in tune with the times … and who can make sure the law is upheld.’

A number of other prominent Labour supporters, including chairman Hans Spekman, have urged Abouteleb to take part in a leadership contest but he has consistently refused.

He told television current affairs show Nieuwsuur in May that it would be extremely odd to suddenly challenge someone he had supported for years. And in June, he said he had ‘no wish’ to take part in a leadership contest.

Aboutaleb is widely liked across the political spectrum and, according to a recent poll, is even preferred over VVD leader Mark Rutte by supporters of the anti-Islam PVV. Aboutaleb, a Muslim, is known for his outspoken stance on radical Islam.

The PvdA, which won 38 seats at the last election, is currently struggling in the polls and would only win 12 to 15 if there were a general election tomorrow