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I thought the mayoral race had become an embarrassing Laurel-and-Hardy act as Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson competed for attention. But with Brian Paddick's campaign launch, it should now be a serious political contest.
Immediately showing his mettle, Paddick has promised to cut crime or not stand for re-election. His opponents haven't had the guts to stick their necks out that far. And by proposing a possible ban on cars in inner London, he's showed he is prepared to be unpopular in order to improve things.
Dignified and accomplished, he offers London what it needs in a Mayor: a true statesman. Unlike Ken and Boris, he lacks a Tourette's compulsion to court controversy and give offence. Livingstone has treated his position as a platform for his cranky opinions, and Boris would do the same. They've outraged Jews, black people, women and Liverpudlians between them. Londoners who want leadership rather than a big-mouthed egomaniac-will give Paddick serious consideration.
Livingstone won London the Olympics and introduced the Oyster card but failed to curb crime, while congestion is now in crisis. Boris has never held real power and is famous for clowning on TV rather than any concrete achievement.
But as a police commander, Paddick reduced an almost anarchic level of crime in Lambeth through open dialogue with the community, proving he can get results with tact and sensitivity.
Boris has rarely experienced London outside of his cloistered Tory circle (though he's overcome his stated fear of black kids to visit projects tackling teenage crime), while Ken is a career politician trapped in the divisive politics of old-school multiculturalism.
Having been a police officer for more than 30 years, Paddick has a street-level understanding of the capital and knows London and its communities inside out. And as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Met, he helped manage one of Britain's largest organisations.
If Londoners turn the mayoral election into a vote on national issues, it will become a Labour v Tory contest, and Lib-Dem Paddick will lose out. But with its unique social make-up and problems, London requires a fresh approach from the voters as much as from those who want to run it.
Dashing, successful and openly gay, Paddick would best represent the diversity, dynamism and funkiness of our capital city. But he also has the CV most suited to running it.
Reader views (3)
Good piece! The more the public gets to see of Brian Paddick the more they will come to see him as an alternative to yesterday's man, Ken Livingstone. The Conservatives, by selecting Boris seem to have confused celebrity with electability.
- Paul Latham, London, United Kingdom, 17/01/2008 09:51
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Well said!
He is the only candidate who can be truly compassionate to anyone who has been discriminated due to his own personal experience. And he is the only professional who knows exactly how to improve police/emergency services to protect and serve us all more efficiently. The way Sir Ming was pushed out did upset me and made a bad impression of the LibDems for the first time but as soon as they managed to choose Brian as their mayoral candidate I immediately joined the party in order to help Brian win.
- K Anderson (Mrs), London, 16/01/2008 23:06
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Brian Paddick has made the most favourable impact of the three leading candidates so far, but the dirt hasn't started to fly yet. Being the most constructive and positive candidate may prove less use than being best at undermining the other two.
It's up to the media to filter the spin and feed us the facts.
Are you up to it?
- André Browne, London, UK, 16/01/2008 22:23
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