Sunday
02Sep2007
LONDON TO HAVE A GAY MAYOR?
Sunday, September 2, 2007 at 10:35AM
Did you see that Brian Paddick, the former Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has decided to seek the LiberaL-Democrat nomination to run for the position of Mayor of London? Paddick is quite the liberal already. He first became a public figure when his experimental relaxing of cannabis laws came under scrutiny in South London in 2001. Combined with his sexuality - he was the highest-ranking openly gay officer in the Met - he rapidly became a 'celebrity' policeman. So his quest to become Mayor in a city where gayness is next to godliness is not unexpected. I'm sure he has no chance but it shows that liberal attitides prevail at the highest level within UK Policing.
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Reader Comments (19)
David
Brian Paddick may not be your top choice but would you prefer him to Ken Livingstone ?
I lived in Brixton at the time Paddick was there. He did have the support of the broader local community (no mean feat) and was making inroads into crime.
The cannabis thing was controversial although I thought justified in terms of resource allocation (Brixton police always had more pressing concerns than people smoking a joint) if nothing else.
I'd rate him a hell of a lot higher than the pro-transport union and seemingly pro-jihadi Livingstone.
Colm,
No - neither Paddick nor Red Ken appeal in any way. Why does London need a Mayor, exactly? Did it not do well enough with just a Lord Mayor?
That's a different argument David, but come on just for arguments sake , if you HAD to choose one of them , which would it be ?
What about the muslim vote? How can a gay man pander to them unless he promises that his first act on being elected would be to allow himself to be stoned under the new Sharia for London?
Allan
Has it not occurred to you that he might have no intention of pandering to the Muslim vote ?
Colm,
I would not vote for anyone I disagree with. I have form on that over here ;-)
Grrrrh! It's like getting blood out of a stone !
No intention of pandering to the muslim vote? Are you kidding? He's not in the BNP! He's a LibDem - it's what they do!
Anyone but Ken and Paddick does seem more grounded than Boris. I like what he says about easing the congestion charges for tradesmen
Sara
You may have misunderstood what he meant by 'tradesmen' :)
Paddick is preferable to Livingstone, although in fairness who isn't?
Allan
I agree 100% with your comments. As a gay man, Paddick has no chance of winning, with the large muslim vote certain to go to Livingstone, who has courted it so cleverly for so long. However, it will at least be a lively contest if the three candidates are Livingstone, Paddick and Boris Johnston.
David
All US cities have mayors. It increases local democracy, which can only be a good thing, even if you don't like who they elect.
Not only should the major cities have mayors, but the chiefs of police should also be elected. If they don't perform, they're out!
I agree with Allan there.
I like what you said Peter. Mayors are held directly accountable by the local populace and their terms are short, perform or perish.
Off with their heads!
Met Chief is a Lib Dem. Well you could knock me down with a feather.
Let there be a mayor as long as his salary and budget is deducted from the salary and budget of someone else in government