Tory Mayoral Primary

For a newbie Londoner I think I'm taking an unhealthy interest in the Mayoral race, but as we could have a Mayor as the next US President I hope it's at least in part understandable.

Nominally, the Conservative Party is having a primary for all London party members, and those who want to contribute £1.50 via text message; though you would be forgiven for thinking that Boris was already the candidate.

He is being challenged by Andrew Boff, Victoria Borwick and Warwick Lightfoot after two unsuccesful bids from Steve 'Shagger' Norris.

I emailed all four candiates asking them two questions, well to complete two sentences

I am the only Conservative candidate....

The one thing that Ken Linvingstone has done as Mayor that I wish I had...

Andrew Boff said:

"I am the only candidate who will be letting London voters have the right to draw up their own policies and have them voted on by fellow Londoners . “Voters' initiatives” resemble the “Citizens' initiative” procedures written into the constitutions of many U.S. States and Switzerland.Under my proposals, on raising a petition of a proportion (10% to 30%) of voters on the electoral register, voters would be able to placea proposition to Londoners at the next ordinary election. The result would be binding on the Mayor and the GLA."

"The one thing that Ken Livingstone has done as Mayor that I wish I had is to introduce ward based policing. It enables the police service to more understand local priorities and breaks down the barriers between young people and the law."

Warwick Lightfoot said:

""I am the only Conservative candidate..I believe with a serious worked up and practical agenda to make London a safer and more attractive city, where the £10 billion spent through City Hall delivers value for money, who is both a fresh face and has substantial experience in local government and national government as a London borough councillor and an adviser at the Treasury ."

""The one thing that Ken Livingstone did as Mayor that I wish I had the opportunity to do with the platform of City Hall, is his opposition to Gordon Brown's complex, expensive and unworkable Public Private Partnership for the modernisation of the London underground, although I think the present Labour Mayor was wrong to express his opposition to the scheme through a futile exercise in judicial review proceedings."

Victoria Borwick did email me back but did not exaclty answer the questions as posed I have reposted the closest whole paragraphs to specifically answering my questions

"I was born in London and have lived here all my life. I have a family of four so am very focussed on the day to day issues of living in London – getting around, finding somewhere to live, getting to work, not being mugged or worse and all the things that really get us through the day"

"I think the Oyster card has been useful, but it has come at a cost, and I do not know the exact policies of the other candidates as we have not seen them yet, but I know that my priorities are tackling crime and reducing costs, whilst making sure we have investment in transport, and improving the quality of life for living in London."

Boris Johnson was perhaps too busy defending his race relations record to take the time out to email me, I will update this should he be in touch.

On a related note Warwick actually called me to see whether I had received his email I thought that was a very nice touch. Shame I was travelling on a train at the time and my signal ran out