Policy & Issues

The former Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner said that it was time for a change in the capital, after eight consecutive years of Ken Livingstone at City Hall.

"Livingstone did make a difference in his first four years in office, but he's gradually lost touch with Londoners. He is not listening any more. He's surrounded by personal advisors pursuing their own personal agendas."

"We need somebody who is prepared to act on what London's priorities are, not what the mayor or his own advisors are saying Londoners should have."

Mr Paddick's manifesto for London includes a new tram network, a pledge to reduce crime by 5 per cent year-on-year and the abolition of the western extension of the congestion charge zone.

Experience

At the launch, Mr Paddick told journalists that Labour's Mr Livingstone couldn't be trusted to run London in the interests of all Londoners and that the Tory candidate Boris Johnson couldn't run a large, complex organisation.

Despite not having the political experience of his rivals, Mr Paddick pointed to his record as a police officer to prove that he had the experience to be London Mayor.

"My term as mayor is going to be about competence and probity. I have worked on the streets serving Londoners. I have managed large budgets and large teams of people to deliver real reductions in crime and making people safer. I have never had my integrity called into question."

Contract for London

The Liberal Democrats' manifesto, Contract for London, pledges the following:

• A Safer London

Mr Paddick pledges to cut crime by 5% every year or he will not seek re-relection. He said, "I will act to stop the closure of small police stations in the capital - we need a strong police presence in our communities."

• Better transport

A new cross river tram project was announced, along with the introduction of new bike and car hire schemes in every locality. Students of all ages will get free public transport.

• Housing

Empty houses and properties will be converted into sustainable homes at affordable rents. Mr Paddick also pledges to 'conduct a war on the problem of homelessness.'

• The Environment

On the environment, the Liberal Democrat candidate has pledged to make London the greenest capital in Europe by launching a new scheme with local councils to plant thousands of new trees.

• A London government

Mr Paddick promises, "As Mayor I will end the cronyism under the current mayor by making the Mayor’s cabinet directly elected by London Assembly members."

Catching up

A Guardian/ICM has Mr Paddick in third place with 10% of first choice votes, well behind Mr Livingstone on 41% and Mr Johnson on 42%.

City Hall

However, Mr Paddick remains confident that he can still catch them up between now and the May 1st polling date.

"Being a third-party candidate who is less well-known than the other two, it's about where you would expect me to be at this stage," Mr Paddick has said.

He said that at every hustings event he had attended with Mr Johnson and Mr Livingstone, people had come up afterwards saying they had switched their allegiance and would vote for him.

There are 10 candidates for the mayoral election on 1 May:

• Richard Barnbrook – British National Party
• Gerard Batten – UK Independence Party
• Sian Berry – Green Party
• Alan Craig – Christian Peoples Alliance and Christian Party
• Lindsey German – Left List
• Boris Johnson – Conservative Party
• Ken Livingstone – Labour Party
• Winston McKenzie - Independent
• Matt O'Connor – English Democrats
• Brian Paddick – Liberal Democrats