Paddick advertises crime message on PinkNews.co.uk
The Liberal Democrat contender for Mayor of London is targeting LGBT voters with adverts on PinkNews.co.uk.
Brian Paddick, who as Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police was the most senior out gay officer in the UK, was chosen as the party’s candidate in November.
Londoners will go to the polls on May 1st. Ken Livingstone is standing for the Labour party and seeking a third term in office.
Boris Johnson, the MP for Henley, is the Conservative candidate. Sian Berry is standing for the Green party.
In September 2007 the Conservative party began their first political advertising campaign in the gay media on PinkNews.co.uk
“We are pleased that a second major political party has decided to advertise on our site,” said editor Tony Grew.
“As with the Tory adverts last year, their presence is not an endorsement of any party or candidate.”
Mr Paddick’s adverts targets the incumbent Mayor’s record on violent crime in London.
At his campaign launch last week the 49-year-old, who retired from the Met police last year, pledged that if elected he would cut crime by 20% during his first term or stand down.
A YouGov poll for ITV’s London Tonight at the beginning of this month found that of those would are going to vote and have made up their minds, 45 per cent intend to vote for Ken Livingstone, 44 per cent for Mr Johnson and 7% for Mr Paddick.
However, it is thought that many Londoners have not yet decided if they are going to vote or who to vote for.
In the London Tonight poll 68 per cent of respondents mentioned crime as the top issue in terms of deciding who to vote for.
