Lurline Champagnie held a reception in Parliament yesterday to formally launch her campaign to be the Conservative candidate for Mayor. Her leaflets and manifesto never really mention the Conservative Party but she is known as a regular attendee and occasional speaker at party conference, and if there was any doubt at the launch - she had blue fingernails.
After reading out a very positive letter sent to her from Lord Tebbit she spoke about the failure of multiculturalism (and her Cosmopolitan Community vision), and her personal profile:
"I came to Britain from Jamaica in my late teens. I did not expect patronizing handouts or any unfair advantage. I worked; I worked and learnt; I developed skills as a specialist nurse; I succeeded and took on significant responsibility; I brought up my family; I started a highly successful business; and I have served my local community as a councillor for 20 years. Ladies and Gentlemen, I have lived a real life and, more to the point, I have succeeded – not only in accordance with Tory values, but because I embodied Tory values. I have a life path and career that is real – I am not some plastic “inside the beltway” apparatchik. Believe me, this is a distinction that is not lost on the public."
Andrew Rosindell MP sponsored the event as one of her high profile supporters, saying:
“I’m delighted that someone that has such clear Conservative views and is prepared to stand up for them is running for Mayor of London. I have known Lurline for 25 years. She’s got guts, determination and beliefs in all the right things. She’s told me that her first act as Mayor of London will be to raise the Union Jack above City Hall – something that Ken Livingstone has not been prepared to do and I think that she deserves the chance."
Nicholas Winterton MP, apparently spontaneously, was full of praise for the speech and strongly endorsed her campaign as a result of it. Lords, councillors, and MPs Brian Binley, Julian Lewis and Roger Gale also spoke in support of Lurline.
There was a photo-op afterwards on College Green:
She's certainly one of the strongest declared contenders for the Conservative nomination.
Deputy Editor
Having heard Lurline speak at Conference many times, I wish her well in her bid to run for Mayor of London
Posted by: pjb | July 04, 2007 at 11:21
Mad as a box of frogs, but what the hell. Why not? Lurline is different and actually quite fun.
Posted by: Inside Out | July 04, 2007 at 11:39
Lurline sems like a great candidate - as a young person interested in politics, I think she has the potential to move this city in the right direction.
Posted by: Alykhan Kassam | July 04, 2007 at 11:41
I like Her impressive list of supporters but we have to be realistic. Lurline is a lovely and enthusiastic activist but she does not have the necessary experience for such a big job.
With Nick Boles dropping out due to his serious illness, the list of declared candidates is alarmingly thin and lightweight. We desperately need an experienced big hitter to defeat Red Ken.
Steve Norris seems to need his large corporate salary. If he will not run, the party is in big trouble. Any ideas?
Posted by: TFA Tory | July 04, 2007 at 11:58
If she, as Andrew Rosindell implies, thinks the biggest problem London and its Mayor faces is whether the Union Jack flies over City Hall, she may have a big shock coming when it comes to the election.
Posted by: M. Anon | July 04, 2007 at 12:04
If Lurline's horizons are as limited as Rosindell's and this is the best we can do, God help us.
Posted by: Bluerinse | July 04, 2007 at 12:31
Cameron is obviously unimpressed. According to Nick Robinson, he wants to draft Boris Johnson. Desperate times require desperate Old Etonians!
Borwick, Lightfoot, McKenzie, Champagnie etc should save their money and close down their campaigns. There will be no open primary. Cameron will not let them stand and is determined to impose his own candidate.
Party democracy RIP!
Posted by: TFA Tory | July 04, 2007 at 12:41
All things considered, Lurline would be a better candidate than Boris
Posted by: Erasmus | July 04, 2007 at 12:53
Erasmus,
Exactly what things are you considering to come up with that bizarre conclusion?!
Posted by: Reagan Fan | July 04, 2007 at 13:58
"Mad as a box of frogs" Indeed. Unfortunately, that is a disqualification.
Posted by: James Thurnham | July 04, 2007 at 14:01
Reagan fan,
I was considering what our choice of candidate would say about the Conservative Party?
Choosing Boris or Norris would confirm some unhelpful stereotypes.
Lurline Champagnie, on the other hand, would not. Am I only saying that coz she is black? Well, yes -- to large extent I am. In the absence of a heavyweight candidate capable of beating Livingstone, we might as well have one that changes public perceptions of the Conservative Party.
Posted by: Erasmus | July 04, 2007 at 14:28
Unless Rozzer's planning on floating the Mayoral offices wouldn't it be the Union flag she raises on her victory? You'd have thought someone of Rozzer's flag-waving experience would have known it's only the Union jack on a boat...
Posted by: Edward | July 04, 2007 at 14:36
There are three flagpoles at City Hall, so we could fly the Union Flag, the George Cross and Something Else...
Posted by: Roger Evans | July 04, 2007 at 17:45
Lurline would be my second choice after Norris. I wish her luck.
Posted by: Justin Hinchcliffe | July 05, 2007 at 10:54
Genuine Conservative - are you suggesting a lynching here?
Posted by: Lester | July 05, 2007 at 19:57
I certainly wasn't suggesting we lynch anyone. Let's just get more votes.
Posted by: Roger Evans | July 06, 2007 at 06:42
Roger, I was not saying YOU were suggesting a lynching - I was referring to a comment by Genuine Conservative who had replied to your post. That comment is now deleted, so my post does not make any sense in this context. I am glad that the Genuine Conservative post is deleted, and congratulate the website for removing it.
Posted by: Lester | July 07, 2007 at 11:28