John Stevens for Mayor?

Iain Dale has suggested that Nick Ferrari would walk the London mayoral race if he threw his hat into the Tory primary race (which Francis Maude described on this site on Monday).  Other possible candidates include Boris Johnson, Victoria Borwick, Angie Bray, Nicholas Boles and Steve Norris.  The clipping on the right (click to enlarge) from a recent edition of the London Evening Standard says that Mr Norris is unlikely to run again.  ConservativeHome disagrees with this assessment and expects the two times candidate to have a third go at defeating Red Ken.

ConservativeHome has also heard that former Met Chief John Stevens may be considering seeking the Tory nomination.  Some things to note about the 64-year-old Baron Stevens of Kirkwhelpington:

• "In September 1989 he was appointed to enquire into breaches of security by the Security Forces in Northern Ireland known as the ‘Stevens Enquiry’. It resulted in 43 convictions and over 800 years imprisonment for those convicted."  [Taken from his Met biog].
• He helped achieve a record 42% reduction in crime whilst Chief Constable of Northumbria from 1991 to 1996.
• He is a big supporter of neighbourhood policing.
• He described David Blunkett as a "lying, backstabbing bully."
• He recently used his News of the World column to endorse the death penalty for cop killers.
• During his time as London's top policeman the Met invested huge energies in building better relations with London's ethnic minority and gay communities.

Little is known of this committed Christian's other political views.  Does he support the congestion charge?  What does he think of the tax burden on London?  How would he achieve a greener London?

What other big names would you like to see enter the race?

Comments

[Henry Edward-Bancroft]

I notice Michael Portillo attracts strong support on Iain Dale's blog. Mybe a little urbane for traditional tory tastes. Surely it's got to be Angie Bray?

[CCHQ Spy]

Which Michael Portillo would that be, Henry?

The Portillo who lost Enfield Southgate in 1997?

The Portillo who undermined William Hague from 1999 onwards?

The Portillo who has flip-flopped on almost every major issue?

The Portillo who retired from politics at the last General Election?

The Portillo who called for blood on the Tory carpet?

2008 is the best chance we have for turning the Mayor's office blue since Red Ken won in '00. Portillo has the anti-Midas touch. Let us hope he does not run.

[Henry Edward-Bancroft]

It was tongue in cheek. I'd be very surprised if he did.

[Disillusioned]

John Stevens is likeable, competent and could indisputably do a far better job than Ken. He has professional experience which would make him preferable to a typical politician and as an extremely well respected figure and untypical Tory he could definitely have the edge. John Stevens for London 2008!

[EdR]

On paper, John Stevens sounds like a superb candidate -- it will be a staggering vindication of using primaries if he... do we say stands or runs as in the States? Since the primaries are part of an ongoing race I guess runs is more appropriate...

[EdR]

Sorry for the double-post.

I don't know if he'd do it, but Seb Coe might be an interesting candidate. Who better to host and oversee the preparation for the Olympics -- and convince Londoners to fork out for the pleasure.

[buxtehude]

Can't see Stevens being any good. He was a so-so police commissioner who only looks ok next to the dreadful Ian Blair. We want someone to take on the police status quo, not someone who was part of it.

I mean he's ok, I wouldn't be heart-broken if he got it, but he won't set the campaign alight.

[James Hellyer]

Lord Stevens has an unenviable record as Commissioner of the Met. Despite his stories about how much he enjoyed his time as a beat officer, his tenure as Commissioner saw an overwhelming withdrawal of traditional community policing.

Admittedly he looks good next to Ian Blair, but that's just because the appearance of kneejerk populism is easier to connect to than crass PC servitude.

[Yet Another Anon]

London has the largest ethnically Indian population anywhere in the UK, maybe Priti Patel would be quite a good candidate as maybe she could swing what is a sizeable community behind her that would go along way towards swinging london away from Ken Livingstone and she is very experienced working in Press Offices in high pressure situations.

Otherwise someone who is well known in the media would have quite a good chance at what is very much a frontline role, they need to be thick skinned for such a job as well - Gyles Brandreth or indeed Seb Coe I'm sure would go over well.

[london activist]

I'm sorry, but John Stevens has a terrible record. We need a candidate who is serious about cutting crime in London.

Also, shouldn't this list be in reverse order "Other possible candidates include Boris Johnson, Victoria Borwick, Angie Bray, Nicholas Boles and Steve Norris"?

It's, er, not alphabetical and includes unserious people along with Steve Norris.

[Iain Dale]

Henry says "I notice Michael Portillo attracts strong support on Iain Dale's blog."

I'd like to make clear that this is in a poll on my blog. Personally I would probably support any candidate except Michael Portillo, who I doubt is any longer a member of the Party in any case.

[Jack Stone]

I think the best candiadate the party could have for mayor is Lord Coe. He as grown in recent years into a very impressive character and I thibnk with the sucess he had in bringing the Olympics to London he would really give the party a great chance of winning.

[Nico]

Syed Kamal must surely be worth considering. Self-made, London born and bred he comes like a modern Londoner, not a home counties chap who just happens to live there during the week.

[Sally Roberts]

Angie Bray would be superb! She is a hard worker, personable, down to earth and very media savvy.
Apart from all that, she has been and continues to be a good friend to Hammersmith & Fulham. We appreciate all the contact she has with us.

[Sean Fear]

I voted for Vanessa Feltz, who attracted a fair degree of support.

[RichardShackleton]

1. Portillo ruled himself out on Thursday night.

2. Stevens has been one of the worst exponents of "producer interests" in the public services. This was pointed out by Norris during the last campaign when he called for Stevens' early retirement.

I fully endorse all the comments about Angie...however we need a candidate with high name recognition NOW!!!

Richard Shackleton
Norris for London Campaign 2004

[malcolm]

No to John Stevens please.As commissioner it became quite apparent how far he was prepared to plant stories in the press for his own gain.He did do this with more skill than the hapless and hopeless Blair.
Stevens has also been very disloyal to former colleagues.He has a job with the News Of the Screws I think.He should stay there.

[Matt Davis]

The only way we will defeat Red Ken is to select a candidate who is already extremely well known to Londoners and who is very preferably NOT already a politician.

Certainly the list of possibles given above includes far too many party hack types who are only known within the circles of Tory activists and a number of whom were certainly not very impressive the last time around when they sought the nomination. No Norris again either thank you, he has had two tries and failed both times and his strategy last time around of ignoring large swathes of London in the vague hope that he could win just by taking central and South West London votes demonstrates at the very least poor electoral judgement and at worst the same Zone 1 Mayor obsession that he himself attacks Ken with.Norris ran a very poor campaign last time around and never seemed to be genuinely serious about actually winning.

Also Lord Seb Coe has already been asked to stand and has declined since he prefers to seek the Chairmanship of the IOC.

[London Activist]

Zac Goldsmith would be a strong candidate - and would show how the Tories had changed. London has many environmental problems - a strong environmental voice would be good for London. He would also be a strong, photogenic and appealing candidate - and present a transformed Tory party to the nation.

[Kris F]

If Seb Coe wanted to stand then i can't think of a better candidate than him. He is quite High Profile, and no-one can doubt his tory credentials. He also has a huge standing in London due to the successful bid for the Olympics. Zac Goldsmith would appeal to younger members but i don't see alot of middle aged + voting for him unless they were already devout true blues. What about Geoffrey Archer?

[Kris F]

I've Just had a wonderful thought! The last time i heard, Barbara Windsor was a Conservative supported, who better than to appeal to the Working class Londoner? And a female candidate would certainly show a changing party. The first Female British Prime minister and the First Female Mayor of London! Thats something for the record books!

[comstock]

[i]If Seb Coe wanted to stand then i can't think of a better candidate than him. He is quite High Profile, and no-one can doubt his tory credentials. He also has a huge standing in London due to the successful bid for the Olympics. [/i]

He would walk it, but the general view seems to be he is not interested.

[i] What about Geoffrey Archer? [/i]

I take it you are joking - you thought all polticians were liars- well at least this one admits it!!

Wild, crazy idea..............what about Sir Alan Sugar???

[party worker]

"Syed Kamal must surely be worth considering. Self-made, London born and bred he comes like a modern Londoner, not a home counties chap who just happens to live there during the week."

Nice guy, but we need someone who can stand up to Ken. Getting bumped up one place on the party list to be an MEP (one year ago) doesn't exactly qualify as great campaign experience. Nor does standing for the nomination in Bromley and Chislehurst exactly indicate a commitment to being the Mayor.

Also, the actual job of being Mayor involves running a large organization(s). CCHQ doesn't seem very interested in people's qualifications to be the Mayor. But whoever it is must be credible to voters in that role.

[John Evans]

"Zac Goldsmith would be a strong candidate - and would show how the Tories had changed. London has many environmental problems - a strong environmental voice would be good for London. He would also be a strong, photogenic and appealing candidate - and present a transformed Tory party to the nation"

Give me a break. He has never run for even the smallest kind of public office: no electoral experience yet we would put him up for the biggest election in the UK?

Voters wouldn't take him seriously, and Livingstone would eat him for breakfast.

And no experience running big organizations.

Let's have some serious suggestions please.

[Kris F]

I was joking about Geoffrey Archer, of course. But what about Barbara Windsor? She's Tory and she's popular with Londoners.

I think Alan Sugar would be a bad idea. High Profile and tough operator - yes, but he's also the kind of Hard Nosed, uncaring business man that the party is trying to distance themselves from in image.

What about that bloke from Big Brother, what was his name? He was Black and a Tory, created quite a stir at the time, everyone seemed to like him. Was it Darren or something like that?

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"What about that bloke from Big Brother, what was his name? He was Black and a Tory, created quite a stir at the time, everyone seemed to like him. Was it Darren or something like that?"

Derek Laud.

[Kris F]

Yes thats the one! Was he from the London area? He would make quite an impact don't you think?

[Mark Fulford]

Wild, crazy idea..............what about Sir Alan Sugar???

Quoting from The Scotsman, here's a pretty good reason why not Sir Alan Sugar:

The advert - featuring Sir Alan Sugar, the millionaire entrepreneur and star of reality TV show The Apprentice, and the Scots actor David Tennant, among others - will state: "If one in ten Labour voters don’t vote, then the Tories win."...

...He praises the "fantastic job" done by both Mr Blair and Gordon Brown, the Chancellor. The ex-Tory supporter also warns that things would go "pear-shaped again" if that party were to win.

And as for Babs, two people stand in her way: Ronnie Knight and Reggie Kray.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"He would make quite an impact don't you think?"

The meteor that supposedly wiped out the dinosaurs had quite an impact as well - he's not my cup of tea I'm afraid.

[Sean Fear]

How about K. Harvey Proctor? He was President of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, as well as a former MP.

[Kris F]

Well if the dinosaurs in this case turned out to be the Labour Party and Ken Livingstone, i bet you wouldn't complain.

[Paul Kennedy]

Don't think any of the names suggested would have a "hope in hell" of beating Mayor Livingstone. Whilst I don't want to be a pessimist, realistically he will be the Mayor so long as he wishes to be, and he knows it.

Maybe a Mayor should be limited to 2 terms in office, for the good of their health and wellbeing you understand, don't want the pressure of the job fettling them off. Maybe introduce the law via Health & Safety Legislation afterall that is how the Working Time Directive was introduced!!!!

[SimonW]

I have seen that someone has opened a Derek Laud for Mayor of London website - maybe he will try and go for Mayor.

Anyones better than Ken.

[SimonW]

Oh website address is: www.dereklaud.com just in case you feel the desire to look at it. Pretty crappy website though.